Corporate Headshots as a Business Meeting Perk

We’ve pretty much reached the point where, regardless of your job, you need a corporate headshot for work. Whether it’s for Linkedin or your corporate website, your headshot will largely shape how others perceive you in the corporate world. Projecting a vision of confidence and approachability is critical. You might think a simple selfie and some fancy filters will suffice, but I assure you, the results from a professional photographer more than justify the cost. A professional photographer will use his/her skills with lighting, background choice, retouching and most importantly, posing, to create an image of you that will set you apart from the crowd.

Knowing this, forward looking companies are now looking for opportunities to give not only their own employees, but also their industry associates, corporate headshots as a gift. Last week I was photographing a corporate conference at Estancia La Jolla, called Impact AD for the Keck School of Medicine at USC where they brought in researchers from around the country to discuss how to improve the quality of their research projects by diversifying their research subjects. It was actually quite fascinating to watch. The conference organizers hired me to come in and shoot business headshots for any/all attendees who wanted one. By consolidating many headshots into one short session (in this case I shot roughly 40 headshots in less than an hour and a half), they could bring the cost per person WAY down compared to shooting each individually. The attendees LOVED this perk and came away with a corporate headshot that they can use for years to come. Enjoy a few of the images I captured.

Corporate Events and Galas

Over the past few years, as I move away from wedding photography, I have looked to expand my areas of expertise as a photographer to include corporate event and gala photography. Shooting these types of events is a natural extension of having spent twenty years shooting weddings. The skills are the same, but, mercifully, the stress level is about five times lower. All the same, the event planners who put these together do an absolutely spectacular job and show an exquisite level of attention to detail and it’s my job to capture them. The locations of these generally do not suck either. I have recently shot charity galas at The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, and the Dana Point Waldorf Astoria Beach Resort (although they did manage to lose my keys at the valet for about 45 minutes, which isn’t fun when you’re ready to go home and pour a stiff drink!) and corporate events for clients including ATRI at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, The Burnham-Moores Center at USD, Scripps Encinitas, Whiting Turner construction and Trustmark Insurance. At the corporate events, there’s a trend to offer corporate headshots to all the employees in attendance. SUCH a smart idea, I think. They’re already there, they’re dressed up and it takes just minutes to run them through a quick shoot. Have a look at some of my favorite images from my recent work photographing corporate events and galas!

Outside the comfort zone: Putting myself in FRONT of the camera!

As a photographer, it's easy to get caught up in always being behind the camera, capturing moments and memories for others. But it's important to remember that being a model in front of the camera is just as crucial for growth and self-discovery. Here's why you should occasionally switch places and become the subject of your own lens.

1. Empathy for Your Models: When you are the model, you get a better understanding of how it feels to be in front of the camera. This can lead to greater empathy and understanding of your subjects, making it easier to guide and direct them to get the best results.

2. Improved Understanding of Light and Angles: By experiencing first-hand what it's like to be lit, positioned and angled in different ways, you can get a better sense of what works and what doesn't. This can result in more creative and effective compositions when shooting other subjects.

3. Personal Growth: Shooting self-portraits can help you explore and challenge your own insecurities and self-perceptions. This can be a liberating and empowering experience, leading to personal growth and increased self-confidence.

4. Break from Routine: Taking a break from your normal routine of always being behind the camera can be refreshing and help reignite your creativity. Experimenting with new poses, lighting, and settings can inspire you to approach your photography in new and exciting ways.

5. Building Your Portfolio: Finally, capturing images of yourself can add variety to your portfolio, showcase your creativity and skills, and provide a personal touch that clients and viewers can connect with. While I didn’t venture too far outside of my creative box for this shoot, I did find that one of my favorite portrait backdrops worked quite nicely for a business headshot. So there’s that. ;-)

In conclusion, taking the time to get in front of the camera every once in a while can have numerous benefits for photographers. It can provide new perspectives, improve technical skills, and lead to personal growth. So, don't be afraid to switch places and become the subject of your own lens.

Executive Portraits vs. Corporate Headshots: Key Differences

When it comes to professional photography for your business, you may have heard the terms "executive portrait" and "corporate headshot." While both are important for creating a professional image for your business, there are some key differences between the two.

Executive Portraits: Executive portraits are photographs that highlight the individuality of an executive or high-level manager. They are usually taken in a more formal setting, such as the executive's office or an outdoor location, and are meant to capture the personality and professional demeanor of the subject. They are clearly meant to be more individualized than a corporate headshot. These portraits are usually used on a company's website, in brochures, and in presentations to showcase the key people in the organization.

A good executive portrait photographer will strive to produce multiple looks and variations on framing and lighting to give the subject many options depending on their intended purpose. As such, these photo sessions tend to take considerably more time on location that a corporate headshot.

Executive portraits bring environmental cues to convey more about the personality and status of the subject.

Corporate Headshots: Corporate headshots, on the other hand, are photographs of all employees in a given company. These headshots strive for a consistent look, with similar lighting and background. This uniformity helps to create a cohesive and professional image for the company as a whole. Corporate headshots are typically taken in a studio or against a simple, neutral background, and are used for company websites, email signatures, and other corporate materials.

Corporate headshots are a quick and effective way to project the professional quality of a company’s workforce.

One of the key benefits of corporate headshots is that they can be easily reproduced when new employees are hired. By having a standard lighting and background setup, new headshots can be taken quickly and easily, ensuring that the look of the company remains consistent. An experienced corporate headshot photographer can produce high quality images in very little time.

