Business Headshots Boston
David Shopper has been creating business headshots in Boston, MA for over 3 decades and is one of Boston’s most trusted photographers for CEO and corporate headshots.
Business headshots are an integral part of every successful business in Boston. A professional headshot tells your audience that you take your work seriously. That you pay attention to the details of business. That you take pride in your business and celebrate your brand.
The best professional business headshots present a businessman or businesswoman as an authentic individual who is a member of a branded business.
First: the individual business portrait. A successful business headshot is shot with natural light to give an honest and straightforward feel. The subject of the business portrait should look un-posed and comfortable. They should look at the camera with confidence yet also come across as approachable.
Needless to say, any successful corporate headshot must be well composed and sharp. The lighting should be open so you can see the subject’s eyes. Shooting from eye-level gives a feeling of directness and honesty. The background should be soft so the subject’s focus is heightened.
Technically, I use a Nikon D850 SLR and a f2.8 70-200 Nikon lens. I consider these tools essential for a corporate headshot.
Second: the branded company. A successful business headshot works with the other headshots a company uses. All the portraits on a team or bio page should work together as a group. None should stand out (brash colors, say. Or one portrait that looks different than the others). All the portraits on a good team page have similar colors, photographic style, technical approach, etc. All team members should look like they’re cut from the same cloth.
This business headshot was taken for Chestnut Hill Realty, a family owned business near Boston. We were asked to produce a series of business headshots for the company about us team page.
We first started by determining what the company wanted to say with these images. My client wanted to present their business as an extended family. A professional and expert family actually.
We approached the photography almost the way you’d approach a family portrait. We sought to bring out everyone’s personality. We worked with team member to feel comfortable. We kept the shoot light-hearted and fun. But always professional.
When I take on a new assignment, it's never a rote exercise. I don't have a one-size-fits-all approach. Sure, every photographer has a style, but good photographers morph their visual style to support their client's message.
When Chestnut Hill Realty asked me to help them rebrand their family-owned company for their new website, my homework was simple - figure out what defines this company. Of course I was interested in the physical areas where we'd be shooting, what people would be wearing, if they wanted grooming on set (they did).
But most importantly, my job was getting to know the people that make up the company, from Ed the founder to Tim the landscaper. A lot of businesses describe themselves as "a family," but I particularly felt the cohesiveness of this group. Their camaraderie defined the company vibe, which shaped these photos.
We shot in two of their locales: their corporate offices and one of the properties they manage. We sought out areas that would give a sense of well-appointed space and (of course) had great light. I can't help going for the great light.
But really, it's the personalities that shine through. It's their openness, their approachability, their professionalism.
These portraits will populate CHR's rebranded site, which will be coming out in the new year. Can't wait to see it.