Corporate Headshots FAQ: Your Guide to Professional Headshot Photography in Chicago
Covered in this post—
Common Questions Regarding Corporate Headshot Photography
What are corporate headshots and why they are important for professionals
How should you prepare for a corporate headshot session
What needs to be considered when booking
They say that you can only make a first impression once. In today’s digital marketplace, first impressions are often through social media platforms, like LinkedIn, or your company’s website. The simple truth is, great headshots go beyond connecting a face with a name.
To say that corporate headshots have changed over the last couple of decades would be a major understatement. We have all seen a website or two where employee images look like they were plucked from an Instagram feed.
Even with the latest filters, the images look amateur. While there is certainly nothing wrong with snapping a selfie, those photos shouldn’t be at the top of the list for a corporate headshot.
The alternative is to work with a professional team that has the experience and tools necessary to produce amazing images that can be on LinkedIn, your company website, and more.
At Mark Campbell Productions, we work diligently with our clients to shine a light on their team members through high-quality professional headshots. From helping team members plan their outfits to getting their best angle, our professional team of photographers can take your corporate headshots to new heights.
6 Common Questions Regarding Corporate Headshot Photography
There are a number of moving parts to planning a corporate headshot photoshoot, so it may seem overwhelming at first. Questions are part of the equation, and a professional photographer should be able to walk you through the process without issue. Here are some of the most common questions we encounter, and advice from our team to consider.
What are corporate headshots and why are they important for professionals?
A headshot is nothing more than a photo that can be used in a professional setting, but close your eyes and picture a great headshot. Chances are the image involves power suits, power ties, and more. Depending on role and the industry you work in, corporate headshots can look very different ranging anywhere from three piece suits to company polos.
The role a corporate headshot isn’t necessarily to make each team member look like they just rolled off of wall street. Great corporate photos provide a human element to your digital world. They may be one of the first things that a potential customer sees, so it pays to nail it the first time. If your organization has a more relaxed atmosphere, that should be reflected in your company headshots.
How should we prepare for a corporate headshot session?
Like anything else in business, preparation is key. In the case of company headshots, preparation involves a number of moving parts including: designating an area for the photoshoot, scheduling time slots for different team members and departments, and prepping employees leading up to the session.
Designating a specific area that is out of the way of normal business will ensure that the photoshoot doesn’t serve as a distraction, and keeps business running smoothly. Board rooms are a popular choice, because they can usually be reserved weeks in advance and aren’t subject to foot traffic.
Once a location in your office has been selected, the next piece of the puzzle is to slot times for each department. Most shoots will last either a half day, or a full day, depending on the size of the organization. To avoid having entire departments out of service, you may consider organizing the shoot by last name.
As the date of your photoshoot nears, take the time to prep your employees. What to wear will vary depending on the organization. If you aren’t choosing company uniforms, such as polos, encourage employees with lighter skin tones to wear darker colors, and those with darker skin tones to wear light colored clothing.
What is does the process look like?
When you work with a professional photography team, the process should be well defined. Packages and pricing should be transparent, and your options should be clear. For example, a half day shoot will typically include one hour of setup and three hours of shooting.
Once the shoot has concluded, the post production process begins, and turnaround times are usually no more than a week. Depending on your organizations need and structure, the process may vary slightly, and those details should be outlined well before the day of the shoot.
The process is one of the biggest differences between working with a professional and an amateur. Structure ensures that each shoot results in great images that highlights every employee.
What options are available?
Every photography company in Chicago will offer slightly different packages, so it pays to do your homework and ask the right questions. Digital touchups have become an industry standard, and any photographer that doesn’t offer retouching should be avoided.
Not every option may be on the production team’s website, so don’t be afraid to ask if special accommodations are needed. Secondary backdrops, multiple locations, and more might be needed, and it is better to get the pieces in place well before the photographer arrives on site, instead of making in-game adjustments.
Pro Tip – Add ons such as an on-site makeup artists are great for C-Level headshots, helping you turn each session up to eleven.
What needs to be considered when booking?
The booking process with a professional photography team isn’t as simple as blocking out someone’s calendar. Size and scope are two of the most important factors to consider when reaching out to a photography company.
Having an accurate headcount is incredibly important, as most sessions last 10-15 minutes. Underestimating the number of employees that will be taking part in the photoshoot will directly impact when time can be scheduled.
For larger organizations, multiple day shoots, or multiple photographers, may be needed to expedite the process. All of these factors will dictate how far in advance you need to schedule your headshots.
As a general rule, planning should begin 90 days prior to your target date. This allows adequate time for resources to be reserved and all of the details to be ironed out.
What does headshot turnaround look like?
Turnaround is typically one of the biggest question marks when it comes to planning a corporate photoshoot. Having a streamlined process on the front end is all for nothing if it takes an additional three months to get your photos back.
Look for production teams that can have your photos back to you within a week or two. Having your team photos both expedited and professionally touched up, doesn’t have to be a compromise. This is where many solo photographers struggle.
They may have the front end process streamlined, but they also have to take additional work, and may not have the support staff to help with processing.
Additionally, turnaround should also include the images being delivered in multiple formats. A printed photo is great for the office wall or if you are an actor, but the image can degrade when scanned in for digital use. Be sure to ask if photos will also be delivered in a digital format, such as JPG, PNG, or RAW.
Schedule Your Company’s Professional Headshots
Great headshots can amplify your company website, team member LinkedIn pages, help with brand identity and more. While the process involves a number of different pieces, working with a professional team will help you ensure that you get the best product for your business at a price that makes sense.
Mark Campbell Productions is the trusted team that Chicago-based organizations have come to know and trust for all of their photography and video production needs. Our professional photographers are supported by a backend team that will help walk you through the process, making planning and execution of your next corporate headshot photoshoot a breeze.
Connect with our team to learn more about our corporate headshot packages, our process, and why we are the top choice for photography and videography in the Windy City.