Both executive portraits and corporate headshots are important for creating a professional image for your business. While executive portraits showcase the personality and individuality of key executives, corporate headshots provide a cohesive and consistent look for all employees in the company. By understanding the differences between these two types of professional photography, you can make informed decisions about how to best represent your business to the world.

How Frequently Should I Update My Corporate Headshot or Executive Portrait?

As a professional photographer, one of the most common requests I receive is for business headshots. Whether it’s for a company website, social media profile, or professional networking site, a well-done business headshot is essential for any professional looking to make a great first impression.

However, one question that I often hear from potential clients is, “How often do I need to update my headshot?” The answer is simple: frequently.

There are several reasons why updating your business headshot frequently is important:

1. It reflects your current appearance

Your appearance changes over time, whether it’s a new hairstyle, a new pair of glasses, or a new wardrobe. An outdated headshot can make you appear unprofessional or out of touch. By updating your headshot frequently, you ensure that your clients and colleagues are seeing a current and accurate representation of you.

2. It reflects your current brand

Your brand is constantly evolving, and your headshot should reflect that. If your brand changes, whether it’s a rebranding or a change in your business focus, an updated headshot can help you communicate that change to your clients and colleagues.

3. It keeps you relevant

In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s important to stay relevant. An outdated headshot can make you appear out of touch or behind the times. By updating your headshot frequently, you’ll be seen as a professional who is up-to-date and current.

4. It keeps you top-of-mind

When your headshot is updated frequently, it keeps you top-of-mind with your clients and colleagues. Whether it’s on your website, social media profiles, or professional networking sites, an updated headshot ensures that people will remember you when they need your services.

In conclusion, updating your business headshot frequently is essential for any professional looking to make a great first impression. It reflects your current appearance, brand, and keeps you relevant and top-of-mind. So, don’t wait, schedule your next headshot session today and let your clients and colleagues know that you are dedicated to staying current and professional.

Attorney Bill Berman updated his executive portrait to reflect his emphasis on sports litigation and specifically a large lawsuit he has with the NFL and ESPN.

Friends don't let friends use selfies for headshots!!!

Friends don’t let friends use iphone pics for their business headshots!  It’s a call I’ve received many times over the years as a professional photographer, “John, can you please retouch this shot for me???”  And so it was today, when my good friend and professional voice actor, Joanna Stadwiser (affectionately known as She-Stad) texted me about retouching the shot on the right (above).  I asked what it was for (vaguely remembering that we had discussed doing a new headshot for her a couple months back) and she told me her radio imaging agency needed a “professional” headshot for their new website.

“How soon can you be at my studio?” I asked.  Well, it turned out her daughter had a fever, so she couldn’t leave the house.  “Fine, I’ll be there in an hour”. I’ve shot personal branding and actor headshots for Joanna several times before, and I knew that A - she hates having her picture taken (despite being clearly crazy photogenic) and B - she’s very picky about how she’s lit.  She does NOT like studio strobes, but prefers very flat natural light (there are more rules she has, but these will suffice for now). And before you photographers jump all over me, I KNOW you can light someone flat with studio strobes! lol.

Her agency required a simple white backdrop and a basic head and shoulders headshot.  I looked around her house for about a minute and found a doorway that would work. I opened my portable white backdrop and placed it behind where I wanted her, grabbed my camera and we were off.  I shot a few test images and showed her how amazing she looked to get her to relax and trust that we’d get the shot and get it quickly. Camera in full 10+ frame per second motor drive mode, we shot about 300 images or so in less than five minutes.  Was every frame perfect? Nope. Did we nail the shot? Um, yeah, we did! Will she ever try to shoot her own professional headshot again? If she does, she has to answer to me!  

By the way, if you’re looking for the second best woman working in voice-over today (my wife, Rebecca Riedy, being the best, of course ;-), then definitely check out http://joannastadwiser.com/.  Not only is she beautiful and crazy talented, but she’s one of the funniest people you’ll EVER meet!

If you’re ready to up your professional headshot, corporate headshot, profile pic, branding image, or whatever the millenials are calling it these days, please don’t hesitate to call me at 818-445-7752 or email me at john@johnriedy.com.

Welcome to my Blog!!!

Some of you may remember that many years ago there existed a John Riedy Photography blog. It was filled with beautiful young couples whose weddings I had photographed both in Southern California and all over the world. Blogs were all the rage back then and I was pretty good about keeping it current…for a while. Then, like all good things, it came to an end. Becky and I had kids and life just got in the way. Well, the kids are pretty much grown now and we’ll be empty nesters before you know it. My career has taken myriad twists and turns over the past 20 years and I never would’ve guessed I’d be where I am now. I shoot few weddings these days (though I still do love them), but rather spend most of my shooting days in either Vietnam or Europe photographing war veterans back on their battlefields. When I’m home, I do a lot more studio work focusing mainly on corporate headshots and personal branding. I also love photographing commercial and residential real estate.

Suffice it to say, my life and priorities have changed. I’m very excited to use this blog to give my friends and clients a glimpse into my career and how I approach my work/passion of photography. If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed over the years, it’s that I LOVE what I do and the people I do it with. So to conclude this first post of my new/old blog I just want to thank EVERYONE who has allowed me to capture them through my lens. You are why I’m still doing this with love and gratitude after 20 years. And thank you to my loving wife Becky, who’s incredible work you can check out at www.rebeccariedy.com, and my sons Jack and Cole, for putting up with my wacky travel schedule and for always being more or less willing to sit as my lighting dummies.