SEVEN THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN GETTING READY FOR COMPANY HEAD SHOTS
Getting ready for team headshots can feel overwhelming. Team head shots can be a big investment of both time and money, so you want to get it right the first time. Here’s a quick list of seven things that will make your life easier and get you the most bang for your buck.
1. Timing Your Photo Shoot:
Book your team head shots far enough in advance that your team members can prepare for them. You want to give everyone ample time to get their suits pressed and their hair cut.
2. Notifying Your Team:
Everyone is so busy, it’s easy to forget to prepare for a one-off event like head shots. Remind your team to book their waxing and hair cut appointments for at least a few days prior to the head shot session. Depending on your company culture, consider sending out gentle reminders a week ahead that people should have their clothes pressed/ironed.
3. Hair & Makeup:
It’s always advisable to have an experienced hair and makeup artist on hand at headshot sessions. A couple of minutes with a good MUA can help minimize excessive shine and make everyone look their very best. If a MUA is not in the budget, advise your team to keep the makeup light and (more importantly) matte. Many skincare products are formulated to create a beautiful shine and glow, but it’s best to avoid those on the day of the shoot, opting for a matte finish instead. Hair should be neat and tame. Advise your staff to bring along their pocket combs for last minute touch ups.
4. Plan for Changes in Your Team/Staff:
Inevitably, you will add new members to your staff. It’s best to keep this in mind when you are choosing the look for head shots that you want some consistency in. Choose backgrounds that will be easy to match in terms of both color and light. The easiest way to ensure color/lighting consistency is to use a standard studio backdrop (either cloth or paper) and studio lights. This combination will produce the best possible consistency for your team shots regardless of when or where they are shot.
5. Allow Adequate Time for the Shoot:
You will get the best results from your shoot if you allow enough time for the process. In a pinch, most professional photographers can get a reasonably good headshot in just a few minutes if your top-level executives are pressed for time. In general, it’s best to allow for fifteen to twenty minutes per person. That provides enough time to do a final touch up, get settled and shooting, and then make an image selection. For optimal results, plan on no more than three or four people per hour, maximum. If you need to get more people through in a tighter time frame, make sure you discuss this candidly with the photographer.
6. Home Stretch Before Your Shoot:
In the days before the shoot, remind your team to get plenty of sleep and to go easy on the alcohol. People who use retinols might consider skipping them in the days right ahead of the shoot.
7. Take Fullest Advantage of Your Headshots:
Maybe you intend to use the head shots on the company website, which is great. Have you considered where else you can use them? Adding a picture to an email signature by using services such as Letsignit or WiseStamp can really level up your digital presence. Maybe you want to consider using your headshots in social media platforms to create a sense of warmth and approachability. Make sure you inquire about having the images sized for various applications (e.g., Instagram or email sigs) so that your investment goes as far as possible.
You’ve got this!