We are not just executive portrait photographers. We are content creators. We are New York corporate headshot photographers whose goal it is to help our clients tell their story visually through corporate photography and video even when they cannot be together.

With social distancing occurring, the economy shut down and most of our regular haunts closed, we have been forced to focus on the basics. In that spirit, we thought it would be a very appropriate time to address the most basic of elements that make for a great photo: Light.

Any trained photographer knows that a good, well considered lighting plan is central to making a professional headshot photo. If the light is not good, the photo will not be good. And good, can mean so many things, creatively. The options and combinations are both fun and endless and will shift, depending on what the ideas are for the photo.

The two fundamental ways to light a good business headshot (or any photo) are through 1) natural light and 2) studio light. Natural light can be used when shooting outside or near a window. With studio light, we are relying entirely on strobes and light shaping equipment.

Natural Light

For photography, nothing beats mother nature's sunlight on a calm, comfortably warm day. Natural light is beautiful and, with the right plan, you can get those even, airy, natural and universally flattering photos (see below). For appropriate professional headshot jobs, we love a well-considered outdoor shoot.

There are a few things to think about when planning for a natural light shoot. Of course the background and setting are key, but for this discussion, we are focusing on the quality of light.

When we are thinking about where to shoot, from a lighting perspective, we always look for a location with lots of open shade. This can be under a tree where there is a consistent non-splotchy light. If you are in New York corporate headshot photographer’s region or even a different urban location for your headshots, a tall building can also give you that nice open shade.

We avoid intense overhead light, like a sunny day at high noon. It presents all kinds of problems: harsh raccoon eyes (shadows around the eyes) and squinting from the bright light, to start. It is also not exactly forgiving to those of us who might have (ahem) a wrinkle or two. Imagine a photo lit by an overhead bare bulb. Great if you are looking for an interrogation vibe, but not so great for a professional LinkedIn headshot. Flattering light is the name of the game for headshot photography and New York business photographers alike.

Timing is key so take the time to observe your location. Look at how the area goes from sunny to shady. In general, 8-10am or 4-6pm are good times of the day, given the position of the sun. During those times the sun is softer and less harsh. By contrast, mid-day is the most difficult and most harsh time to shoot.

Weather is another issue to consider. Soft cloudy days can be fabulous for an outdoor shoot. The clouds provide that same natural diffusion of light. Again, this provides that consistent, soft look you want.

The downside of planning for a natural light shoot, of course is that you cannot control the weather. Rain or excessive wind can force cancellations or rescheduling. Having said that, if you are able to pivot creatively, you can sometimes use the weather to your advantage. Wonderful ideas can come from an unexpected change in plan so, for the executive portrait client, a photo in the park planned for a nice sunny day can shift to an interesting photo under umbrellas.

Used properly, mother nature is a great source of light. It takes some planning and flexibility and knowing that certain elements are out of your control. If you need one or two photos of specific team members flexibility might be an option. If you are looking at a groups of 10-20 employees you are probably going to need to have more control. Which brings us to…

Indoor Light

There are so many moving parts in shooting corporate executive portraits for New York businesses that are not light-related (schedules, indoor locations, branding, etc). Our clients are happy to have the control that comes with indoor headshot photography so they can apply their time to other challenges that could arise. The vast majority of our shoots are done indoors using studio light in a boardroom that is convenient to all of their staff.

At the booth we have major control issues and this is why we also prefer studio light for our larger business portrait photography projects. We can lock in the right lighting and then focus exclusively on making the subject pose for the most flattering overall shot.

Indoor (Studio) Light

For indoor light, or studio light, our New York business photographers use artificial light to create a photo. We use strobes, or flashes, to create the light, and light manipulators to help shape the light. The strobes are put on light stands and placed in different formations around the subject. Light manipulators, like umbrellas, diffusion, reflectors, bounce cards, etc, are chosen to mold the light and hit the subject in ways that might be softer or more angled.

The photographer will use these tools in different combinations to execute on any of the many many creative options a client might bring to us for their team's professional business headshots. The photographer will think about the mood, tone and overall branding elements that the client wants to incorporate. Does the client want something that has a very buttoned down conservative look, or more a soft, beauty look? Does the client want a very even light or something with more shadows and dimension? What colors does the client use in their creative? Do they tend towards warmer or cooler tones? Decisions around light will be the single most important and basic set of decisions that will be made for your shoot.

For our regular New York corporate headshot setup, we opt for a beautiful, broad light. We think about what is consistently flattering for our subjects, knowing that, on most jobs, we are covering men and women that range from 25-60+ years old. Big umbrellas are great for this. They put out a nice homogenous light that falls evenly over the subject. Two of those placed strategically around the subject can create a universally flattering and dynamic look.

Next we sculpt the light using different tools. A large reflector bounces those big overhead lights up and onto the face. The results are gorgeous, soft skin and a little fill for those of us with dark circles (raising my hand). If you are 25 you still have that gorgeous flawless skin. If you are 40+ (again, raising my hand), you might appreciate the softening of lines that this lighting affords. Our goal is always to create a lighting plan that helps our subject to look like their very best selves.

There are ways to shake this lighting plan up and create more dramatic or moody looks. We can angle lights, change the placement of a reflector, use a different umbrella or change the position of the subject.

Case Studies:

Here are a few case studies that help illustrate the different ways light can be used for corporate headshots.

Case Study 1 – NYC Law Firm Headshots

We work with many law firms, doing legal headshots and executive portraits on an ongoing basis. There is a creative through line of professionalism and leadership that most are trying to highlight. Inside of this there is still much room for individuality.

Here is an example of a law firm that hires us to do an updated, yet still traditional and controlled, environmental headshot in their gorgeous modern boardroom. This is very much a studio-lit look. When planning for this photo, we think about how we can highlight the subject while bringing in extra lights to make the room pop. This client's choice to use this room is deliberate, an opportunity to signal the knowledge professionalism and high level of capability of their firm. It is the job of our New York business headshot photographers to make sure it is well-lit.

Case Study 2 – W.In Forum

Over the past few years, there has been a lovely conference hosted by The New School in New York City. It is called the W.In Forum and the agenda is centered around giving women and minorities the energy and confidence they need to become inclusive and innovative leaders. The event takes place at the New School on 14th street, a modern, sunlit, newly renovated building. We brought this same tone into the photos for an updated, editorial, airy kind of feel.

In Conclusion

So, as you see, good light is fundamental. It is the most basic and important element of a good shoot. It is far from simple, but for photography, it is where it all starts.

New York corporate headshot photographer