PROFESSIONAL STUDIO/ Business Portrait on a Soft White

Our “Just Right” White

/ / / / / a classic friendly and bright background

White can be a daunting background option as we tend to associate corporate photos on them with cringey stock photos—but trust us when we say there is another way to approach this vibrant and practical aesthetic
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(Unless you specify otherwise) our go-to lighting set-up for headshots on a white background is soft, partially lit, and soft like snow—off-white is compatible with all skin and hair colours.

With this soft shade, you are free to explore wearing bright whites without the issue of blending in too much with the background.

WHAT TO WEAR/ Corporate & Business Headshots for Professionals

HOW TO STAND OUT WHILE FITTING IN

/ / / / / how to layer for your professional headshots

It’s that time again to answer one of our most popular questions: What should I wear to my headshot?
In today’s blog we are honing in on the topic of how to distinguish yourself from everyone else, when it comes to your wardrobe specifically.

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People either want to look different than others (competitive) or want to look like themselves (authentic). The simple answer to both of these quandaries is to add more character to your outfit by adding layers. Whether it’s via subtle jewelry, nails, or accessories like a watch, pocket square, tie or cuffs, personalizing goes a long way.
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In this example, instead of a basic shirt and jacket look, our client added on a knit sweater that’s soft nature and colour downplay the seriousness of the fit.

Business Portrait with Nature Background

Environmental Background for your Headshots

/ / / / / using a window in the office

Today we will be discussing the potential of using a window on a bright day for your business portrait.

One of the benefits of office spaces photography wise is the floor to ceiling windows. Not only does all the natural light make us feel more positive, but it serves as a unique option for your background as well!

In the above example this particular office had a stunning view of Queen’s Park, although even a city skyline without a single tree can look nice too—it all depends on the lighting condition outside. We recommend aiming for a sunny day as opposed to overcast.

Please note the option of shooting at the office is only available for group bookings of 5 or more staff.

Business and Corporate Headshots in Toronto

Business Photos in the Studio

/ / / / / black wardrobe on a black background

When it comes to looking professional for your portrait, plenty of people will give you a long list of to-dos and to-don’ts—but in our experience, there is just 1 main rule you need to remember: the most important element of your portrait is how cleanly it reads.

This just means the visuals are balanced in a way that feels comfortable to look at. In the above example, our client decided to strip all colour and go for a monochromatic look. Typically this much contrast feels a bit heavy, however in this case, the solid black wardrobe gets broken up by a bit of her body and hands showing.

When it comes to professional headshots there’s no real wrong answer of how to style it—it’s just a matter of getting the elements right. If you’re looking to create something like the shot above, let us know in advance and we can help piece together your vision for you!

Professional Business Portrait in the Studio

Corporate and Business Photography

/ / / / / How to select what jacket/shirt to wear?

Sometimes when deciding what to wear for your business headshot, it’s not so much a matter of picking the right color, as much as it is about picking the right fabric. In this example, instead of a simple blue and white ensemble, the client wore a finely patterned top, and a textured blazer. 

This adds a layer of character while allowing the eyes to remain softly focused on the subject. Since there are usually some limitations when it comes to the colours you can wear for a professional portrait, you can play up texture in your outfits to match your personality instead!

Corporate and Business Headshots

What should I wear for my headshot?

/ / / / / colour and cut

We often have clients asking us what they should wear for their headshot, or more specifically, what colours they should wear. Although colour is going to be one of the biggest factors when it comes to determining whether or not a piece of clothing is flattering, it is also crucial to consider playing with other visual aspects on your quest for a perfectly flattering outfit.

Shape (or silhouette), as well as texture (or fabric), are two other key elements that speak volumes in terms of visual communication.

This business portrait is a perfect example of our client demonstrating all three c’s—colour, cut, and cloth. The fitted suit evokes professionalism through a clean silhouette, a soft blue soothes the emotions, and shimmery fabrics add a bit of light and life!

Business Headshots for Professionals

Professional Corporate & Business Photos:

/ / / / / Standing or Sitting Headshot ?

Spoiler alert—there is no exact rule when it comes to whether a sitting or standing portrait is better. The most important thing about your headshot is not your pose, but actually your facial expression. When we are seated, our face tends to be more relaxed, so if you are really nervous (or have really uncomfortable shoes) we may choose to offer you a seat during your headshot.
Depending on your preference, we can either crop the image to be just a headshot, or include a small portion of your body like our client chose in the above shot !

Corporate and Business Portrait for Professionals

Environmental Portrait and Headshots

/ / / / / personable portraits on a natural background

Are you interested in something different than the typical clean studio background that others usually have? You may want to give our indoor window variation a try then! Lit predominantly by the sun, this warm toned environmental background is suitable for those needing a headshot that is both personable and interpersonal, ideal for communication based jobs such as consultants, psychologists, marketing, and public relations.

We wanted this shot to be as personable as possible, so by framing a little loosely we incorporated more of the body in the shot which in turn created more body language for the viewer to read. Imagine the reverse, a headshot without arms or even the torso fully showing—there are simply less visuals to work with to create the particular emotion you are aiming for.