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.

Portrait and Headshots in the Studio

Portrait Photography

/ / / / / how to dress for your headshot:

In this post, we introduce you to a couple of tips that will help you decide what to wear for your portrait headshots.

Tip number one: Don’t ever be afraid to go colour. When debating what to bring along with you, we always recommend throwing in a few flavourful pieces. It’s a no-brainer that colour evokes emotion, which is especially convenient if you have something particular in mind.

Tip number two: Jewellery/accessories go a very long way. In this portrait, the necklace keeps the photo feeling casual while adding a personable and polished layer. There is is slight magic that happens when the light hits reflective material. Whether that shimmer is achieved through an accessory like a watch or by your clothes such as a leather jacket, a little shine definitely will make a big difference!

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!

Grad Portrait Photoshoot

Book Your Own Graduation Shoot!

/ / / / / school photos vs studio photos

There are several advantages to booking a personal photoshoot for your graduation as opposed to going with the traditional school-provided option. Although we don’t offer a grad-specific package, you can always book any of the packages based on your needs (feel free to even combine styles like portrait + grad, or business + grad!)

The most obvious difference if you book your shoot with us would be the luxury of time. You are capturing an unforgettable moment in your life—so why wouldn’t you take your time? The disadvantage of school photographers is that they tend to speed through the shoot due to a queue of students waiting. Rushed headshots may end up feeling more clinical than personal.

Want to try a couple of shots with your friends or family? Or even one without the gown and cap? No problem! We always encourage outfit changes as long as time permits. Basic grad gown/cap rental available for an additional fee.

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!

Corporate Headshots on a Window Background

Environmental Business Portrait

/ / / / / digital backgrounds

There are a few steps when it comes to arranging your headshot, but depending on the weather shouldn’t be one of them !

Whether it’s a cloudy day or an evening shoot, it’s always sunny in photoshop.
Choose one or get all different backgrounds for each of your headshots.

Ask us about the savings when you purchase more than one digital background!

Professional Natural and Candid Portrait

Environmental Portrait Photoshoot

/ / / / / Our Tips for a Natural Portrait

We all want our portraits to look natural, but the tricky part is feeling comfortable un an unnatural photoshoot situation. For most of our clients, it is their first time in front of the camera, and with little to no clue of what to expect, you can expect to see some initial awkwardness at the beginning. Not to worry, as this is completely normal of a reaction !

Luckily we offer some tips and guidance through the session to help you feel and look more natural in your shots. It’s less about visual language (hair/makeup/clothing etc) and more about body language.

Some ways we help our clients feel natural on camera:

Wall/furniture to lean on: Helps relieve the body from feeling heavy and static
Head tilt: Imitates what our body does when we are naturally curious/interested in someone/something
Looser crop: Hands are always expressive and having them comfortably resting in a way that matches your personality—will help bring out your personality.