TYPES OF ON LOCATION CORPORATE PORTRAIT SHOOT
Whilst the subject (the person being photographed) is the focus of any portrait, the location / setting / backdrop is the main element that gives context and mood, and defines the intended purpose of a photograph. Therefore the background is of paramount importance and it's absolutely essential that this be given the highest level of consideration. Here I'll give a practical overview of the main types of portrait shoot settings and highlight the advantages (and potential limitations) of each.
Your choice will depend upon many factors including your:
Intended use of the images
Does the portrait setting have to conform to a certain look?
Available space
If shooting on your premises, the more available space, the more options in terms of photography.
Available time
Certain Portrait services require time for the installation and testing of materials, whereas others can be done far more time-efficiently.
Number of subjects to be shot
If you want portraits of many individuals, the transporting, preparation and scheduling requirements of certain Portrait settings may be suitable for you.
Budget
The more materials to be provided, transported and installed, and the longer the more expensive the service.
Post-production requirements
If you later wish to “cut out” the portraits to superimpose them on an alternative background, then the portraits must be shot against a dedicated studio background.
Future Needs (“Longevity” of the Portrait)
The more location-specific the background, the more limited your usage of the portraits may be.
YOUR BUSINESS PREMISES ITSELF
Summary
The shoot is carried out on your chosen premises making full use of all available areas, backgrounds, and any desired branding elements, all as per your preferences.
Depending on the layout of the premises (the number of floors, the ease of access, the availability of desired spaces, the dimensions of each space), the shoot can be very mobile and, within the given shooting time, cover a wide variety of spaces, backgrounds and perspectives.
This is by far the most requested option by established businesses and, unless your premises themselves are inappropriate or undesired for photography, this is an option I can fully recommend.
The indoor portraiture would be enhanced by off-camera strobe (flash) lighting (with softboxes, umbrellas etc), which I would of course provide. In cases where good available light rendered this unnecessary, or when space limitations (e.g. low-ceilings, narrow corridors) made this impossible, I use alternative solutions (e.g. on-camera flash or available light).
Requirements
Space:
The premises should contain at least one space with large enough dimensions to photograph. The essential:
Being able to put enough space between the lens, the subject and the background.
Standard ceiling height (around 2.5 metres) or higher
It is very rare that company premises do not meet these criteria, but if this is your case, simply let me know providing details of the location: there are always workarounds (e.g. seating subjects instead of standing)
If you're unsure about the feasibility of shooting at your location and would like some reassurance and advice, I'll be very happy to assist you. So that I can get an idea of the premises and the potential backgrounds and settings, simply send me (as if possible):
any reference photos of the location (smartphone snaps are absolutely fine)
an idea of the ceiling heights and dimensions of the desired spaces.
With this, if your premises has any outdoor areas (gardens, terraces, balconies etc), please let me know. Shooting outdoors can be a great compliment to indoor photography and, should the indoor locations be limited, a great alternative solution.
Light
There are no requirements in terms of lighting as, for indoor portrait shoots, I bring, as standard, a variety of lighting equipment appropriate for a whole manner of conditions.
Time:
Generally the setup of my materials is very quick (as little as 15 minutes).
When you would choose this option
You're a business with your own (or shared) premises and you want to show subjects in the context of a particular work environment.
Showing a particular premise isn't important to you, but your given premises can be made generic-looking enough so as not to link the portraits to a specific location (this can be achieved, for example, through generic and out-of-focus backgrounds).
You want a good variety of backgrounds and perspectives (and your premises can accommodate this).
You want an efficient shoot that can be realised during office hours with minimal disruption to the people's work schedules: Shooting directly from your workplace
you lose no time through travel
no time is lost waiting (as shooting slots can be scheduled in advance - e.g. 09:00 person 1, 09:20 person 2 etc)
When you wouldn't choose this option
When you're premises is inappropriate or undesirable, which could be for many reasons such as:
It's appearance doesn't reflect the standing of your company
Shooting would not technically be possible (due to lack of space or, if it's a busy environment, quiet)
It's a temporary office or one you will soon move from
Price
Due to the additional lighting material required, this shoot will generally cost a little more than a purely natural light shoot.
Should you request that the entire shoot be done in outdoor areas (where no additional lighting would be required) the price would be adjusted appropriately.
Options
The main variables you can consider are:
how many portraits per subject/person you'd like
how many and which areas of your premises you'd like to shoot at
Tips
It's generally good to think strategically and choose a space or space/s that are easy to access from one another, yet offer a good amount of visual variety, as this minimises time spent making changes and maximises the time spent taking portraits.
A PHOTO STUDIO BACKGROUND
Summary
The shoot is carried out in a specific space of your chosen premises where I will bring and install a studio background and accompanying lighting, as per your preferred style which we'll establish in advance.
