TL;DR
Professional headshots for training consultants aren’t just about looking polished. They’re about showing personality, building trust, and having a bank of images for social media, training presentations, and proposals. In this case study, we look at how Jen Tait, founder of the Rise Learning Group, approached her headshots at King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth and why her attitude to photography is a powerful lesson for other consultants.
About This Professional Headshots for Training Consultants Case Study
Setting the Scene: Why Training Consultants Always Need Strong Headshots
Meet Jen Tait, founder of Rise Learning Group, a training solutions company. Like many consultants, Jen needed images that were professional, approachable, and versatile.
In training and coaching, credibility comes down to trust. The right imagery helps you communicate that instantly. As a result, professional headshots for training consultants are not a nice-to-have; they’re essential.
What to Wear?
If you’re already wondering about the practicalities, check out my guide on what to wear for professional headshots.
Planning the Session at King Edward’s Bay
We chose King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth for this shoot. The beach gave us a natural, relaxed backdrop while still keeping the images polished. Outdoor locations like this can be perfect for consultants who want to show more personality, warmth and approachability.
Variables
Of course, with outdoor headshots comes the challenge of light and weather. Planning is everything. We timed the session for soft light and were both very familiar with different angles on the bay.
This is a great example of how corporate headshots in the North East don’t need to be stiff or studio-bound. Instead, a location can reflect personality while keeping things professional.
Preparation
For more tips on how to get organised before a shoot, see my blog on how to prepare for a headshots session.
On the Day: Balancing Casual and Professional
Importantly, Jen wanted her images to feel authentic and professional, but not stiff. We mixed in casual standing portraits, relaxed seated shots, and some movement against the coastline.
This balance is especially useful for training consultants. For example, one image might work best on LinkedIn, while another feels more natural in a presentation slide. By offering variety, we created flexibility across her brand touchpoints.
For others in the industry, this approach works beautifully for leadership coaching headshots as well as training consultants. It shows both confidence and approachability.
The Results: Headshots That Work for a Modern Training Brand
The final images captured exactly what Jen needed: professional, confident, but approachable. She now uses them across her website, LinkedIn, training proposals, and social media.
Working with Laura didn’t feel like a staged photoshoot. She makes it easy to relax, so the images captured my personality. As a training consultant, I need headshots I can use in so many different contexts: from proposals and presentations to LinkedIn and social media. I love having a whole library of options to choose from, rather than just one image. It means my brand feels consistent wherever I show up.The Images Captured My Personality
This is where consultant headshots photography makes a difference. Multiple options give you flexibility across every professional scenario.
Organisation of Branding Bits & Pieces
To understand how brand context shapes photos like this, see my piece on why brand guidelines matter. This process can quickly take you from piecemeal chaos to coherence and clarity.
Building a Visual Library, Not a One-Time Shoot
Most people think of a headshot as a one-time job: update LinkedIn, then forget about it for a while. Jen takes a different approach.
She regularly invests in photography, building a living visual library she can pull from. This strategy means she always has fresh imagery for social media content. It also keeps her training materials and proposals visually consistent. Most importantly, she avoids the “stale headshot” problem that can make even the best consultants look outdated.
An Ongoing Brand Investment
As a result, for training consultants who are constantly presenting and pitching, this strategy makes a huge difference. Instead of seeing headshots as a one-off exercise, it transforms them into an ongoing brand asset that grows in value over time.
In conclusion, it’s a strong example of personal branding photography for trainers. By consistently updating and curating images as a renewable resource collection - rather than treating them as a static asset - consultants position themselves for steady, long-term visibility and professional impact.
If you are tackling how to show the right parts of your personality in your personal brand, a great next read on my wider work on branding with archetypes for personality.
Key Takeaways for Training Consultants Considering Headshots
- Don’t underestimate the power of professional headshots for training consultants - they build credibility and trust.
- Consider outdoor or location shoots for a more approachable feel. This works for business portraits for consultants. or headshots for women in business. Furthermore, it will also work for anyone who has an outdoorsy side to them when they are not in work.
- Think beyond a single photo. Building a bank of images ensures you’re ready for every context, from LinkedIn to live presentations.
Ready to create your own Professional Headshots?
To learn more about my professional headshots service, take a look here. When you're there, this shows you how the service works in detail.
Ready to Chat?
Are you a training consultant, coach, or service-based professional? For this reason, your headshot is often the first impression a client has of you. Let’s make it count. The best way to begin is with a chat together. You can book in using this interactive diary below.
