Should I Get My Headshot Outdoors or in a Professional Studio?

Should I Get My Headshot Outdoors or in a Professional Studio?
Outdoors or in a studio? This is one of the most common questions we get asked.
Our clients have to choose between the freedom and depth outdoor headshots offer and the perfect lighting conditions a studio delivers.
As professional headshot photographers, we are happy to help our clients choose whichever location best matches their expectations and personality. Some people feel less intimidated outdoors and prefer a natural background. Others like the structure and perfect conditions a studio offers.
Here is a brief guide to help you decide which setting best matches your expectations and makes you feel more comfortable and relaxed. After all, we want you to look your best in your professional photos!

The Benefits of Shooting in a Studio

Controlled Lighting Conditions
We photographers have plenty of tricks up our sleeve when it comes to the perfect lighting conditions for your photo shoot, especially in a professional studio.
We have several types of light. We choose them according to the effect we want to create. We also have light modifiers and shapers to deliver diffuse light conditions, soft ones or rough ones, depending on the style we are aiming for.
The light is much better controlled in a studio, which helps us focus on the face and its contour.

Controlled Temperature
We photographers have plenty of tricks up our sleeve when it comes to the perfect lighting conditions for your photo shoot, especially in a professional studio. We do not have many tricks for managing temperature and wind. When the wind is above 8 MPH, we suggest moving inside. We aren’t able to use external lighting, and this is the speed at which wind typically starts to make your hair blow in your face.

In the studio, we have complete control over our environment to help you to stay comfortable and keep your hair in place.

Studio Photos for Multiple Team Members
A studio can help us deliver the same background for multiple team members. If you want to photograph many people while keeping the look consistent, then a studio is great because all photos will have the same background.
When you display the photos or include them in your marketing material, you will have a consistent look throughout all photos. This helps you tell a coherent story about your company.
You Have Privacy and Can Change Your Attire
It is much easier to change clothes, touch up your make-up, or shave in a private studio than it would be outdoors.
If you plan on having multiple shots with different attires, you get plenty of privacy to change for the next photo shoot.
The Weather Doesn’t Matter
An obvious benefit of shooting in a professional photo studio is that the weather doesn’t matter. Heat, cold, or rain have no effect on your shoot and you won’t have to postpone your session.
What’s more, we can shoot throughout the day and even in the evening, something that is simply impossible when shooting outdoors.

Shooting Outdoors

A World of Backgrounds to Choose From
When you choose to have your photo shoot outdoors, you have a world of backgrounds to choose from. From urban settings to more natural ones, you have so many choices: cafés, sidewalks, buildings, bridges, rivers, monuments, forests, lakes, and even the middle of the street.
To enhance your face and make sure you are the protagonist of the photo, we blur the background to make it still visible but not eye-catching.

The Golden Hour
Lighting conditions can be tricky when shooting outdoors. Clouds, too much sunlight, or fog can make shooting complicated. But there is also the golden hour when all colors are subdued and take a golden hue: this will complement your photo in a way that is unmatched by artificial light and add depth to your headshot. As for clouds, they can be quite helpful in making light conditions less harsh, thus acting as natural light diffusers.

You Get Depth
Because of the background, your photo will have more depth than a photo taken in a studio. A studio background has no texture or difference in intensity—but a natural background does. There are a multitude of layers in an outdoor background that adds a unique richness to any photo.
Outdoor Settings Can Make You Feel Less Self-Conscious
Sometimes people get self-conscious when they are having their photos taken in a studio. They feel intimidated by the setting and the surroundings. No matter how much effort the photographer takes to relax them, the stress could show up in the headshots.
Shooting outdoors can feel more relaxed and less ordered, thus letting you put forward your more confident self.

How to Choose Between a Studio and an Outdoor Shoot
As professional photographers, we are happy to accommodate any location you choose.
If you like the controlled setting of a studio and appreciate the privacy it offers, our studio is ready for you to book your appointment.
On the other hand, if an outdoor photo shoot will make you feel better and you don’t mind postponing your shoot if the weather conditions are not the greatest, then an outdoor shoot could be perfect for you. We can suggest locations or listen to your ideas. We even have a portable studio we can use to combine the best of both worlds.

No matter the location, contact Denver Headshot Photos online or call us now at (720) 799-2655 to arrange the perfect headshot for you!