If you've been putting off updating your headshot, you're not alone. It's one of those tasks that never feels urgent enough to prioritise, until you're asked for a photo and realise the only one you have is years, or roles, out of date.

That's exactly why I started running Mini Brand Shoots, one of several ways I work with clients, alongside One Hour, Half Day, Full Day, and bespoke sessions, depending on what you actually need.

What is a Mini Brand Shoot?

A Mini Brand Shoot is a short, guided photography session designed for professionals who want current, high-quality images without committing to a full shoot, Rather than longer sessions, multiple locations, and more outfit changes, it's a focused 25-minute session, calm, straightforward, and genuinely easy to fit into a busy week.

You don't need experience in front of a camera, and you don't need a plan before you arrive. I guide you through the whole thing, from settling in to the final shot.

Why a quick refresh matters more than people think

Most people don't update their photos because something is wrong with the old one. They update it because enough time has passed that it no longer quite reflects where they are now, a different role, a different stage, a different version of themselves that the picture hasn't caught up with.

It rarely feels urgent. But it shows up in small moments: hesitating before sending a headshot for a bio, scrolling past your own LinkedIn profile without quite recognising yourself, or digging through old camera rolls looking for something, anything, that'll do.

Having a set of current portraits ready to go removes that stress entirely. When someone asks for a photo, whether it's for a speaker bio, a press feature, a pitch deck, or a simple profile update, you can just send one. No searching, no cropping yourself out of someone else's photo, no apologising for the quality.

What's included

Each Mini Brand Shoot session includes:

A 25-minute guided session in a professionally styled studio
5 professionally edited images
A gallery of additional images to choose from, with the option to purchase more
A short prep guide sent in advance, so you know exactly what to expect

The locations are usually based around Manchester, so there's nothing to organise beyond showing up.

Who it's for

Mini Brand Shoots work particularly well for founders, consultants, coaches, clinicians, and other professionals who need images that look credible and current, without the time or cost of a full brand shoot. If your current photos no longer quite match where you are in your career, this is a straightforward way to fix that.

That said, a Mini Brand Shoot isn't the right fit for everyone. Some clients need more, a specific location, more variety, several outfit changes, or a particular look and feel that a single studio session can't capture. For that, I also offer One Hour, Half Day, and Full Day Brand Shoots, as well as bespoke sessions built around whatever your brand actually needs. If that sounds more like you, get in touch and I can talk you through the options.

Booking your session

I don't run Mini Brand Shoot days often, and spaces are limited. You can find upcoming dates and book your session at portraya.co.uk/mini-brand-shoots.

If it's been a while since your last photo, consider this your sign!

I’m Zehra, and I run Portraya, personal brand photography for founders, designers and consultants across Manchester and Cheshire. If you’re launching something new, or just need a fresh set of images that actually look like you and your work, get in touch.

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