Corporate leaders always have nice photos, whether it's on their Wikipedia page or LinkedIn. These photos are called corporate headshots. It is different from a regular headshot, and it's a semi close up enprint. It's quite common at auditions for new project roles where applicants ask for a corporate headshot. You can put them medially between a formal and an informal photo.
Why do we need Corporate headshots?
They are majorly used for resume or portfolio building. Also, at the end of the year when organizations decide to come up with their annual reports, they would need the charms of everyone at the top. Press releases sometimes ask for it; people want to see their leaders, what they are saying and their vibes. You also find a lot of these headshots in company websites, with a well-defined hierarchy, all beautifully portrayed, wearing their best smiles or on photography websites. These days a lot of photography blogs are also coming up, which acts as a platform to display your capabilities with the camera. Marketing is the key to corporate success, and we find headshots being used in the various promotional campaign. The major essence lies in seeing the person informally.The psychology behind it.
You always fancy seeing your leader up close and in action. Formalities aside, these corporate headshots try to bring the individual's personality ahead of their designations. You do not want to see a corporate person, suited up and serious. If you can capture the charm, you get their positive vibes too. The advantage here is that the reader unconsciously starts appreciating what's written alongside in these newsletters or press releases.No, not fancy here!
The concept is simple. You get dressed formally and present yourself to the cameraman at the photo studio. The cameraman takes it on from here. He sets up the photography backdrop, photography camera, photography light and starts his act. The key here is to create the right mood which comes with soft light and a soft smile. Based on the purpose of the shoot, you decide on the mood. There can be two types of headshots, either an indoor or an outdoor. A traditional shot with perfect lighting goes well with any occasion. The general tendency of the cameraman is to ask for a natural pose, which means he needs the subject to act informally. That's the corporate charm we are talking about. The subject's comfort and willingness to pose is critical in ensuring the capture of subtle yet charming headshots. You just ask them to be themselves only directing the head movements. The focus is always on the eyes and to make sure that the look is flattering. The word is different here because, the cameraman sees the naked truth of the eyes, not necessarily flattering every time. Once clicked, the photo reveals the charm, usually.Strong, confident and tall
These three words work well while the cameraman instructs the subject. Achieving normality is difficult in these circumstances. You need to capture their body language and facial expression without losing even a small bit of charm. If all fit in well, the capture is precise and appropriately accepted. But there is a prerequisite to this. The subject should always feel comfortable in the environment and should be able to behave themselves. Encouraging them to be confident is the trick here. The natural look always works. A rapport between the cameraman and the subject is essential in getting the best out of the subject.How are things different outdoor?
The weather and the timing become crucial in an outdoor shoot. You need the subject and the setting all ready on time for the perfect shot. There's a lot of room to play with creativity and lighting when it's outside. We need to remember that it's not about choreography here. It only needs to be directed properly.Go easy but professional
Corporate headshots are one of the easiest things to do for a professional cameraman, just that he needs to know the difference here. As we understand, there's a bit of science involved. A lot of practice needs to be put in, in terms of creating the mood, setting up the right amount of light, having a rapport with the subject and ensuring proper direction and guidance to achieve the best pose. You should be able to capture the right emotions. One last thing to remember is to handle the whole thing professionally. The subject is very important here, and it's always important to build a relationship here. A respected agreement between professionals is reflected in the final output, that's the charm of the act. Human beings are often flawed, but there is magic within the fingers of a cameraman who brings out the charm, that lets the world be.