Corporate Photography in London Offices

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A large percentage of our corporate photography commissions take place in client’s offices in London. We capture corporate headshots with our studio set up and generic office imagery. Headshots clients often prefer that we shoot at their office as this saves arranging for their staff to come to our studio. We bring our professional lighting and background set which is very compact and can be constructed by the photographer. The mobile studio can be set up within ten minutes and this allows for top quality high end corporate portrait photography.

 

Corporate Photography in London Offices

Corporate Photography in London Offices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some clients prefer to have a more relaxed style of corporate headshot which incorporates the environment they work in. This we can supply by using the same style of lighting set up but incorporating their office as a background and using the ambient light to feature the offices. We feel these work well as they show the client in a more corporate environment and make their headshots much more individual. Each person can be photographed against the same area of the offices so all the headshots have the same background or we can photograph each member of staff with a different area of the offices behind them giving a variety of locations but all having the same theme as corporate backgrounds.

 

Corporate Photography in London Offices Corporate Photography in London Offices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another option we can supply is our favourite reportage style of corporate photography. This type really has to be captured at client’s offices as they rely heavily on the seeing the sitter working and communicating in their offices. These we try not to light with professional lighting as you are trying to keep the portrait as natural as possible so we rely on a higher ISO and ambient light. It is a good idea not to try and over pose these images and create a meeting situation in an area of the office you find photogenic and then let the clients talk business and really focus on what they are discussing rather than the fact they are being photographed.

 

Corporate Photography in London Offices Corporate Photography in London Offices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last corporate headshot option we can capture at London offices is the same as our studio set up process but we then can add a cityscape background. This is popular for clients who want to be associated with The City as a financial hub. It is also popular with international companies who have several offices across the world and wish to highlight their employees working in different capitals. We have a photo library of important financial cities and we can create the illusion that the photographer has travelled to each office to compile all the companies headshots for their about us website page.

 

Corporate Photography in London Offices Corporate Photography in London Offices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally we sometimes get asked to shoot a few shots around the offices to be used on company websites. These can often be for banners and as backgrounds on company LinkedIn pages. We do have to recce the offices and set people in to the staged shots so we can contrive to capture natural corporate office imagery.

Corporate Photography in London Offices Corporate Photography in London Offices

All content and photographs © Corporate Photographers London.

 

 

The difference between corporate headshots and corporate portrait photography.

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I have been a corporate portrait photographer for longer than I care to remember and have noticed that over recent years we are receiving less commissions for corporate portraits and more for corporate headshots. The majority of clients require a profile photo on a white background and often their request asks for something simple and without too many studio lights. This gives us very little to work with as they are basically wanting a passport photo but taken on a decent camera. This seems a real shame as a decent corporate portrait can portray your personality and suggest success and professionalism.

The term headshot originated in the US and was originally associated with actors. These were sometimes very creative shots that used lighting and background to create powerful portraits. Early website pages with ‘meet the team’ headshots were often taken against a bright blue or mottled studio background and did nobody any favours. These were often the colourama rolls which studios had lying around and after a while became standard for plenty of large US corporates. To this day I still get sent sample headshots that I need to match which feature these backgrounds.

In the past corporate portrait photography was commissioned mainly for magazines, annual reports and company brochures. People had the perception that this was required for this media but a website headshot could dispense with the quality and creativity associated with a portrait. Their has been a gradual change to using a corporate portrait. We have seen an uplift in requests recently and the understanding that your LinkedIn profile is your professional online CV and the photo will be the first thing people look at.

Here are some samples and we can look at how they benefit the individual.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Striking corporate portrait using natural and studio lighting to great effect. Great use of reflections and The City skyline to suggest a  confident professional in a modern London office.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. More subtle corporate portrait using natural light from a side window and a interesting boardroom background. Little hints of modern corporate interior design help show her business success.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. You could never convey this type of confidence and pride in a basic headshot. The stance and location bring a sense of leadership to the corporate portrait.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Wonderful corporate portrait using the office corridor lighting as a diagonal which adds visual interest. The pose again is very relaxed and the individual looks in control and at the top of her game.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Informal or reportage corporate portrait photography is visually interesting as it gives a sense of purpose in the working environment. People are focused on talking about their business and therefore look unposed and very natural.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. The crop is tight which is similar to a headshot but the addition of a subtle outline of St Pauls suggest a young London professional ready for business.

Corporate Portrait Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. We shot this for CEO Magazine and using shapes and lighting this is a good example of corporate portrait photography.

 

Looking at these samples you have to take into account where they are going to be used. LinkedIn profile photos are very small and therefore a tighter crop is required to feature well. Company websites have enough room and scope to widen their ‘About Us’ headshots and their is marketing potential in being creative with their corporate portrait photography to make the website page of interest to the viewer rather than a standard corporate staff gallery.

 

LinkedIn Photography London

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Tips and ideas on how to use photography on your LinkedIn profile page.