The shoot achieves the look and quality of that achieved in a photo studio.
Requirements
Space:
For a standard headshot (torso), I recommend a minimum of 3 metres of vertical (ceiling) height and 4 metres x 6 metres of floor space. For full-body or group-shots, where more distance will be put between the subject and the lights, more space must be envisioned. As a general rule, the larger the room and the higher the ceiling, the better.
If no large space is available, however, there are often workarounds. If this is your case, simply provide the rough dimensions of the place in which you'd like the photography to take place. Likewise, if you've concerned about the lighting, simply let me know (providing a reference photograph of the space would be very helpful and hence highly recommended).
Light:
The ambient light should be constant, low, or dimmable to allow as much control as possible; it would be problematic for example to shoot next to a large open window with no curtain / shutter, as the ever-changing natural light could affect the consistency of the shoot.
Time:
At least 1-hour prior of time needs to be allowed for both the installation of material and test shots (essential), and again another 40 minutes for the deinstallation of materials following the shoot.
Additional time needs to be allocated to test shots to define lighting that will be consistent across all subjects. Tests can be done either:
prior to the arrival of the first subject (in which case I would require the assistance of a member of staff as a "model")
directly with the first subject, in which case their time slot should be extended to account for this.
When you would choose this option
You're following a company style guide that requires subjects be shot against a neutral studio background.
Your premises themselves are unsuitable to be used as a setting.
You want a generic background that will offer your portraits longevity in the case of a change in premises.
You have various offices with different appearances which would be non-cohesive if used together for team photographs.
You want the style of studio photography without the inconvenience of travelling to a dedicated studio.
You have a space that meets the space and lighting requirements and is available throughout my being on location.
You have post-production requirements that require subjects be shot against a seamless background (e.g. superimposing, masking, "cutting out" subjects etc)
You have a good amount of individuals to photograph (otherwise more time will be spent on the installation of materials than the photography itself.
When you wouldn't choose this option:
The studio style doesn't appeal to you.
You want a background that gives the portrait a specific context.
Your premises do not meet the requirements to accommodate this type of shoot.
You only have a handful of people to photograph and the time required for installation simply isn't worth it.
You want both a quick and economical shoot.
Price
Compared to the other types of portrait shoot, this approach tends to involve the largest investment, given that it can entail:
a significant amount of additional equipment for both the background and lighting.
subsequent additional travel requirements due to the amount of material.
extra time required on location (for the installation, testing and deinstallation).
addition retouch requirements (depending on the specific background)
Options
On location studio portraits are generally shot against neutral backgrounds: white, grey, or black. Gradients and tone variations (and, if desired, colour) are then achieved through lighting. It's essential the specific studio background be decided upon well in advance of the shoot, so that the correct equipment is brought on the day.
The most appropriate background for your needs may depend on:
the clothing of the subject to be photographed (dark clothing will stand out more on white etc)
your post-production needs (e.g. whether you intend to "cut out" the subjects from the background)
the importance of maintaining consistency between shots
A PUBLIC OUTDOOR LOCATION
Summary
The shoot is carried out at an outdoor public location of your choosing, which could be
a classic area of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Sacré-Coeur.
an area which has professional connection to you.
an area which simply matches the look you are after.
Requirements
None, besides arranging your own transport and, as you desire, preparations (hair, makeup etc).
When you would choose this option
Your business premises are not desired or suitable as a shoot location, but are located near a suitable outdoor location.
You're a business who would simply prefer their portraits being representative of "Paris" rather than their place of work.
When you wouldn't choose this option
You're a business with many employees to photograph or whose premises are not located near a suitable outdoor area, for whom both travel and shoot coordination would therefore be impractical.
You simply don't feel any area of the city would provide a suitable background / setting.
Price
If shooting in Natural Light (requiring no additional lighting equipment), as is most popular, this is by the most economical option for businesses.
If shooting with additional lighting material, there would be a slight additional cost compared to a Natural Light shoot (using outdoor lighting is purely a stylistic choice; for further information, simply get in touch)
Options
Walking photo shoot concentrating on one area:
This is my standard and strongly recommended approach as, with no time wasted in transport, the shoot is more effective, productive and enjoyable.
Stop-and-start photo shoot, travelling between locations by transport.
Preferred by those who wish or need to cover several areas of the city within the space of one shoot.
Please note that both the organisation and the costs of any transport between locations are covered entirely by the client.
STILL UNDECIDED?
If you are unsure of the best option for you, simply get in touch, providing as much information as possible about your needs and concerns and I will be very happy to advise you.
contact@brettwalshphotography.com
+33 (0) 6 52 28 23 45