It’s time for corporate photos!  There is a general air of excitement around the office as the team idly chat about what to wear and how to do their hair. Some are excited for a new headshot. Others, not so much! Suddenly all the talk around the office water cooler is hairstyles, clothing and makeup.

Beyond generating excitement with the employees, there’s a lot of behind the scenes details that go into ensuring great corporate headshots that bring out the personality of your brand and your team.

It’s important to choose an experienced photographer so every employee feels comfortable and trusts that they will look great in their new photo.

The next big decision is deciding what type of background is right for you.  Generally, it’s important to outline where you will be utilizing these photos. Is it for business cards only?  Will they be going onto brochures? A website? Social media profiles such as LinkedIn? Large photographs in the office? Once you know what the photographs will be used for, that may help you decide what kind of background you think would be best. Of course, lean into your photographer for his or her expertise as well.

Most corporate headshots either have a white or grey background, have a branded background with the company logo on it, showcase the employees in their work environment, or are outside with nature or architecture in the background. That’s a lot of choices! And with each different background choice, the style of the photograph can change in a big way.

Let’s review the benefits and style for the most popular background choices for corporate headshots.

Solid Color Backdrop

For a traditional headshot, some companies will elect to have their headshots done in a studio setting with a solid color backdrop. Most commonly, you will see white, black, or muted greys or neutrals.  These headshots look traditional and very corporate.

Some businesses will incorporate their brand color (or a muted version) as the background. This can add an element of fun and uniqueness to the photographs. It will also help ensure that the photographs match the brand colors of the corporate materials they are being used in.

A solid background really places the focal point on the person as there are no other details to distract the eye.

When a business chooses a solid color backdrop for their corporate headshots, it is easy to schedule the photography shoots. Employees can book appointments at the studio at convenient times and new employees, or those needing an updated picture, can be assured their photograph will look the same as the others in the company.

With studio backdrop headshots, a company doesn’t have to plan a ‘headshot day’ but can book appointments as needed.

Logo’d Background

If your company has a showpiece logo in your office space, you may want to consider having headshots done with this in the background.

This type of background clearly puts the focus not only on your employees, but also on your business. Think about all the headshots you see on any given day. Remove that headshot from the brochure, business card or LinkedIn profile and can you discern where this person works? Likely not!

For businesses who are looking to increase their brand awareness and connect their staff with their brand, this is an excellent option. It’s unique and sets your brand apart.

Depending on the number of new employees you bring on, you can hire the photographer back intermittently.

Your Office Can Be The Background

Many businesses have their corporate headshots taken right within their offices. This is a great way to ensure your employees’ headshots stand out.

If you have a focal hallway, boardroom or entrance you may want to consider having the photographs taken there. Some choose to have this type of background blurred, but of course ensuring it is still recognizable as their office. Others leave it as is.

In addition, some businesses go one step further and have each employee at their desk or place of work. This not only adds your office into the photograph, but really places the employee into context of their job. This really allows for their personality to shine through, too. Plus, people are generally comfortable in a familiar environment which can help ensure they are relaxed during the shoot.

You can schedule the photographer for intermittent appointments when you have new staff.

Using Nature as the Backdrop

For many businesses, they want to move away from the standard studio portrait shot and want to head outside for their photos. Often when corporate portraits are taken outside, nature ends up being the natural backdrop.

Others find unique outdoor backdrops including various types of walls (brick, metal, etc.) and buildings.

As a fun bonus, the employees feel like they’re going on a field trip on photo day and it gets them out of their regular work environment.

If you are looking for outdoor photography, your photographer may have some suggestions that will help you stand out.

When it comes to booking outdoor headshots there are a few things to keep in mind including time of day (for lighting) and the weather.  While shots outside are stunning, it can be more difficult to reproduce similar styles as new employees come on board.

In conclusion, there are many options when it comes to selecting the right backdrop for your team’s headshots. While you could do the more corporate solid background, others are looking to infuse their brand and personality into the backdrop.

How much of your brand and personality you want to come through will help determine where the shots should be taken.

In addition, considerations such as clothing color should also be taken into account in order to have a consistent look from one employee to the next.

Lean on your photographer for experience. An experienced photographer can help ensure that your vision is brought to light in the best way (and with the best background) possible.

If you’re looking for corporate headshots in the Boston area, look no further than Nikki Cole. Nikki Cole Photography has years of success bringing out personalities in corporate photography. Whether you want the clean look of a simple background, or you are looking to pair your brand with your people, Nikki’s vision and final product is sure to help you stand out.