When planning a branding photoshoot, one of the most important decisions you'll make is where to shoot. The location you choose has a huge impact on how your photos feel, how your brand is visually represented, and how versatile your final gallery will be.

As a portrait and branding photographer serving Vancouver, Burnaby, and Port Coquitlam, I’ve helped hundreds of clients create powerful branding images that feel aligned, elevated, and true to who they are. One of the first questions I ask during the planning process is: What kind of environment will reflect your brand best?

So let’s break down the pros and cons of studio branding sessions versus on-location branding sessions, and how to decide which is right for you. But before we do that check out what one of our clients said about working with our Vancouver Portrait Studio for their Branding Photography session:

“I thoroughly enjoyed my branding photo session with Jenn! She thought of every detail from a wardrobe consultation, how to prepare for the photoshoot, and what to expect…I am not fond of having my photo taken, but Jenn made it fun and made "posing" feel like fun, and towards the end, I was figuring it out on my own. I trusted that she would create settings and poses that I could use for my business social media accounts and website. I was not disappointed. I was thrilled when I saw my portraits, it was so hard to narrow it down, there were so many great ones! I'd absolutely recommend Jenn and her team again, and look forward to being a return customer.” - Coach

Now let’s dive into the content.

Studio Branding Sessions: Clean, Controlled, and Polished

Shooting in a photography studio offers comfort, predictability, and flexibility. At Fontaine Photography’s private photography studio in Port Coquitlam, we control every detail: lighting, backdrop, styling, and ambiance. This ensures a seamless, low-stress experience where you don’t have to worry about the weather, permits, or location logistics.

Benefits of Studio Branding Photography:

Controlled lighting and environment: No worrying about rain, harsh sun, or changing conditions. Your images will have a consistent, professional look from start to finish.
Clean backdrops that keep the focus on you: Ideal for modern, minimal branding that centers your face, energy, and message.
Easy wardrobe changes and styling space: You have access to a private dressing area, mirrors, and wardrobe racks to make outfit transitions smooth and efficient.
Creative lighting and composition options: We can create high-key (bright and airy) or moody, editorial looks all in one place.

Branding Photoshoots Are Ideal for:

Coaches, consultants, and professionals who want a high-end, editorial look
Brands with a clean, polished, or minimal visual identity
Clients who feel more comfortable in a private indoor space

On-Location Branding Sessions: Story-Driven and Lifestyle-Focused

Choosing an on-location setting allows us to tell your brand story in an environment that feels uniquely you. From a cozy café to a stylish co-working space, your own home, or even a natural outdoor setting, these photos are more personal, dynamic, and immersive.

Benefits of On-Location Branding Photography:

Real-life storytelling: Shooting in your own environment allows us to show you in action: working with clients, creating products, or enjoying your creative process.
More variety and depth: On-location branding photos tend to include more candid moments, wider shots, and a mixture of textures and environments.
Natural connection and relatability: These photos help clients get a sense of your lifestyle, energy, and personality.
Opportunity to feature your space: If you run a business out of a home studio, retail shop, or office in Vancouver, this is a great way to highlight your physical brand presence.

Branding Photoshoots Are Ideal for:

Creatives, service providers, wellness professionals, and entrepreneurs
Personal brands that focus on authenticity and lifestyle storytelling
Clients with strong visual identity tied to location, atmosphere, or mood

Why Combine Studio and On-Location for the Best Results?

If you're building a personal brand or growing a business that needs consistent, high-quality content across multiple platforms, the best investment you can make is a dual-location branding session.

By starting in the studio and finishing on location, you create an intentional blend of clean, elevated portraits and lifestyle-rich, story-driven images—giving you visual assets that work across your entire brand ecosystem.

Benefits of Mixing Studio and On-Location in One Session:

Double the variety, same brand alignment
Studio shots give you timeless, polished portraits perfect for website headers, bio pages, and professional press features. On-location images add warmth, context, and authenticity to social media, blog content, and behind-the-scenes visuals.
More content from one shoot
By changing outfits and environments, you leave the session with a larger, more diverse image library that keeps your brand looking fresh over time.
Strategic flexibility
Some platforms call for clean, distraction-free visuals, while others thrive on personality and relatability. A mix gives you content you can use anywhere—from your podcast cover to your "About Me" section to your next Instagram carousel.
Greater storytelling power
With multiple settings, we can capture a full narrative: who you are, what you do, and how you work. This creates visual momentum and a stronger emotional connection with your audience.

Many of our branding clients at Fontaine Photography choose to begin with studio portraits, then shift to a nearby lifestyle setting, whether that’s a favorite coffee shop in Vancouver, a local co-working space in Burnaby, or even their home office in Port Coquitlam.

This hybrid approach gives you maximum content range in one powerful session, without needing to book multiple shoots or coordinate separate dates.

How to Decide: Studio, On-Location, or Both?

Here are a few questions to consider when choosing the best setting for your branding session:

Does your brand lean more polished and editorial, or more warm and lifestyle-driven?
Do you need multiple wardrobe changes in a private space?
Will props or your physical workspace enhance the story you are telling?
Do you feel more confident in a quiet, controlled space or a familiar environment?

At Fontaine Photography, many of our branding clients choose a hybrid approach. We often start in the studio for polished portraits, then head to a secondary location nearby in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, or Burnaby for lifestyle images that show more depth and variety. This gives you the best of both worlds and ensures your gallery has a wide range of visuals to support every part of your business.

Final Thoughts On A Branding Photography Session

Your brand is more than a logo. It is how people feel when they experience you. And the location you choose for your branding photos also helps shape that experience, long before a client ever picks up the phone or clicks "Book Now."

Whether you choose the clean aesthetic of a studio shoot or the story-rich vibe of an on-location session, our job is to bring your brand to life through imagery that feels aligned, confident, and true.

If you're not sure which direction is right for you, let’s talk. During your branding consultation, we’ll explore your goals, message, and visual identity to design the perfect session for where you’re headed next. Book your branding photoshoot consultation with our award-winning Vancouver Photographers, and let’s create visuals that represent the next-level version of your brand.

Vancouver
Branding Photographers

Your brand is more than a logo—it’s you. Book your session with our award-winning Vancouver branding photographers and let’s create scroll-stopping, personality-packed branding photos that truly reflect your vision, voice, and vibe. It’s time to show up like the pro you are.

Branding Photography

SERVICE AREA

Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, Annacis Island, Port Moody, Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Anmore & Surrounding Areas

Our photo studio is conveniently located just outside of Vancouver, in Port Coquitlam.