A Step-by-Step Guide to a Business Portrait Session

1. Defining Session Goals: Before the session begins, it is important to determine the purpose of the photographs. Are these photos for a corporate website, industry publication, or social media? Or perhaps you need a photo for your CV? In some cases, a single photo can serve multiple purposes, but before the session, it is advisable to define the context in which the photo will be used and the impression it should make on the viewer — whether an employer, client, or reader.
2. Choosing a Photographer: Finding an experienced photographer who specializes in business portraits is crucial. Review the portfolios of potential photographers to ensure they can deliver the session according to your expectations. Naturally, your budget is also important, so strive to find the optimal balance between portfolio quality and session price. Sometimes it’s better to choose a smaller (and thus cheaper) package from a better photographer than to purchase many subpar photos from a cheaper one.
3. Consultation with the Photographer: Before the session itself, it is advisable to discuss your expectations with the photographer. A joint discussion will allow both you and the photographer to better prepare for the session. During the consultation, you should also convey the session’s objective. A good photographer should also proactively suggest the best solutions for you.

Defining the Parameters of a Business Session

1. Choosing the Location: The session location is crucial for the visual effect and the narrative of the photos. This primarily concerns the background — what is behind you: whether it’s a solid color, if there are ‘color variations,’ or if we even aim to convey a specific narrative about your presentation in the photo. The background can be an office, a workplace, a modern space, or an outdoor location (e.g., modern skyscrapers or park greenery).
2. Outfit Selection: Choose outfits that are appropriate for your industry. Sometimes this will be a shirt, sometimes a jacket, or a women’s suit. Avoid bright colors and patterns that might distract from the main subject, which is you. You can read more about what to wear for a photoshoot in our post “What to Wear for a Photoshoot”
3. Hairstyle can be touched up by a makeup artist, with the help of a brush, hairspray, and sometimes even a curling iron or straightener. However, this will not replace a visit to the hairdresser if you haven’t been there in a long time. You can read more about the work of a makeup artist in our post “Makeup for a Photoshoot”

During the Business Session

1. Makeup: For individuals who do not usually wear makeup, light makeup can enhance their appearance in photos. For women who do wear makeup, it may also be a good idea to have it done from scratch by a makeup artist or at least have existing makeup touched up. The lighting during a photoshoot has a specific character and requires strong skin mattifying, as well as enhancing certain makeup elements.
2. The Photoshoot: The photographer in the studio will take care of you so that you forget you are being photographed. We know how to make our ‘models’ feel at ease – we chat, we listen, we offer coffee and tea. During the shoot, we guide you through various poses and settings. As a result, you will look natural without special effort, while we simultaneously highlight your confidence and other desirable traits for such photos.
3. Final Photo Selection: After the session, the photographer selects the photos. For smaller sessions, where only a few shots are needed, our studio uses a proprietary method for photo selection. This takes place on-site, with your participation. This allows us to quickly determine together which photo presents you best, both from the viewer’s perspective and in your own eyes. For larger sessions, our photographers independently perform an initial selection, and then send a link to a gallery where the client can choose the final shots — usually from a dozen to several dozen out of several hundred.

After the Photoshoot

1. Photo Retouching: After selection, we proceed with photo retouching. In the basic version, we correct colors, brightness, and contrast. In the advanced version.
2. Publication and Distribution: The final photos can be used on a website, in marketing materials, on social media profiles, and in other locations depending on the session’s objectives.

Remember that a professional business portrait session is an investment in your image, so it’s worth taking care of every stage of the process.