A well-prepared corporate headshot session can help present your business in a polished, approachable, and professional light. Whether you call it business portrait photography, corporate headshots, or professional profile photography, the end goal is the same: strong first impressions – and a professional look. This guide covers key elements you and your team should consider before stepping in front of the camera.
From clothing choices—such as favouring solid pastel colours over busy patterns—to hair, makeup, poses, and the decision between indoor studio setups and outdoor locations, everything matters. We’ll also touch on why subtle styling choices like jackets over white shirts can prevent photos from looking washed out. Beyond technical advice, we’ll explore tone: should your corporate headshots feel formal or show more personality? Planning these details before the shoot saves time and ensures your brand is represented exactly how you want it.
1. Set the tone: Professional or personality?
Before diving into clothing choices or camera angles, it’s important to ask:
- Do you want formal, standard corporate portraits?
- Or would you prefer something with a bit more personality and approachability?
For example:
- A law firm might prefer clean, formal studio headshots.
- A creative agency might want relaxed, casual outdoor portraits.
It’s worth having a team discussion or deciding as a business owner how you want your people—and by extension, your brand—represented. This decision influences everything that follows, from dress code to location.
2. What to wear: Clothing tips that always work
The clothes your team wears in their corporate headshots can make or break the final look. Some general tips we always share with our clients:
- Stick with solid, neutral, or pastel colours. Pale blues, greys, soft pinks, navy, and earth tones photograph beautifully.
- Avoid busy patterns or logos. Stripes, checks, and loud prints can be distracting.
- White shirts or blouses should be paired with a jacket. Otherwise, the image can look overwhelmingly white or washed out.
- Ensure clothes fit well and are freshly pressed. Nothing says unprofessional like crinkled shirts or loose collars.
- Layers work well. A simple jacket or blazer adds structure and polish.
For group shots, it’s also worth coordinating colours ahead of time to avoid clashing outfits across team members. Particularly if you want to have a consistent look – or incorporate company brand colours into the clothing worn by staff.
3. Hair and makeup: Keep it clean and simple
- Hair: Encourage team members to arrive with neat, freshly styled hair. For those with long hair, deciding between tied back or down beforehand helps maintain consistency across images.
- Makeup: Aim for a natural, professional look. Light foundation, subtle eye makeup, and matte lip colours work best. Avoid heavy contouring or overly shiny products.
For those unsure, hiring a professional makeup artist can help streamline the process—particularly for larger team shoots. Just keep in mind that if one artist is covering multiple people, they’ll typically only have a few minutes per person. In these cases, expect light touch-ups and hair adjustments rather than full makeup application for each team member.
4. Poses and expression: Relaxed but professional
Our professional photographers will help guide poses, but a few pointers help everyone feel prepared in advance:
- Stand or sit tall—good posture translates to confidence.
- Aim for a soft, natural smile. Forced grins can look stiff.
- Relax your shoulders and hands. Tension can show up in photos.
If your team is nervous, remind them: we will take multiple shots and choose the best—no need to overthink each frame. We will also show you your corporate headshots as they are taken to ensure you are happy with the final result.
5. Location Matters: Indoors vs Outdoors
Should you shoot indoors or outdoors? Here’s a quick comparison:
- Indoor studio setups (or portable backdrops in your office) offer consistent lighting, controlled conditions, and a neutral background. Great for larger teams or formal brands.
- Outdoor portraits offer more personality and can feel more approachable. Think natural greenery or urban Melbourne backdrops.
The downside with outdoors? Melbourne’s weather isn’t always reliable, and lighting can be inconsistent!
For most corporate clients, we recommend indoor setups for consistency, particularly if photos will be updated regularly or taken in multiple sessions. If you have your heart set on external shots – you can also discuss with our team having a Plan B – usually in the form of a backup shoot date the week following your booking, if the weather on your shoot date is unfavourable.
6. Prepare Your Team: The Final Checklist
Before shoot day, send your team a simple preparation guide. It should include:
- What to wear (colours, patterns, layering advice)
- Hair and makeup tips
- A reminder to check clothing for wrinkles, stains, or loose threads
- Bring hair products like hairspray if needed. Particularly to manage fly-aways
- A quick bathroom check before the session—tidy hair, clean glasses, freshen up as needed
7. Extra Touches That Make a Difference
- Glasses: If a member of your team wears glasses, consider anti-glare coating or a quick clean beforehand using a microfibre cloth or lens wipes.
- Jewellery: Keep it minimal. Small earrings or simple necklaces are fine—avoid large, distracting pieces.
- Background style: Match the backdrop colour or style to your brand. For example, clean white or grey for corporate, or textured backgrounds for creative businesses.
Final Thoughts
Corporate headshots are an investment in your business’s image. With some simple preparation and a bit of thought about tone and style, your team’s portraits can help build trust and credibility with clients and partners.
At Big & Small Productions, we offer corporate photography across Melbourne, Victoria, and beyond. From small teams to large organisations, we tailor our headshot sessions to suit your brand and people.
If you’d like help organising your next team photo session, get in touch—we’d be happy to help.