Professional business headshots help to create a successful image of your company and emphasize your status. A business portrait can become a real business card that perfectly illustrates your image in the media space.
Perfectly created business portrait helps to increase the confidence of potential customers and partners in you, the brand, and your company. This is one of the most important methods of promoting your own business.
In this guide, we will answer many of your questions on how to find a professional business headshot photographer, what to wear for the business photoshoot, and different photoshoot ideas for entrepreneurs.
FIND A BUSINESS HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER
Creating a business headshot portrait is not just a photoshoot for a manager in the workplace. Most importantly, a professional photographer works with the image, details, and atmosphere during the preparation of the photoshoot.
With the efforts of both the photographer and the client, it is possible to create a whole composition that will tell potential clients and partners about the success, reliability, and personality qualities of the portrait holder.
Only an experienced portrait photographer can emphasize your strengths.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BOOK YOUR BUSINESS PORTRAIT FROM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER?
These types of photographs are not taken often, as they are needed for particular purposes. One of the examples of common uses is posting a manager’s photo on the website or social media. Any client or partner pays attention to how the administration looks in the picture. A professional, high-quality, and skilled composition can be created only by an experienced master who has a solid portfolio.
You can see more of our professional business headshots and personal branding portfolio here.
It’s important that if you want to take a business portrait, you should never arrange your own photoshoot on a camera or a smartphone. It is better to contact a photographer who will photograph at the highest quality without hurting the image of your company.
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Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/8, 1/200s, ISO 160 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
BUSINESS PORTRAIT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WORK
A professional business portrait will distinguish you as a leader or employee of the company from the best side. In addition to emphasizing the subject’s physical self, the photographer can show the personality behind the portrait as well.
This may be the image of a successful young leader in the office or the image of a serious, reliable person who represents the interests of the company.
A professional business headshot is required for entrepreneurs, the top management of the company, the heads of organizations, and anyone who is starting a new business. It can be either a single portrait or corporate shot when a group photo is taken together with employees.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 640 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
WHO NEEDS PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS HEADSHOTS?
It is generally believed that a business headshot is required only for heads of organizations, but this is not truly the case. Absolutely anyone can have such a shoot if they want to get high-quality photos made in a business style.
A business photo session, as indicated above, is necessary for company managers and CEOs. Often times, real estate agents, attorneys, doctors, heads of law enforcement agencies, and entrepreneurs need to have a professional portrait that will make their brand stand out from all the other brands.
When working with a client, the photographer takes into account a lot of factors, such as the subject’s pose in the photo, the position of the hands, facial expression, and characteristics of the portrait.
Business representatives need a business portrait – it is important to present themselves positively and openly to clients. Job seekers need to have a professional business headshot as well. It is no secret that employers, when studying resumes, also pay attention to the photo of a potential employee.
It’s best if you choose a professional and not a fan photo that emphasizes your commitment and serious intentions to get the desired position. Believe me, your success will be almost guaranteed.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 50 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A BUSINESS PORTRAIT?
- For the official website of the organization, since the CEO is the face of the company;
- When participating in an interview or the media publication;
- As an illustration of the services being promoted;
- For advertising purposes, when the chief or employee of a company promotes a brand;
- In social networks, where you want to demonstrate the personality aspects of the company’s leader.
In all the cases described, a business portrait helps to tie the personality of the leader with the company brand.
You can book a business headshot photoshoot for managers of both large and small companies. If you have a small business, then creating a business portrait will help to attract more trust among potential customers.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
f/11, 1/80s, ISO 100 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
WHAT TO WEAR FOR A BUSINESS HEADSHOT PHOTOSHOOT?
A photo session in the style of a business portrait requires some preparation. You can prepare for this session with business style outfits and suitable hairstyle and makeup. If requested, the photographer can help to arrange for experienced stylists to create an image for you on the spot.
We encourage you to read our post How to Prepare for a Portrait Photo Session for more information on photoshoot preparation.
It’s best to chat with your photographer about the outfit and styling choices before the photoshoot. Ask for advice on what type of clothing to take with you to the photo session.
MEN BUSINESS PHOTOSHOOT OUTFIT IDEAS
Color variations are usually standard. You can bring business suits in black, blue, gray, brown, or beige colors. Don’t forget a tie, dress shirt, classic shoes, and maybe even cufflinks.
The base of an exceptional appearance for a businessman is a properly selected suit. The suit has to fit you well and not be too big or too small – the camera will pick up all flaws if the suit does not fit you well.
Men’s business clothing should be in a classic style, so be sure to consider this when you are preparing for your photo shoot. If you don’t want to wear a suit, then it’s better to choose outfits in darker shades. Darker tones will make you look slimmer, as well as more business-like.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 50 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
WOMEN BUSINESS HEADSHOT PHOTOSHOOT OUTFITS
Women can choose elegant suits, business dresses, or shirts with pencil skirts. Small accessories are appropriate, but they should not be bright, colorful, or distracting.
