Individual vs. Corporate Headshot Sessions: Planning for Success
A pro look can make the difference
Allowing your look to shine is the greatest way to bring attention to your brand without saying a word.
As a photographer specializing in headshots and architecture, I’ve learned that preparation is everything when it comes to delivering standout images. Whether I’m shooting an individual headshot session for authors, celebrities, and business people or a large corporate office session, the planning process differs significantly. Here’s a breakdown of how I approach both, complete with tips on outfits, looks, checklists, and my team’s role to ensure a seamless experience.
Individual Headshot Sessions: Personal and Tailored
Individual sessions are all about capturing the client’s unique personality and purpose, whether it’s for a LinkedIn profile, a personal brand, or a high-profile portfolio for authors and celebrities. The planning starts with a one-on-one consultation (often over coffee, as I love those meetings!) to understand their goals. Are they aiming for a polished professional look or something more artistic? This guides every decision.Authors often need headshots for book jackets that convey their voice and genre, with tight deadlines tied to publishing schedules. Celebrities require quick, high-impact micro sessions—sometimes just 5-10 minutes—due to their packed schedules, and I’m ready with gear pre-set and minimal notice needed to deliver stunning results. Business people seek branding images that align with their professional identity, often on short timelines to match corporate campaigns. My team and I tailor each session to meet these unique needs, ensuring every client gets images that elevate their brand on time.
Outfits: I recommend clients bring 2-3 outfit options, ideally in solid colors that complement their skin tone and align with their brand. For example, an author might choose a sophisticated blazer to convey credibility, while a celebrity might opt for something vibrant yet simple to highlight their personality. Avoid busy patterns—they distract from the face. I always suggest trying outfits on beforehand and bringing them pressed and ready.
Looks: We discuss the vibe—formal, approachable, or creative—during the consultation. I guide clients on posing and expressions, often practicing a few looks in front of a mirror during prep. For women, subtle makeup enhances features: natural tones with defined eyes and lips work best. For men, preparation focuses on a neat hairstyle (styled as they’d wear it professionally, whether slicked back or casually groomed), a fresh shave or well-trimmed facial hair, and general tidiness like clean, pressed clothing and trimmed nails. Hair for all clients should be clean and styled to reflect their personal brand.
Checklist: My go-to list includes confirming the shoot location (studio or on-site), scheduling a makeup artist if needed, and double-checking lighting setups, natural or packaged. I also ensure the client knows the timeline—typically 30-60 minutes—and has a clear idea of how many final images they’ll receive (usually 3-5 retouched photos).
Photographer’s Team: For individual sessions, I personally lead the shoot, often supported by a dedicated assistant to manage lighting and styling. For high-profile clients like authors or celebrities, my team ensures a tailored experience, with additional support like an on-site makeup artist or stylist if needed, guaranteeing a polished, professional outcome that elevates their brand.
Corporate Office Sessions: Scale and Consistency
Corporate sessions are a different beast, often involving 10-50 employees in a single day, or even 300+ for larger companies. The focus shifts to efficiency and uniformity while still delivering high-quality, professional headshots. Pre-shoot planning is critical, starting with a detailed conversation with the company’s point person (usually HR or marketing) to align on branding and logistics.
Outfits: For corporate shoots, I work with the company to set a dress code—typically business professional or business casual. I suggest neutral or brand-aligned colors (e.g., navy, white, or grays) to ensure consistency across the team. I also ask for a point person to remind employees to avoid logos or flashy accessories. For larger groups, I provide a style guide in advance to streamline prep.
Looks: The goal is a cohesive look that reflects the company’s brand. I use consistent posing and lighting setups (soft, even lighting works wonders) to create a uniform aesthetic. Expressions are kept approachable yet professional—think confident smiles or neutral gazes. For women, subtle makeup with natural tones is recommended to keep the focus on their features. For men, a neat hairstyle (combed or styled to suit their professional look), a clean shave or neatly trimmed beard/mustache, and general tidiness (e.g., pressed shirts, no stray hairs) ensure a polished appearance. If the company wants variety, I might offer one “serious” and one “friendly” look per person.
Checklist: Corporate sessions require a tight schedule, so my checklist is extensive. I confirm the number of employees, session duration (usually 5-10 minutes per person), and on-site space requirements (a quiet corner with a clean background). I bring extra lighting, backdrops, and a second camera body to avoid delays. A shot list with employee names and a timeline shared with the company keeps things moving. Post-shoot, I use Lightroom for batch editing to maintain consistency while delivering 1-2 polished images per person. For large shoots of 300+ employees, we plan a multi-day schedule (typically 2-3 days, with 100-150 headshots per day), providing the company with a detailed timeline for setup, shooting, and delivery within 5-7 business days.
Photographer’s Team: My team scales to meet the needs of any corporate shoot, from small offices to companies with 300+ employees. I lead a crew of experienced headshot photographers and assistants, all trained in my workflow to ensure consistency in lighting, posing, and editing. For large-scale shoots, we deploy multiple shooting stations to maximize efficiency, with dedicated team members handling logistics, client communication, and post-production, ensuring a seamless experience and high-quality results.
Key Differences in Planning
Individual sessions allow for more creative freedom and flexibility, with time to experiment with poses and looks tailored to the client, especially for authors and celebrities looking to stand out. Corporate sessions demand precision and scalability—think assembly-line efficiency without sacrificing quality. For individuals, I can spend 10 minutes perfecting a single shot; for corporates, my team balances speed with consistency across dozens or hundreds of faces.Both types of sessions benefit from clear communication and preparation. For individuals, it’s about building trust and capturing their essence, whether they’re an author crafting a book jacket, a celebrity needing a quick micro session, or a business person enhancing their professional image. For corporates, it’s about aligning with the company’s vision while managing logistics like a pro, even for massive 300+ employee shoots. No matter the shoot, my goal is to make every client look their best and feel confident.
What’s Next?
Whether you’re an author, celebrity, or business person booking an individual headshot or a company coordinating a corporate session for 10 or 300 employees, my team is ready to plan the perfect shoot. Check out my website for more details, and stay tuned for my next post on “Architectural Design and How I Capture It.”
