When it comes to professional photography for your business, you may have heard the terms "executive portrait" and "corporate headshot." While both are important for creating a professional image for your business, there are some key differences between the two.
Executive Portraits: Executive portraits are photographs that highlight the individuality of an executive or high-level manager. They are usually taken in a more formal setting, such as the executive's office or an outdoor location, and are meant to capture the personality and professional demeanor of the subject. They are clearly meant to be more individualized than a corporate headshot. These portraits are usually used on a company's website, in brochures, and in presentations to showcase the key people in the organization.
A good executive portrait photographer will strive to produce multiple looks and variations on framing and lighting to give the subject many options depending on their intended purpose. As such, these photo sessions tend to take considerably more time on location that a corporate headshot.
Executive portraits bring environmental cues to convey more about the personality and status of the subject.
Corporate Headshots: Corporate headshots, on the other hand, are photographs of all employees in a given company. These headshots strive for a consistent look, with similar lighting and background. This uniformity helps to create a cohesive and professional image for the company as a whole. Corporate headshots are typically taken in a studio or against a simple, neutral background, and are used for company websites, email signatures, and other corporate materials.
Corporate headshots are a quick and effective way to project the professional quality of a company’s workforce.
One of the key benefits of corporate headshots is that they can be easily reproduced when new employees are hired. By having a standard lighting and background setup, new headshots can be taken quickly and easily, ensuring that the look of the company remains consistent. An experienced corporate headshot photographer can produce high quality images in very little time.
Both executive portraits and corporate headshots are important for creating a professional image for your business. While executive portraits showcase the personality and individuality of key executives, corporate headshots provide a cohesive and consistent look for all employees in the company. By understanding the differences between these two types of professional photography, you can make informed decisions about how to best represent your business to the world.