When Charlie, a business owner and ad creative, reached out for updated personal branding images, we wanted to strike the right balance—professional yet approachable, creative yet grounded. His apartment in Santa Monica became the perfect backdrop for this vision. With its clean, modern aesthetic and natural light, the space felt like a seamless extension of his personality. A home that doubles as a workspace.

We started indoors, then stepped outside to the backstreets of his neighborhood. I love finding hidden corners in urban spaces. Walls with texture and color add a layer of dimension and creativity to portraits. The combination of these two settings were perfect for Charlie’s fresh images: sophisticated yet full of character, professional with a touch of artistry.

One of the joys of delivering a personal branding gallery like this is watching how people use their photos to transform their presence online. It’s inspiring to see someone’s brand reflect their true essence, as though it’s been infused with new energy and clarity. For Charlie, these images became a way to align his professional identity with who he is, both as a creative and a leader.

Not quite sure what personal branding is? Think of it as anything from professional headshots to stylized personal images that reflect who you are—something you can use to show up authentically online (as much as that’s possible to do these days, at least). Here’s a great article from Harvard Business School to dig into the concept further: Personal Branding at Work.

If you’re looking for a portrait photographer in Santa Monica and you’re ready to refresh your personal branding, I’d love to help you tell your story with images that feel intentional and uniquely you. Let’s create something that brings your vision to life. Reach out here to inquire about my personal branding services.

With love,

Claire