How to Organize a Great Corporate Headshots (Part I)

You know employee headshots are a great way to enhance brand image and show off your company to prospective clients and help give a professional and dynamic company impression.

If you are looking for a photographer to take your business headshots here are some helpful tips:

Pick the right photographer

Focus your search on photographers who specialize in headshots and portraits. Make sure the photographer has experience with on-location company shoots. Make sure your chosen photographer works in your geographical area. For example, Maryam Thompson photography focuses on the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area but she travels as well.

Meet for consultation

Each and every organization has different needs and reasons to do a professional  headshot. During the initial consultation, I ask lots of questions to make sure I have a clear idea of what you want out of your headshot session. These are some of the questions that I ask during our consultation. 

What type of photos do you need? Headshots, full-body or up to the waist (¾ length)? 

Do you need horizontal, vertical or square crops? What do you need photos for? Website, social media, print materials or ads

What do you want to convey with your images and what is your message? Friendly and approachable, fun and creative, modern or more traditional headshots.

How long does a portrait take?

I would spend at least 15 minutes with each person on average. Capturing a portrait that you’ll be proud to share on your website or Linkedin profile is a very different experience from having your school picture. Besides discussing any personal requests with the client, I fine-tune the lighting and work through different poses/expressions that flatter each individual. Then we review the images with the client to see which poses/expressions they like best.