Corporate Studio vs. Corporate Environmental Photography: What Are the Differences?

Corporate photography is an essential component to any successful business. Whether you’re running a restaurant, law firm, warehouse, or landscaping company, professional photos of your team are important for connecting with clients and customers, making a good impression, and establishing your brand. But did you know that there is more than one type of corporate photography?

Corporate studio and corporate environmental are two different approaches to corporate photography, each with its own advantages. Let’s take a look at what they are and how they differ.

What is corporate studio photography?

Corporate studio photography consists of formalized portraits or headshots taken in a studio or in front of a plain wall or backdrop. The simple background is meant to eliminate distractions and make the person the only subject or focus.

What is corporate environmental photography?

Corporate environmental photography consists of portraits taken outside or in the workplace setting. The intention is to put the subject (person being photographed) into context, incorporating environmental elements to tell a story.

What are the advantages of corporate studio photography?

If you’re working in an industry that values a more classic, professional impression, then corporate studio photography is your best option. This type of image is precise and focused, making it a more intimate photo experience in which you connect with the featured individual. Another benefit of corporate studio portraits is that they’re quick to complete and uniform. This is ideal for companies who have a lot of employees they need photographed and who prefer a consistent backdrop.

What are the advantages of corporate environmental photography?

Corporate environmental shots offer a more natural, contemporary look for your employees and business. The added context says more about who you are and what you do, which helps build a more personalized brand for consumers and clients to connect with. Environmental photography also gives you the freedom to have a little more fun and get creative and inspirational with posing and scenery.

Whether you decide that a studio or environmental approach is right for your corporate photography needs, Neil Boyd Photography has you covered. We offer both corporate studio and corporate environmental photography for businesses in Raleigh and surrounding areas. For many of our clients, we use a combination of both styles, so your company can reap the benefits of each.

Contact us today to schedule a corporate photoshoot for you and your company!

How to Prepare for Your Professional Corporate Headshots

Getting professional headshots for you and your employees is a great way for businesses to make a good first impression on potential customers. Investing in corporate headshots will also show your staff that you see them as serious and valuable working professionals.

Having a headshot taken may sound simple enough, but there are a few things you and your employees should know in order to get the best results. Keep these tips in mind—and pass them on to your team members—ahead of your corporate headshot session!

Dress to impress.

Most people’s first concern for any photoshoot is usually what to wear. It’s a good idea to choose an outfit ahead of time for your headshots, so you feel confident and prepared the day of. Select something that fits your company’s image but still feels like you. You might even bring more than one outfit to try. Avoid busy patterns and bulky accessories that will distract and overwhelm. Solid colors with high contrast to one another usually end up looking best.

Keep hair and makeup simple.

The goal of any headshot is to capture a photo that’s timeless—something you should keep in mind when styling your hair and makeup. Clean, natural-looking makeup is the way to go. Take special care not to use products that shimmer, sparkle, or even face lotion, as these will reflect on camera and make you look shiny. Choose a simple, polished hairstyle that you like and that frames your features well. For men, any facial hair should be trimmed and cleanly-shaped as well.

Try to stay relaxed and communicate with your photographer during your shoot.

You want your headshots to convey confidence and friendliness, especially if they’re being used for a company website or other marketing materials designed to attract customers. If you’re tense and anxious during your shoot, that’s what is going to read on camera. Communicating with your photographer will help you feel more at ease and make your photos turn out better. Share with them the look and feel you’re going for in your shots, so they can direct you and make you feel comfortable.

Are you looking for innovative ways to elevate the image of your company in Raleigh or around the Triangle in North Carolina? Get in touch with Neil Boyd Photography! We can set you up with corporate and executive headshots for you and your employees that draw attention to and send the right message about your business.

Contact our team of commercial photographers today to schedule your professional business portraits!

Importance of Updating Your Company Headshots

How long has it been since you've updated the headshots your company uses for your website and marketing materials? If it’s been a while, you should strongly consider updating them now, and then regularly moving forward. Even if your corporate headshots looked great and represented your Raleigh-based company well when they were first taken, updating them now could prove to be very beneficial.

Here are some of the reasons why updating your company headshots is incredibly important.

Prevents your company from looking outdated

If the corporate headshots that appear on your website and marketing materials are from a few years ago, everyone may look a lot different. For example, you or your employees may be sporting outdated hairstyles and clothing in these old company headshots. You might not think this makes much difference, but in reality, it could make your website, marketing materials, and overall company look outdated. Freshening up your corporate headshots in North Carolina will bring your company back up to speed.

Reflects new roles your employees may have taken on 

The last time you invested in headshots in Raleigh, many of your employees were probably in different positions than the ones they're in today. There may very well be a handful of them that have risen through the ranks and assumed more prominent roles within your company. Do their old headshots reflect the fact that they're playing a more significant part in your company's success? Chances are, they're not. By updating your headshots, you can have these employees strike different poses that will convey different sentiments than the ones exhibited in their old headshots.

Allows a photographer to utilize the latest lighting and photography techniques

Much like other forms of technology out there, photography equipment is getting better and more advanced each year. Photographers are also learning new techniques that allow them to use the latest equipment to their advantage. That means that you can now get headshots in Raleigh that look crisper and sharper than ever before. You'll undoubtedly be able to tell the difference between headshots taken a few years ago and headshots taken in 2019.

Allows a professional headshot photographer to keep up with the latest trends

Headshot style and trends have changed considerably over the years. Gone are the days of using "old Master" backgrounds that make corporate headshots look like dated school photographs. The latest styles include modern solid backgrounds, and you'll find that even orientation is changing. Acting and Model headshots are now being shot horizontally more and more, and a lot of corporate headshots are following that trend.

Gives your company the most professional appearance possible

When all is said and done, your goal with corporate headshots should be to provide your company with the most professional look and feel. If you're relying on old headshots to get the job done, it just won't be possible. The only way to truly revitalize your website and marketing materials is by having new headshots taken of your employees.

We would love to talk with you about your own corporate headshot needs and discuss a "look" that will reflect your company is 2019. So, if you would like to obtain new corporate and executive headshots in North Carolina, allow Neil Boyd Photography to provide you with the very best headshots in the business. Call us at 919-374-0141 today or email us at neil@neilboydphotography.tv to schedule a photo shoot for your employees.