The importance of corporate headshots
Corporate headshots are professional portraits of company executives, management, leadership teams, and staff. They are one of the most frequently requested services we provide. Companies and organisations introduce their staff to clients through their websites, enabling them to establish a visual connection before meeting representatives. First impressions are important, and people often make up their minds about the type of company they are dealing with based on what they see on its website About Us page, employees LinkedIn, or social media profiles. Consequently, it is essential to ensure that these corporate headshots are shared with staff for their business social media profiles. It is crucial that these initial impressions reflect the professionalism and personality of the subject, aligning with the organisation’s brand identity
Maintaining brand identity through updated staff photos
Company staff frequently undergo changes, necessitating the updating of staff photos when a new member joins the team. Many of our corporate headshot photoshoots are commissioned by existing clients to photograph a new member of their team, ensuring consistency with previously captured images.
Attempting to replicate a photo of a new starter without professional assistance can negatively impact the brand’s image. Numerous corporate websites provide examples where the style and lighting of the new member’s photo do not align with the previous ones, resulting in obvious mismatches. It is generally advisable to invest in the services of a professional photographer to ensure accurate and consistent results.
It is equally important to establish a relationship with a photographic services supplier that has multiple photographers stationed in various locations throughout the country. This not only provides greater flexibility in terms of return visits and the capture of imagery for new starters, but also enables the consistent supply of corporate headshot photographs when photographing staff in satellite offices across the UK.
Where are corporate headshots commonly utilised?
Corporate headshot photographs serve a multifaceted purpose beyond mere branding. They are not only published on the company website and the social media profiles of staff members, but they are also frequently distributed to the media to accompany news releases in which the individual is quoted. It is noteworthy that a business article accompanied by a photograph tends to garner more attention than one without.
Professional portraits can also be incorporated into business cards, contact lists, presentations, contract bids, and email icons. Consistent use of these portraits reinforces the company’s brand identity.
What backdrop options are suitable for corporate headshots?
Business headshots can be captured against a plain, a natural interior, or even a natural backdrop outdoors. Each option presents its own advantages and disadvantages. The most frequently requested backdrop is a plain one, which is typically set up in a client’s meeting room. The advantages of a plain backdrop include consistency from shoot to shoot, and in this instance, we typically offer a portable pop-up. This allows future subjects and staff in other offices across the United Kingdom to be photographed against the same colour background, ensuring consistency in the resulting photographs.
Photographing business staff against natural backgrounds within the office environment or outdoors can enhance visual interest and allow the subject’s personality to emerge as they relax. Objects and building architecture can be strategically placed in soft focus behind the subject, while features such as meeting tables and balustrades can provide opportunities for more relaxed poses. This style of photography effectively helps ‘tell the story’ and can make the images more personalised. The background can vary depending on the individual’s height and body shape, although the overall theme will remain consistent.
When photographing business portraits or headshots outdoors, favourable weather conditions are crucial. The background should complement the environment in which the subject works. If an exterior shoot is planned, an interior option should be considered to avoid harsh direct sunlight causing squinting, a light breeze disrupting carefully styled hairstyles, or raindrops ruining clothing.
Headshots for media use
If the objective of a photoshoot is to photograph company staff or spokespeople who will be quoted in the media, it is essential to use natural backgrounds that can be blurred, as media outlets generally prefer this style of imagery. If you provide the media with photos that meet their style, they are more likely to get used, offering a better return on your investment of professional photography. Additionally, slightly wider shot options in portrait and landscape views should be provided to accommodate editorial layout. Ideally, the subject should be photographed in an environment that reflects the market in which they operate, as this helps ‘tell the story’ of their organisation.
Studio or location?
We always shoot our corporate business headshots on location at the clients’ offices or premises as it is far less disruptive to a client’s business, more convenient for them, and enables our photographers to make the photos more personalised when using a natural background. On arrival, our photographers scout out suitable natural backdrops or set up a mobile backdrop with suitable lighting to ensure staff can be photographed with the minimum of fuss whilst producing stunning headshots that can be used for a whole variety of purposes.
With our team of photographers strategically located throughout the UK, whether you require corporate headshots in Cheltenham, professional portraits in Portsmouth, executive headshots in Edinburgh, leadership headshots in London, or CEO portraits in Cardiff, we can help.
Explore our extensive portfolio of people photography which showcases many styles of headshots or contact us to schedule your corporate headshots session.