Does your Seattle-area team need new headshots? Perfect. Now, we have some choices to make!
The first is where the photos happen - our Kirkland studio or your own office. The second is how much of each person's personality belongs in the frame. Most companies start planning with headcount and budget, but those numbers only get clear once these two key decisions are made. Here's how I walk your HR and/or marketing lead through the process.
Let’s Talk Location
Team headshots at our Kirkland studio
Our studio allows for fantastic control over backdrops and light. It's where the rich, painterly finish my portraits are known for is easiest to build, so leadership teams and founders who want that signature look often land here.
The logistics of how/when your team arrives at the studio depends on one question: do you need a group shot? Without one, people come in individually on their own schedules, so no department loses an afternoon. With one, we coordinate carefully to get the needed images while being mindful of the time commitment of each participant.
On-location headshots at your office
We can bring our backdrops and lighting to you. Most often, though, we use your actual space as the background so your business shows up in the portrait. Your lobby, your shop floor, or the window light in your conference room tells clients where your team does its work.
On-site sessions are typically the best way to handle volume sessions, as we can easily photograph 50 or more people in a day. The exact number ultimately depends on how many setups and pose variations are needed for each team member.
How to choose between studio and on-site at your location
Headcount doesn't decide it. A five-person leadership team might be best photographed in their own office, and a larger department might come to our studio one person at a time over the course of a couple of days. The choice comes down to the look and feel you want, your timeline, and whether you need a group shot with a large team.
Also notable - you don’t have to decide because we can do both! We worked with Erin’s wellness studio to create a hybrid session that met all of their needs:
“Working with Shannon was an absolute dream from start to finish. She welcomed us into her beautiful home studio with such warmth and professionalism, making the entire experience feel effortless and elevated. Not only did she create a comfortable environment for our team photos, but she also took the extra time to travel to our workplace for our branding shoot — and the images came out beyond stunning. Her eye for detail, her ability to capture authentic confidence, and her talent for directing poses without ever making us feel posed is unmatched. Every photo looked polished, modern, and completely on‑brand.”
Classic headshots or personality-driven headshots
Classic professional headshots
A classic headshot is typically a clean background, considered light, polished wardrobe, and a warm, direct expression. It works everywhere a headshot gets used: your team page, LinkedIn, pitch decks, press kits, speaker bios. For law firms, medical practices, financial advisors, and executive teams, a matching set tells clients that everyone is held to the same standard.
Personality-driven headshots
A Seattle-area game studio recently booked us at their office with a specific request: headshots that showed the real people behind the games. Personality was a requirement! The finished collection works as well for recruiting material as it does for a staff directory.
This style is ideal for creative agencies, game and tech companies, and any team that hires on culture. Candidates read your About page to picture themselves on your team, and personality headshots give them more to go on. It doesn't have to mean humor, either. The most frequent request that we hear for our headshots and branding images is that people simply want to capture their “approachability” in a way that classic headshots are often unable to.
If you're torn between the two, let’s just do both! A classic frame for LinkedIn and a personality frame for the team page can come out of the same session, as long as we plan for it at the consultation.
Adding new hires to your headshots
It’s a question that is often part of the conversation: what happens when someone joins in six months? This is where using our studio really shines. The predictability and control of a studio session allows us to keep adding to your team as time passes creating continuity in your marketing.
If long-term consistency matters more to you than showing off your space, tell me at the consultation. It may change where we recommend shooting!
What to expect from a corporate headshot session
A planning consultation. We settle location, style, group shots, and editing approach before anyone steps in front of the camera.
Custom retouching. The level is set at the consultation, anywhere from perfectly polished to nearly untouched.
Hair and makeup. It can be added to any session, in the studio or on location.
Wardrobe guidance. Solid, neutral colors without busy patterns or logos photograph best.
Quick image turnaround. Often times in under a week.
Concierge booking process. Quick and painless scheduling over the phone or online.
Each project is custom-quoted to ensure that you’re only paying for time and services that are needed for your particular circumstances.
Plan your team's headshots
Whether your team wants a matching set of classic portraits or a session built around props, planning starts with a conversation about how your company wants to be seen. Learn more about corporate and team headshots, or call the studio at 425-448-6008 to plan a session in Kirkland or at your office.
Frequently asked team headshot questions
Can you photograph our team right in our Seattle office?
Yes. We photograph teams on-site throughout Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and the Eastside. We can bring backdrops and lighting, or use your space as the background.
How many people can you photograph in one day?
We can easily photograph 50 or more people in a day. The exact number depends on how many setups, poses, and backdrops each person gets.
Does everyone have to come to the studio at the same time?
Only if you want a group shot. Without one, team members can come in individually.
Can new employees match our existing team headshots?
Yes, if the original images were taken in our studio then we can recreate the setup for new hires down the line.
How long until we receive our images?
We offer speedy image turnaround, often times in under a week. The final timeline will depend on the number of images and the requested level of editing.
Is hair and makeup available for team headshots?
Yes. Hair and makeup can be added to any session, in the studio or on location.
