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.

Friendly Business Headshots and Portrait

Friendly Business Headshots

/ / / / / how to appear approachable:

In this post, we discuss two tips on the ever-so-popular topic of how to “look friendly” for your photo!

Tip number one: Experiment with micro head head tilts. This little trick does more than you think! By doing this you are essentially imitating the body’s natural movements that occur when we connect with something interesting.

Tip number two: Add a unique element of style that falls in line with your brand (ie: classic, contemporary, conservative, creative…). For example this client’s detail of choice would be the gently monochromatic bow. Neither boring nor distracting, it perfectly blends together the look while adding a bit of character.

Professional Linkedin Headshots and Portrait

Add Personality with Textured Backgrounds

/ / / / / editorial style canvas

Since a headshot is ultimately a static image, a great way to bring your photo to life is by adding some personality through a textured background. This works best if your clothing is rather simple as in the example above.

For this shoot, our client just happened to be wearing a classic black & white suit, which ended up being the perfect match to our characteristic background. Because the canvas is hand-painted, it adds an element of organicness that contrasts well with the clean, corporate wardrobe.

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!

Professional Real Estate Headshots

Business Cards and Marketing Photos

/ / / / / how to wear your long hair

The most common question we get is what to wear, but little do we think that our hair is one of the more important elements to a good photo beside our facial expression.

Hair is emotional and evokes an expression entirely on its own. If the smile in your headshot is warm, natural, and friendly, you should aim for the hair to be the same. Therefore it’s usually not a good idea to have it tied back but rather let it lay naturally.

However, as with anything, there are always exceptions to the rule. In this exceptional example, our client had nicely textured layers that evoke the same organic emotion as would if it were hair down. For this reason, the hair being up becomes a viable option for a professional and clean real estate headshot.