A professional business portrait has the power to convey confidence, trustworthiness, and capability. Unlike casual snapshots, business portraits are carefully composed to portray the subject – whether an individual or a team – in the best possible light. As a photographer, how do you capture outstanding business portraits that enhance your client’s personal brand? Here are some tips and techniques to master the art of business portraits photography.
Prepare Thoroughly
The key to a successful business portrait shoot is preparation. Before the shoot, have a consultation with your client to understand how they want to be portrayed and anything specific they want highlighted. Know who you are photographing – their role, brand, goals, etc. Scout your location ahead of time looking for good backgrounds and lighting. Business portraits are often shot on-location at offices and other places of work. Look for interesting architectural or design features you can use as backdrops. Brainstorm creative ideas to capture the style and personality your client wants to exude. Have a shot list mapped out beforehand so you can work efficiently during the session.
Choose Flattering Lighting
One of the most important elements in a business portrait is the lighting. Lighting can make or break a photo. It sets the entire mood and affects how the subject looks. For business portraits, you generally want bright, even lighting without harsh shadows. Soft, diffused lighting is highly flattering for the face. Position your subject near a large window to utilize beautiful natural light. Turn your subject slightly away from the window to avoid shadows or squinting. Reflectors and diffusers can help fill in and soften harsh light. You can also use studio strobes and modifiers like a softbox to light your subject evenly. Keep a close eye on any shadows or patches of light hitting their face.
Perfect the Posing
Posing is vital to an impactful business portrait. You want your subject positioned and angled in a way that is flattering yet looks natural. Begin with having the subject sit or stand straight with shoulders back to convey confidence. Tilt their head slightly towards the camera while keeping their chin down. This helps elongate the neck. Position hands purposefully – resting on a surface, steepled, or clasped can look professional. Add some personality by shooting at a very slight angle rather than straight-on. Get some variety by having different facial expressions such as smiling with teeth or keeping a more neutral expression. Take some shots seated behind a desk to portray executive power. Adjust posture and positioning between shots to end up with an array of options.
Choose Complementary Locations
When shooting on-location, the backdrop or setting of the portrait must match the image the subject wishes to project. Pay attention to the surroundings that will appear in the background and frame the subject against an intentional, appealing setting. A lawyer or banker, for example, may opt for a background with dark wood bookshelves and leather chairs to give an upscale, refined look. Someone wanting to appear innovative and modern may choose to pose in front of concrete walls and minimalist furniture. Research the location ahead of time to maximize the backdrop that will complement the image and brand of your client.
Showcase Authenticity
While business portraits aim to portray subjects in a polished, professional manner, retaining authenticity and personality is still key. Capture natural expressions, movements, and gestures to bring out the subject’s humanity. An earnest smile or laugh, a thoughtful gaze to the side, leaning forward while seated – actions like these can infuse more life into the portrait. You want to avoid overly staged or unnatural looking poses. Keep some shots more candid by having conversations and directing minimally. The goal is for the final portraits to look professionally polished yet authentic to who the person really is.
Nail the Composition
Skillful composition brings all the elements together into a visually striking business portrait. Frame your subject proportionally in the image without too much empty space around them. The eyes should be on the top third line of the photo. Watch your vertical and horizontal lines so they don’t distract. Shoot from a slight downward angle to place emphasis on your subject. Ensure their face and eyes are sharp by using a fast shutter speed and narrow aperture. Compose the subject off-center for a more dynamic look. Apply the rule of thirds aligning key points on one of the grid lines. Pay attention to the negative space in framing and make sure leading lines direct attention to your subject.
Focus on Storytelling
Great business portraits tell stories and convey purpose and meaning beyond just documentation. Portray your subject doing meaningful work or interacting with colleagues when possible. This helps humanize them while also telling a story about their role and contribution to the company. Maybe include recognizable products or equipment relevant to their brand. Convey leadership and vision by photographing them standing tall while colleagues work busily in the background. Showcase credentials and accolades through diplomas and awards on the walls. Images that tell stories about who the subject is and what they do will create far more interesting and effective business portraits.
Nail the Post-Processing
Once you have captured great shots, you still need to polish them with expert post-processing for truly impactful business portraits. Avoid filters and over editing that look artificial. Focus on subtle enhancements like sharpening the eyes, evening the skin tone, and removing distracting blemishes or backgrounds. Boost the lighting to add definition and color correction to ensure natural looking skin tones. Increase the contrast slightly for better dimension. Brighten smiles and make whites appear whiter. Editing should only enhance, not drastically alter the original photo. Take time to edit images meticulously, paying close attention to details. Delivering professionally edited portraits shows you are thorough, skilled, and client-focused.
Follow Up and Promote Your Work
Don’t consider your job done once you hand off the portraits. Make sure your client is thrilled with the results and offer additional editing if requested. Discuss how they can make the most effective use of the portraits on websites, signage, brochures, etc. Offer tips on ideal image formats and sizing. Follow up periodically to update portraits as needed and discuss future projects. Promote your business portraits on your own website and social media highlighting your professional approach, storytelling, and quality. Outstanding business portraits can do wonders for building both your client’s brand and your reputation as a photographer.
Conclusion
Mastering professional business portraits takes skill, preparation, and practice. But it is incredibly rewarding to see your images convey confidence and professionalism and elevate your client’s personal brand. Pay close attention to lighting, posing, composition, storytelling, and post-processing. Stay authentic to who the subject truly is. When done right, business portraits command attention and respect. You can keep polishing your expertise by consulting a professional photography studio Austin, and you will develop a reputation as a premier business portrait photographer.