Corporate Team Headshots
Our Complete Guide to Corporate Team Headshots That Will Exceed Expectations: From Planning to Publication
Introduction
Your company website serves as the digital front door to your business, and team photos play an essential role in humanizing your brand. Recent studies show that a company's "About" and "Team" pages are among the most visited sections of corporate websites, with visitors spending an average of 1.5 minutes browsing through team members' photos and bios. This makes corporate team headshots a crucial element of your online presence.
We believe that these images create powerful first impressions. According to research by Princeton psychologists, people form judgments about others within just 100 milliseconds of seeing their photograph. For your business, this means potential clients and partners are quickly forming opinions about your company's professionalism, approachability, and trustworthiness based on your team's visual presentation.
Having inconsistent, outdated, or poor-quality corporate team headshots can undermine even the most polished website design. We've seen companies just throw up any employee provided headshots from which they have access, including selfies and poorly lit prior employment headshots. When companies thoughtfully plan and professionally execute corporate team photos, they can strengthen their brand identity, build trust with visitors, and even improve conversion rates. We can match your corporate identity with custom backgrounds that enhance your website's identity or we work with you to created something that everyone will love.
Our following guide will walk you through the complete process of planning, executing, and implementing outstanding team photography for your company website. Whether you're refreshing existing images or starting from scratch, you'll find practical advice for each step of this process.
Part 1: Strategic Planning for Corporate Team Headshots
Defining Your Visual Brand Strategy
Let's talk about getting your visual brand right before jumping into a photo session. Think of your corporate team headshots as an extension of your brand's personality—they need to match the vibe you've already established.
Before you pick up the phone to call us, take a quick look at what you've already got going on visually. Pull up your website, flip through your marketing materials, and check out your logo. Ask yourself:
- Are you going for buttoned-up professional, or more of a cool, approachable feel?
- Who are you trying to impress with these photos? What would they expect to see?
- What's everyone else in your industry doing—and do you want to follow suit or stand out?
Once you've got those answers, put together a simple visual guide for your corporate team headshots project. Nothing fancy—just a document that shows:
- A few "dream shots" that nail the look you're after
- Some notes about backgrounds (Plain white? Office setting? Outdoors?)
- How you want people to pose and express themselves (Serious? Smiling? Casual?)
- Colors that work with your brand
This little lookbook becomes your secret weapon when communicating with both us and your team. You won't have to explain what you mean by "professional but not stuffy." You can just show them!
Your style choice really matters here. Think about it: a law firm's photos probably shouldn't look like a tech startup's. Financial advisors typically go more formal (it's about trust, right?), while creative agencies can let personalities shine through. Your industry sets some expectations, but your unique company culture should always come through.
Logistical Planning for Success
Now for the nuts and bolts. Once you know what you want these photos to look like, work backward from when you need them live on your site:
- Finding the right photographer (2-3 weeks)
- Getting together to plan details (a week or two)
- Prepping your team and scheduling everyone (1-2 weeks, depending on size)
- Photo day! (1-2 days, depending on how many people you have)
- Picking the best shots and touching them up (2-3 weeks). Usually prefer team members pick their own, but give them a deadline.
- Getting everything up on your website (about a week)
Let's talk money, because yes, good corporate team headshots are an investment. You're typically looking at $150-$300 per person for smaller teams. Larger teams will get better rates since we can work more efficiently. Remember, these photos will represent your company everywhere, probably for years. Think of it as spreading that cost across hundreds of first impressions!
When it's time to rally the troops, clear communication is key. Send out a simple guide that covers:
- Why you're doing this (new website? rebranding?)
- When and where it's happening
- How to prepare (what to wear, what to expect)
- Any scheduling details they need to know
Pro tip: get your leadership team on board early and photograph them first. Nothing motivates the marketing team like seeing the CEO prioritize the photoshoot! Plus, it helps establish exactly what you're going for style-wise when everyone else can see the finished examples.
Preparing Your Team
Even your most confident team members can feel anxious about having their photo taken. Randy's years of experience on set will quickly dissolve any hesitation or nerves. He has an easy way of communicating with nearly every type of personality. Finding wardrobe that exudes confidence for your team will automatically bring some swagger to their approach. Provide specific direction rather than vague guidelines. Instead of saying "dress professionally," specify "solid-colored business attire in navy, gray, or black." Consider creating a visual guide showing appropriate options. Offer practical tips to help everyone look their best:- Get a good night's sleep before the shoot day
- Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol the night before
- For men, consider getting a haircut 5-7 days before the shoot
- Bring backup clothing options
- For those wearing makeup, keep it natural, but find a good skin matching foundation that is not too heavy but also covers smoothly. We recommend Laura Mercier as it has a good balance of lightness with coverage.
Think smart about when you schedule these photo sessions. Nobody wants the entire office grinding to a halt! Morning time slots usually win the popularity contest, and for good reason. People look fresher, haven't spilled lunch on their shirt yet, and haven't hit that 3 PM wall. Plus, their hair and makeup are still intact from their morning routine!
Budget about 15-20 minutes per person for those individual shots. It might seem quick, but a we know how to work efficiently while still making everyone feel comfortable. If you're planning group photos too, don't forget to pad the schedule a bit. Herding everyone together always takes longer than you think!
All this planning might seem like a lot of work upfront, but trust me, it's worth every minute. The time you invest now sets you up for killer corporate team headshots that'll make your company look amazing—not just on your website, but across all your marketing materials for years to come. Good photos are the gift that keeps on giving!
