As a Bay Area branding photographer, my favorite sessions are the ones where clients walk in wanting more than a headshot. They want photos that feel like them. I photograph realtors, entrepreneurs and business owners across the East Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula, Silicon Valley and San Jose, and that’s exactly what the founders of California 24 Real Estate, an East Bay real estate team, asked for: brand-new portraits for their website that felt fresh, modern, clean and approachable, and that showed off their personalities.
Over one carefully planned session, we created a complete portfolio refresh for the team’s founders, Katy Anderson and Katie Krembs, and one of their associate realtors: individual portraits of each woman, photos of Katy and Katie together, and team portraits of all three. Based in Moraga, their team is RealTrends-verified as a top team by sales volume, so their photos needed to look as polished as their results. Here’s a look at how we planned it, what we created, and why it matters for realtors and entrepreneurs.
The goal: approachable, modern and unmistakably them
Real estate is a relationship business. Before a buyer or seller ever calls, they’ve usually looked at your website and social media, and they’re asking themselves one question: Do I want to work with this person? California 24 Real Estate wanted their new portraits to answer that with a confident yes. Clean and professional, but warm, friendly and full of personality.
Planning with a storyboard
Great branding photos start long before the camera comes out. Together, we built a storyboard of the shots the team wanted for their website, including specific poses and layouts they’d seen and loved, so we could recreate them in their own style. That planning meant we walked into the session knowing exactly which images they needed for each page of their site, and still had room for the spontaneous, laughing-between-shots moments that often become favorites. As a Bay Area branding photographer, I’ve found that this step is what turns a good session into a portfolio clients use for years.
We also planned the wardrobe together. Each realtor brought several outfits, from polished and professional to relaxed and modern, chosen in colors that work with their brand. Multiple looks give a team variety for their website, listings and social media without needing another session.
The session
We moved through three kinds of portraits:
- Individual portraits of each realtor, from classic headshots to more relaxed, personality-filled shots that show who they are.
- Founders Katy Anderson and Katie Krembs together, capturing the partnership and energy that built the business.
- Team portraits of all three, perfect for an “About Us” page and team marketing.
With my background as a photojournalist, I’m always watching for the real expressions: the genuine laugh, the look between partners, the moment someone relaxes and stops “posing.” Those are the images that make a website feel human.
How they’ll use their new portraits
The finished portfolio gives California 24 Real Estate a consistent, recognizable look everywhere their clients find them: their website and team pages, listing materials, social media, email newsletters, print marketing, and online profiles. One planned session now covers months of marketing.
Why realtors and entrepreneurs need more than a headshot
A single professional headshot tells people what you look like. A branding portfolio tells them what it’s like to work with you. As a Bay Area branding photographer, I see the difference every day:
- Trust before the first call. Warm, genuine photos help clients feel they already know you.
- A consistent brand. When your website, listings and social media share the same look, you appear established and professional.
- Variety that lasts. Multiple outfits, settings and poses give you months of fresh content instead of reusing the same photo everywhere.
- Team stories. Photos of partners and team members together show the relationships behind your business.
How to prepare for a session with a Bay Area branding photographer
These are the same steps I walk every client through:
- Gather inspiration. Save photos you love from websites and social media, and we’ll turn them into a storyboard.
- Think about where the photos will go. Website banners need room for text, social posts need vertical crops, and team pages need consistent framing.
- Plan two to four outfits in colors that fit your brand, from polished to relaxed.
- Bring the props that tell your story: a laptop, a phone, keys to a new listing, your coffee mug.
- Schedule hair and makeup if you’d like that extra polish.
- Coordinate the team. For group photos, choose a shared color palette so everyone looks like part of the same brand.
What’s the difference between a headshot and a branding session?
A headshot session focuses on one or two polished portraits. A branding session builds a full library: several outfits, settings, poses and storytelling images you can use across your website, social media and marketing.
Do you photograph teams?
Yes. I photograph realtor teams, small businesses and partners, with individual portraits for each person plus group and partner photos.
Who do you work with?
As a Bay Area branding photographer, I work with realtors, entrepreneurs, tech founders, coaches, consultants, creatives and small business owners throughout the East Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula, Silicon Valley and San Jose.
How do we plan the shots?
We start with a planning call and build a storyboard together, so every image has a purpose before the session begins.
Can you recreate a pose or style we’ve seen?
Absolutely. Bring examples you love, and I’ll adapt them to your personality and brand, just as we did for California 24 Real Estate.
Ready to refresh your brand?
If your website photos no longer feel like you, or you’re launching something new, let’s create a portfolio that does. As a Bay Area branding photographer with more than 30 years of experience, including 15 years as a staff photojournalist at the San Francisco Chronicle, I’ll help you look polished, approachable and completely yourself. Learn more about my headshot and branding sessions, or get in touch to start planning yours.
