Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts: Personal Branding Photography Case Study.
When you are building a brand that is going to reach millions, your visual story needs to work just as hard as you do.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts, a chartered psychologist, & author whose work on resilience and mindset has touched over six million people worldwide.
Personal Branding Photography
Gemma contacted me several years ago to help her keep her photography up to date so that she has fresh images and content to support her work and growing digital presence. What started as a single personal branding photography session has evolved into an ongoing partnership, with regular shoots to keep her visual content current with her expanding work.
Dr Gemma’s work is helping people with psychology and performance. As someone who advises major organisations across the UK, hosts the popular podcast Psychologically Speaking, and teaches courses on resilience and wellbeing, she needs photos and images that shows both her warmth and authority. Her personal brand images need to work across multiple platforms—from LinkedIn and Instagram to her website, podcast artwork, and speaking engagements.
Understanding what my client’s world is:
Before any shoot, I take the time to understand not just what my client does, but who their clients are and what they need from creating new imagery for their business. For Gemma, this meant understanding her audience—from clients seeking resilience training to individuals looking for practical psychology-based strategies for everyday challenges. Her imagery needed to feel approachable but also to communicate her expertise and professionalism
Creating Versatile Content
During our sessions, whether at a client’s preferred location or one we find – I love location scouting – we focus on capturing a range of images that work across different platforms. This includes professional headshots for LinkedIn and media articles, more relaxed lifestyle shots for Instagram and her newsletter, and photographs that help Gemma tell her story —whether that’s speaking, coaching, or simply in a thoughtful moment. We quite often include Elvis her dog!
Rather than creating images that serve just one purpose, we build a library of content that can be used in countless ways throughout the year.
One of our most recent shoots at The Nici Bournemouth – a super fun work day!
A Collaboration with Katy Photography
Katy’s expertise in branding video production has been invaluable. Her ability to capture authentic moments on film whilst maintaining the same visual warmth we’ve established in the photography creates a seamless brand experience across all of Gemma’s platforms. Whether it’s short clips for Instagram Reels, longer content for her courses, or promotional videos for speaking engagements, Katy’s work complements the photographic story we’ve been telling.
Working together means we can offer our clients a complete visual package—combining the power of still imagery with the engagement that video brings. It’s a partnership that serves our clients beautifully, especially those like Gemma who need cohesive content for multiple platforms.
The images we’ve created together have appeared in publications including The Guardian, Forbes, and Business Insider, her LinkedIn Learning courses, and in helping her build recognisable presence across social media platforms.
Some moments with @KatyPhotography:
Why Photography & Video Shoots Matter For Personal Brands
One of the key insights from working with Gemma over the years is the value of regular content creation. Personal brands evolve, businesses grow, and platforms change. Having a trusted photographer and videographer who understands your brand means you’re never scrambling for content when you need it.
Regular sessions also allow us to capture seasonal variety, new projects, and different aspects of your work. For Gemma, this has meant photographing her in various settings—from professional office environments to more relaxed, creative spaces that reflect different facets of her work.
Professional Personal Branding Photography for Corporate Clients
If you’re a consultant, coach, speaker, or business owner, your visual presence is often the first impression potential clients have of you. In a world where people make snap judgments based on profile pictures and website imagery, investing in professional personal branding photography is an essential business strategy.
For corporate clients, maintaining a consistent and professional visual identity across all platforms demonstrates shows you take your work seriously, but remaining approachable and authentic.
What to Expect from a Personal Branding Photography Session
When you book a personal branding photography session with me, we begin with a conversation about your business, your audience, and your goals. I’ll ask about where you’ll be using these images, what feeling you want to convey, and whether there are specific shots you need.
On the day of the shoot, I create a relaxed environment where you can be yourself. Many of my clients worry about feeling awkward in front of the camera, but I promise—we’ll make it fun. The best images come when you’re comfortable and engaged, not when you’re trying to hold a forced smile.
If video is part of your brief, I’ll bring Katy along so we can capture both photography and film content in a single session. This approach is incredibly efficient and ensures visual consistency across all your content.
More Than Just a Photoshoot!
What I really love about working with clients like Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts—somewhere between the third photoshoot and the fifth, something shifts. You stop being “the photographer” and become part of their team. You know instinctively what works for them, and the shot lists they are looking for, and the library of images that tell the story of how their business has flourished. It’s a bit like having a visual diary of someone’s success!
Whether you’re a psychologist building a thought leadership platform, a business consultant launching a new service, a leadership coach writing your first book, or an entrepreneur expanding into new markets—your visual story deserves to grow with you. And I’d genuinely love to be the person capturing that journey.
Let’s Start Your Story
Do you want create images that actually feel like you? The kind you’ll be excited to share rather than reluctantly posting because you know you “should”?
Whether you need a one-off session to refresh your headshots or you’re looking for a long-term partnership where we create fresh content throughout the year. Either way, let’s have a chat about your vision.
Get in touch to discuss your personal branding photography needs, or browse my recent work to see more examples of business and personal branding photography.
And if video is part of your vision, do explore Katy’s film work to see how we can create a complete visual package for your brand.
Ready to update your business’s professional photography? Get in touch to discuss your corporate headshot and lifestyle photography needs. Based in Berkshire, I work with businesses across the region to create stunning professional images that make a lasting impression.
Please contact me: www.debbieharephotography or drop me a message to hello@debbieharephotography.co.uk