I recently returned from a fun and unique corporate photo shoot. This particular client contacted me saying that they’d be staying in a hotel in Chicago and asked if I could take headshots of the team there.

After discussing several options with the client, it was decided that we would use a more “environmental” approach for the style of the portraits as opposed to a standard backdrop.  Their corporate dress code was business casual and they wanted a friendly and relaxed feeling reflected in a more updated style of their corporate portraits.

After a quick site inspection, we found a light and airy location in the hotel to give the headshot photographs a stylish, contemporary and unique look.  Modern hotels, especially those with conference rooms and large meeting spaces, often have photo-friendly designs, with clean lines, large open spaces, and lots of natural light that makes shooting corporate headshots a dream.  It is important to remember that while natural light can make for beautiful portraits, it constantly changes, and interior light of the hotel can negatively affect the final look of the photo, so, it’s important to have an experienced professional to be able to use, enhance, control and supplement the existing lighting.

So, before you decide on a simple grey or white background (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) consider alternate locations and environments for your corporate headshots and portraits. Hotel headshots may not be the best option in every instance, but thinking outside the box, understanding what works best for you and your team, and making the shoot successful is something I take great pride in. So, next time you’re in the market for new headshots, let’s talk and see what fits for you!