Guidelines for Corporate Photography

These are a few guidelines for a corporate photo shoot. While they are rules that have certainly stood the test of time in our 20 years’ experience, there may be circumstances where one or more of the guidelines are inappropriate – feel free to contact us if you have any doubts at all.

1. Remember, these pictures are for Press and media usage so should be high resolution (300 dpi minimum) – lower resolution versions may also be used on websites.

2. End result should be a ‘clean’ head and shoulders shot, without hands near the face - preferably they should be by the side, or with arms folded or with one hand in a pocket – with the subject looking at the camera.

3. The photography session should include a variety of some smiling and some serious pictures.

4. Dress code – we would suggest presenting yourself in the photographs as you would present to a prospective client, perhaps a variety of poses with; jacket on with tie, jacket on without tie, jacket off with tie, jacket off without tie

5. Remove things from trouser, jacket and shirt pockets – these will show up in photographs so remove PDAs, mobiles, wallets, train tickets etc. to avoid bulges!

6. All shots for press use should ideally be outside and not against a colour wash background – which usually means if it happens to be raining or if it is exceptionally bright and the subjects are squinting, the photo shoot will have to be re-scheduled. The best environment is usually a bright, overcast day.

7. Our preference is to show a substantial building or an impressive piece of atrium/brickwork or similar that looks like it is the head office of the client as the backdrop. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, do not shoot in front of the actual client building.

8. Finally, involve someone in the shoot to look for problems and ‘iron’ them out. For example, someone to be on the lookout for ties that are not quite straight and need re-tying, creased shirts that need flattening, hair that is blowing around or needs a comb. These are often the kind of thing that a photographer, who does not know the subject, finds it quite hard to ask as it involves touching the client! (You have to know someone quite well to smooth their shirt wrinkles down!)

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