Read this Before Hiring a Portrait Photographer
Working with a portrait photographer is a critical investment for your professional profile and personal brand. Your portrait shapes the first impression that colleagues, partners, and potential clients have of you. At Worker Bee, we’ve captured thousands of portraits and the key to a successful photo shoot is planning, a little prep, and clear communications with your photographer.
Prior to getting in touch with a portrait photographer there are a few important questions that should be considered by you and your team. Your answers will give your photographer an idea of the scale and scope of the shoot, what gear will be needed, how long the shoot may take, and ultimately what the cost will be. Here are the top 5 things you must consider.
How will you use your portrait?
Are you having your new portrait taken simply to update your LinkedIn profile photo and other social media? Will it be used on a website header and needs the background cut out? Do you get a lot of media requests and need it for features in magazine articles? All of these examples of usage will inform your portrait’s style, scale, and background.
How you’ll use your portrait is one of the first things you should communicate to your photographer, so write down a list of the main ways you expect to use your portrait. If you’re working within a larger organization, remember to check with your brand and marketing teams!
When the team has a clear vision for the photographs we can ensure all of the portraits can be used to their full advantage. If your marketing team wants a specific style, format, or images that will fit into a certain context, it is important to let your photographer know ahead of time so that everyone is on the same page before the shoot.
What style of portrait are you looking for?
Before your portrait session it is important to decide on the location and aesthetic for your photos. Do you want something quiet and minimal or punch and full of energy? The majority of our portraits are considered either Environmental or Studio Backdrop, here’s what that means.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental portraits are shot in a natural environment, this could be indoors or out (or both!) and we typically move around with different set ups. This is a great option to show off your personality/space and create a dynamic portrait.
STUDIO BACKDROP
For Studio Backdrop portraits we shoot a variety of looks against a predetermined background(s). This can be done in a studio or at your business location. Different looks can be achieved by varying lighting, backdrop colour, clothing, and poses.
Once you’ve decided on the general look and feel we also ask you to consider whether you want something clean and professional or a little more playful and creative. Our head shot styles typically fall into the following four groups. If you’re looking for a mix, let us know!
CLEAN
BACKDROP
This look is all business, no one will question your authority with this sharp, professional aesthetic.
CREATIVE
BACKDROP
For anyone who is a fierce burst of energy, we’ll collaborate to create a unique photo that’s all you!
CLEAN
ENVIRONMENTAL
With the world as our backdrop you’ll get a captivating portrait that reveals your personality.
CREATIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL
We’ll use unexpected elements to create a bold look that makes your portrait pop off the screen.
Have you seen portraits that you love?
Send us an example!
Think of it this way; when you go to your stylist/barber you probably bring images of styles, perhaps a celebrity look, to your appointment, right? That is exactly what we love to see from our clients as well. If you have a certain aesthetic in mind, send it to your photographer at least a week ahead of your appointment, this gives us a great idea of what you have in mind so we can make it a reality.
How many final images will you need?
Do you need one perfect image for your profile? Or are you looking to create an internal image library so you have a ton of great portraits for social media and other needs? This is another important question to discuss with your team to ensure the final images you select work well with the needs and context other departments may need to use them in. Depending on your preference and portrait package, there are typically two approaches to selecting your images.
We Deliver the best images
For a wide variety of images, we like to compile a ‘best of the best’ package and send you an edited set of images that you can use for any media needs that may come up.
You Pick Your FAV Images
For a focused photo shoot with many similar poses, we send you a web gallery to select your final images from. Then we edit and deliver your selected photographs.
When do you need the final photos by?
Post production times vary depending on the scale of your shoot, level of retouching required, and time of the year. It typically takes 10 - 14 business days after the shoot to receive your final images. This can take longer due to web gallery/client selection time and more complicated edits.
If there is an urgent need for the images let your photographer know before the shoot. A fast turnaround is often an option but be prepared to pay a rush fee to skip the post-production queue.
Now you’re ready to book a portrait session!
Once you and your team can answer all of the above questions then you’re all set to book your professional portrait shoot and to start planning those outfits. At Worker Bee we’ve captured thousands of portraits from freelancers who are just getting started to CEOs of multinational corporations!
We’re just as comfortable doing an individuals portrait session as photographing your entire company’s head shots for a new website. If you’re considering booking a professional portrait session please contact us with your needs for a free consultation!
Take a look at some of our recent portrait shoots