We have posted before about the importance of your LinkedIn profile photo and the benefits of having a professional or carefully  considered headshot on your LinkedIn page but another important area to consider is the banner or background image you can customise along with the URL you can tailor  to benefit you.

The banner image which runs behind your profile photo is important as it is the second thing visitors to your profile will look at. If you leave the default LinkedIn image it looks like you could not be bothered to finish the page and therefore looks unprofessional. I have noticed that people will spend a great deal of time getting their text perfect for their page but when it comes to the use of photography on their LinkedIn profile it seems they either ignore it leaving it as default or make a vague attempt to drop something suitable in. Both or these practises are flawed as LinkedIn has become an excellent market place for professionals but also a way potential employers, clients and customers can check you out without you knowing they have had a look at your professional background.

A friend who was setting up her first LinkedIn page was told by the head of her graphic design degree course not to put a banner image featuring any of her work but just to upload a white file so it appeared neutral. I can see the thinking behind this but I do not agree with the thought process. On your LinkedIn page you should utilise every aspect to make yourself stand out in the business arena. If all the students from my friend’s course follow that advice and only one student uploads her work then which profile will stand out. I suggested she makes a collage of her work so it represents her designs and she can also tailor the background image if she is going for a certain position or commission to fit with that style.

Companies are beginning to ask us to photograph their offices and areas of their business so these images can be used on their corporate profiles. LinkedIn should become a part of your corporate branding and the use of photography is paramount in this process.

On my LinkedIn profile page I have used the image below. It consists of studio, location and office corporate headshots along with one photo of The City. These are the services we offer and the location we work at. Pretty basic stuff but hopefully just by looking at the background photo you could work out what we do and where we do it.

LinkedIn photography London

Whichever profession or business sector you or your company work in there will be decent imagery that would greatly improve your profile. Consider what you could use and if you are drawing a blank then approach designers or photographers and collect some ideas and inspiration. It might be a good idea to invest in some good photography software as the banner image has to be 1584 x 396 pixels so all photos would need cropping to fit the letter box format. As already mentioned a montage is useful to fill this shape as square or portrait images can make up the wider landscape crop.

The second point I wanted to draw attention to was the way you can customise your LinkedIn URL. It is free and can help your SEO and make your page more memorable. Simply click on the edit URL option and add your name, company or keywords. Some are taken but you can play around to find a URL which fits your profession. We are corporate photographer London which makes sense.

Please get in touch if you would like our help with your LinkedIn photos and here is an article on professional corporate headshots.

LinkedIn photography in London

 

Why LinkedIn Headshots Benefit from having a White Background.

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Great post by Scott R Kline on why LinkedIn headshots with white backgrounds benefit your LinkedIn profile

 

A white background is the most effective way to get the most from your  LinkedIn headshots. You will get more connections and better relationships. Here are six reasons why.

Standout on that small screen

You will get more LinkedIn contacts if your photo stands out and is instantly recognizable. After someone has met you and wants to link to you or get more information, they will type your name into LinkedIn – probably on their smartphone. Six to ten names will come up with tiny images next to them. (If you don’t have a profile photo, forget about connecting.) If your profile photo is not recognizable, they will not link to you. By having a white background and a tight crop, there is no distraction from your face, giving you the largest chance of being recognized and getting the connection.

No Distractions for Viewer

A white background gives no distractions. A busy background is a distraction -especially on that tiny smartphone screen. I think a location-based portrait is better suited to a website, where a larger photo can be offered. Better to keep it simple and straightforward on LinkedIn.

Converts easily to black-and-white

A white background works really well in a black and white headshot. There is a big difference in tone between most faces and the background. If you take our previous tip about frequently changing your photo, a black-and-white version of your current photo makes that an easy and low-cost option.

A Pure White Background Says Professional Headshot

A professional corporate headshot is essential to having a LinkedIn profile that is complete and effective. Every LinkedIn and social media expert we have interviewed agrees. Selfies and amateur shots don’t have that pure white background. LinkedIn headshots with a white background makes it quickly evident that you made the investment in a professional headshot. That meticulousness makes an impression on a potential employer or customer.

Consistency Among Other Employees

Do you have an organization with multiple representatives with headshots on LinkedIn? Your company will look organized and well-managed if everyone has a similarly-styled headshot. A white background makes this happen with ease. A consistent crop amplifies this effect. This consistency can also be used on the team page of your website. When you receive your final retouched images from your photographer, make sure you have multiple crops of your headshots so that your webmaster can make the shot best fit your About Page. Many website these days are designed with a white background. The white background headshot can fit in nicely. Tip: A small grey line around the shot can really give a professional look on a white background site.

Bonus Website Benefit – Adding Future Employees

Adding future employees is a snap when you use a white background. If you make the background for all your employee shots too complicated or unusual, like shots in a specific place, adding future employee shots can be more difficult both logistically and from a cost basis. To make them match, the corporate photographer must go out to the same location, get the lighting the same and match the other shots. With a white background, the shot can be created almost anywhere.