Part 2: Studio vs. On-Site
The Studio Advantage
Our photo studios offers significant benefits for corporate team headshots. We have a controlled environment that allows us to achieve consistent lighting, color balance, and image quality across your entire team—essential when photos will appear side by side on your website. In our north light studio, we have complete control over lighting setups, eliminating the variability that can occur with natural light or office lighting. This control ensures that every team member receives the same high-quality treatment regardless of when their session occurs.For backgrounds we offer greenscreen headshots as an option to customize your backgrounds. This allows us to cater your shoot to match your company's existing backgrounds. It also gives you flexibility for updating the look of your headshot by simply changing your background to match any changes in your company's webpage or employment status. As a result your headshots can have a lasting impact on all of your promotions.
Without workplace distractions, your team members can gather in our 4500 square foot space, listen to music, interact with each other and fully focus on their session. They can even login to our free wifi and work while they wait. This focused environment often results in more relaxed, confident expressions. Our studio sessions work particularly well for:- Companies without suitable on-site spaces
- Organizations prioritizing absolute consistency
- Teams with members in multiple locations.
- Businesses undergoing office renovations or moves
- Companies wanting a timeless look disconnected from their physical space
The On-Site Approach
Bringing us to your workplace creates opportunities for engaging environmental portraits that showcase your company culture. Our extensive experience in commercial lifestyle advertising photography will show your team members in their natural professional lives. We can set it up with loosely editorial style or more formal where we bring in a backdrop.
The logistical convenience cannot be overstated, especially for larger teams. Rather than having everyone travel to an outside location and potentially lose half a day of productivity, our on-site sessions minimize disruption. Team members can pop in for short sessions between meetings with minimal downtime.
Your office environment itself becomes part of your brand story. Custom furniture, architectural elements, branded spaces, and even views from your windows reinforce your company identity and add visual clout to your team photography.
Our onsite sessions also allow for natural interaction shots—team members collaborating, engaging in discussion, or working together—providing website visitors with a glimpse into your company culture beyond posed headshots.
The on-site approach works especially well for:
- Companies with visually appealing office spaces
- Organizations highlighting their collaborative culture
- Teams too large to reasonably transport elsewhere
- Businesses wanting to showcase their work environment
- Companies seeking authentic, in-context imagery
Hybrid Approaches
Many photographers now offer mobile studio setups that combine the consistency of studio photography with the convenience of on-site sessions. These portable lighting and backdrop systems can transform a conference room into a temporary photo studio. This approach allows companies to create visual variety while maintaining consistency. For example, you might capture traditional headshots against a neutral backdrop, then supplement these with environmental portraits showing team members in their workspace. For maximum flexibility, consider scheduling main headshots in a controlled setting while capturing additional casual shots in office common areas. This provides options for different applications—formal headshots for the leadership team page and more casual images for blog posts or social media. Best practices for workplace setups include:- Reserving a quiet, dedicated space (conference room or large office)
- Clearing the area of distracting elements
- Ensuring adequate space (minimum 10' x 10')
- Providing access to electrical outlets
- Allowing time for setup and breakdown (typically 30-60 minutes each)
Environmental Considerations
Different shooting environments present unique lighting challenges. Office spaces often feature unflattering fluorescent lighting, competing light sources of different color temperatures, and limited natural light. Professional photographers bring supplemental lighting equipment to address these issues, but space constraints can sometimes limit setup options. Background selection requires careful attention in workplace settings. Cluttered bookshelves, fire extinguishers, exit signs, or busy wallpaper can distract from the subject. Scout potential locations in advance, looking for clean, simple backgrounds that complement rather than compete with your team members. Space requirements vary by approach. Traditional headshots need less room than three-quarter or full-body portraits.Estimating Costs and Other Considerations
Feel free to call or email for location fees and provide as much information as possible about your photoshoot needs and location, including answers to the following for your company's corporate team headshots:
- Location: Will the photoshoot take place in our studio or a specific location, such as your office, a studio, or an outdoor setting? Knowing the location will help us plan logistics effectively.
- Do you have enough space for us to set up and shoot? If you prefer an indoor set up, we really need at least 800 square feet so we can use longer prime lenses which are more flattering for headshots.
- Do you have good natural light such as a north light facing door or windows or will we need to set up lights and backgrounds?
- Will we need to match lighting for any existing headshots your company may have?
- Styling and Setup: Do you have any specific preferences for the style and setup of the headshots? For example, do you prefer formal or casual attire, specific backgrounds, or props? If not we can creatively collaborate on a solution that will best serve your company.
- Do you require a group shot of your people? This determines how we schedule your shoot and your personnel’s time commitment.
- Scheduling: What is your preferred date or timeframe for the photoshoot? This will help me check my availability and make suitable arrangements.
Once I have the necessary details from you, I can prepare a formal proposal that includes all costs and a comprehensive timeline for the project. Please feel free to ask any questions or share your thoughts about your vision for the headshots. I'm here to collaborate with you and ensure that the end result exceeds your expectations.
Technical considerations differ between location shoots and studio shoots. As mentioned our studio sessions allow for consistent camera settings throughout the day, while changing conditions in office environments may require more frequent adjustments. This is where I, as an experienced corporate team headshots photographer, prove my worth, seamlessly adapting to different spaces while maintaining consistent results.Part 3: What To Expect on the Photo Session Day
The Photography Process
On your scheduled photography day, we like to keep a very structured approach to ensure efficiency and consistent results. Understanding this process helps both you and your team know what to expect. For a standard corporate headshot session, the day usually begins with us arriving 30-60 minutes before the first scheduled appointment. This setup time allows us to set up our equipment, test lighting, and make any necessary adjustments to the space. Individual sessions generally run 15-20 minutes per person, which includes:- Brief introduction and explanation of the process (2-3 minutes)
- Minor wardrobe adjustments and initial posing (2-3 minutes)
- Multiple shots in different poses and expressions (8-10 minutes)
- Quick review of images and additional shots if needed (3-5 minutes)
