How to Prepare for Your Corporate Group Photoshoot
Before embarking on your corporate photoshoot, be sure to organize your team to get the most out of the experience.
A corporate team photo should highlight your business team spirit and the philosophy that permeates your company. Instead of opting for generic photos, think about the tone and style your business photos should convey.
Once you have determined what you expect from your photos, clearly communicate this to your team and coordinate a group photo day that will reflect your brand’s image and boost customer engagement.
What Do You Expect from Your Corporate Group Photos?
It’s generally advised to shoot new team photos every two to three years: groups vary, teams evolve, and people’s business positions change. Instead of having a corporate team photo that no longer represents your business, organize frequent team photoshoots to show how your company unfolds through time.
When organizing the photoshoot, think about how you want to use the photos you will be taking. Will you use them on your website or for corporate advertising? Will your photos go on your corporate newsletter or are they destined for your social media?
The purpose of your shoot will determine both the style and format of your photos. For example, it will show you whether they should be landscape or portrait, formal or informal, head-only or full-body, etc.
Most importantly, start thinking about how you’ll keep your team’s images up to date as you grow and change. Does your photographer have a studio where you can send individuals for an easy update? Do you have team members across the country that need something matched? Keep these in mind when choosing your photographer and picking the style and background. There’s nothing worse than spending the time and money to update your photos and then finding that keeping your team in sync is more of a headache than anticipated.
Choose Your Location
Next, you need to decide on the location that best fits your brand and business. Discuss this with your photographer, as their experience and suggestions may give you ideas you hadn’t considered.
If you are proud of your stylish premises, use them as the backdrop of your team photoshoot. Your premises speak for your company and you could use them to your advantage. If you want to photograph many team members simultaneously, you could use your warehouse instead of office.
You could also opt for a large open space with natural light. Your photographer may have additional resources that can help in this, such as a mobile studio.
Here at Denver Headshot Co, we have shot an array of portrait styles at Union Station, from classic headshots to modern portraits. The unusual location gives your images a contemporary, yet iconic feel.
Additionally, our Downtown Denver location lends towards many of Denver’s best outdoor backgrounds. The modern-city feel will help your portraits to look distinctive and our use of light and technique will make you look your best.
What Look Are You Going for?
Whatever your line of work, your photoshoot is a great opportunity to showcase your style, values, and brand. Use your photos to highlight different sides of your business. Think of your business character: is your business approachable and friendly? Official and conservative? Modern and creative? Classic and confident?
Your photos should bring out these values. Your team’s dress code, facial expressions, and overall outlook should all feature your brand. For example, if you are looking for an informal, friendly look, your team should dress accordingly, preferring casual clothes over formal ones.
Engage Your Team
No one likes to be ambushed with a photo shoot. Once you have set a date, location, and the overall feel of your corporate group photo, let your team know about it. Tell your staff the purpose of the photoshoot to help them understand its meaning and join in on the effort.
Ask your team members what will make them more comfortable and how they feel about the photoshoot. They may have some great ideas that you had not considered.
Engage them in the conversation, listen to them, and welcome any preferences they may have. Team members who feel confident and at ease will photograph much better and will exude this spirit in their photos.
You should also tell them about the chosen dress code. If your team members wear uniforms, let them know about the photoshoot so that they have a clean uniform ready.
By informing them in advance, your team will also have more time to prepare and organize their dress choices beforehand, giving them the self-assurance they need for a great photoshoot.
Give Movement to Your Photos
People often stand awkwardly for corporate photoshoots. Nowadays, however, it is preferred that group photos have motion and display group dynamics.
Think of how your team members can engage with each other, talking and laughing. Instead of lining people in a single row, have them sit down on chairs, stairs, or even desks. This will give a staggered order that offers visual interest to the shoot. Various levels make a photo look more three-dimensional and add depth and dimension.
If you are shooting outdoors, you can have your team walk toward the camera, again giving movement to your photo.
Include Business-Relevant Props
If you want to create a unified look, you could have each team member hold a business-relevant prop. It can be a mug with the business logo, a scarf or tee-shirt, or anything that reflects the business logo and its colors.
Even if you’d rather only hint at your brand, be creative. For example, you can ask men to wear same-color ties in the colors of your business.
Ask Your Photographer for Fun Shots
Sometimes, the best photos are spontaneous ones. Even if your company’s philosophy is one of dependability and gravity, a fun photo shoot could display another side of your business.
When people are having fun, they appear more approachable and relatable. Customers can engage with them and feel closer to your business. Don’t worry about how a fun shot may fit your brand; just ask your photographer for a few impromptu shots and see what happens.
Such photos are perfect for your social media as a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your company. This is bound to increase engagement with your business, as people love working with real people—and nothing says “real people” like a goofy picture!
Coordinate with Denver Headshot Co.
Once you have coordinated with your team and decided what you are looking for, get in touch with Denver Headshot Co. to arrange for a series of professional, natural-looking team photos.
Contact Denver Headshot Co online today or call us at 720-509-9228 to book your corporate group photoshoot. We have two studio locations in Denver, Texas, and can arrange for outdoor photoshoots on demand.