If you have long hair, then it is better to choose a blouse, or jacket that differs in tone from the color of your hair. It is best if the clothes are in muted colors – this way nothing will distract attention from your face.
Sometimes business headshot photoshoots have a certain theme, so it’s better to consult with a photographer about the choice of clothing. Work with your photographer to choose clothes that won’t blend with the background. Experts recommend taking into account the skin color, hair type, and eye color when choosing outfits for your brand image.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/10, 1/200s, ISO 50 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS HEADSHOTS
Photographing in a business style takes some time. First of all, the quality of photographs largely depends on the experience of the photographer. The main task is not just to take a beautiful picture of the client. It is important to emphasize certain personal qualities of the leader, creating a positive impression of that person.
For example, if an executive of a large company is photographed – his leadership position and determination should be emphasized. This can be expressed in body position, posture, facial expression, and hand position.
Also, when preparing for the personal branding session, the photographer takes into account what that person’s job is. If the client works as a doctor, for instance, then his posture in the photo should speak of goodwill, care, and patience.
Communicating emotions through the picture is an incredibly difficult task. The photographer tries to detect the emotions and then capture them in each frame. When working with a client, the following factors are taken into account:
- Characteristics of the client’s career (their job position);
- Facial expressions;
- Body pose, posture, hand position;
- The nature of the photoshoot and the presence of personal branding story in a business portrait.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
Window Light | f/2.0, 1/400s, ISO 640 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
PERSONAL BRANDING PORTRAITS
Sometimes photoshoots are done thematically – also called personal branding portraits. The photoshoot takes place either at the client’s workplace, or the client is placed in an interior that characterizes his work. For example, it can be a personal office, a doctor’s office, or even a home office.
It is important to note the development of the concept of personal branding story in business portraits. Creating a photograph is a unique art similar to the cinema process.
During the photoshoot, the person should be relaxed as much as possible. The problem of many clients lies in the fact that they feel extremely stiff, and this can negatively affect the portrait.
If a person is worried about flaws in their appearance, then it is not necessary. With the help of artistic photo processing, the photographer can eliminate any imperfections and emphasize the existing advantages.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/7.1, 1/200s, ISO 100 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLIENT AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Client wishes are always the law, but a skilled photographer can make the client listen to his artistic suggestions. During the photoshoot process, the photographer determines the correct camera exposure. Equally important are the lighting and focal length. Following these technical aspects allows photographers to make high-quality professional business headshots.
Taking photos seems to be a simple matter that doesn’t require much effort. But this is far from the case, because the photographer, like a real artist, must capture the emotions of the client by presenting them most desirably in the picture.
Creating a special, comfortable, and trusting atmosphere of communication between the photographer and the client is the ideal setting for a successful business portrait session.
BUSINESS PORTRAITS TYPES
There are certain types of business portraits, such as portraits made on a seamless plain background (studio version), interior shots, and lifestyle photos. Each style is distinguished by its appearance, target area, and characteristics of the shooting process. Let’s discuss each type of photoshoot in more detail.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
f/9.0, 1/200s, ISO 50 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
Light: Profoto B1 500 AirTTL System
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS HEADSHOTS IN STUDIO
Studio photos on a monochrome background always look strict and professional. Most often, a light-toned background is used to create business headshots; it’s a more standard type of background. The main focus is on the main subject of the shoot.
The photographer tries to catch the subject’s character, facial expressions, and mood. This helps to create a unique composition that looks stylish and elegant. Generally, a client is photographed close-up, for example, waist-high. Sometimes the client might need a full-body portrait, so the photographer must know poses that would work well for full height shots.
Camera: Canon EOS 5DS R | Lens: Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM
Window Light | f/1.2, 1/250s, ISO 250 | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
INTERIOR BUSINESS PORTRAITS
The next style is the interior business photos. They may contain certain interior items, or they can be done entirely in some thematic interior composition. Through these photos, we focus on the occupational activities of the client or create a specific story that will be expressed in the pictures.
Such pictures are usually taken at full height, and they can be both individual and group shots. When creating an interior photo, it is essential to make the subject look as effortless and natural as possible.
LIFESTYLE BUSINESS PHOTOS
Lifestyle photo sessions can show the subject’s personality. They describe certain life situations through vivid photographs. Typically, these photos are best suitable for interviews or social media purposes.
Lifestyle business photos give the impression of a person’s live presence during the event, communicating with employees, holding a briefing, or a business conference.
CONCLUSION
How to choose the right style for a professional business headshot? First off, consult the photographer. Tell us about yourself, your work, the goals of the photoshoot, and together we will select the perfect photo style for you.
If you want to get high-quality business headshots or personal branding portraits, do not miss the opportunity to reserve your photoshoot with Sergey Bidun, a professional Sacramento portrait photographer. You can count on a great atmosphere during the shoot and high-end business photographs!
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Photographer: Sergey Bidun
Written by Maria Bidun
