Business Portrait Theory

Throughout our site you’ll find a number of classes covering how to photograph business portraits. These cover techniques such as lighting setups, camera settings and equipment choice, but what about how to organise a business shoot, how to put a nervous person at ease or how to choose which images to present to the client?

In this class, Karl provides a wealth of information about the more ‘theoretical’ elements relating to business portraiture. Starting with pre-shoot considerations such as call sheets, Karl also explores important considerations such as how to put your subjects at ease, how to pose your subject, what to look out for when working on location, what level of post-production is needed and how to select which images to present to the client.

In this class:

  • What are call sheets and how to use them
  • How to pose subjects for business portraits
  • How to put clients at ease before a shoot
  • Selecting which images to present to the client
  • What to look out for when shooting on location
  • What backgrounds to use for business portraits
  • Recommended focal lengths for business portraiture
  • How much post-production is required for business portraits

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

Tips for photographing business portraits

1. Use a call sheet

A call sheet can be a useful tool for communicating important details about the shoot.

Login or sign up to download the “Business Portrait Call Sheet”

2. Make your subject feel comfortable

There are many reasons people may feel uncomfortable having their photos taken. Take the time to talk this through with your subject and help put them at ease.

3. Idle hands make for awkward photos

If your subject doesn’t know what to do with their hands, give them something to do. This could be simply holding a pen or putting putting them in their pockets.

4. Don’t get caught out on location

Shooting in location comes with far more challenges than working in the studio. Take the time to look around the location, understand the light and find where the shot works best.

5. Don’t neglect the post-production stage

Business portraits don’t require heavy retouching, but taking the time to fix stray hairs or remove pimples will always be appreciated.

To learn more about business portrait lighting setups, visit our Portrait section. Or, alternatively, watch our ‘Business Portraiture and Headshots‘ live show replay.

Comments

  1. Great video with a lot of interesting information, as usual.
    Do you recommend to hire a professional make-up for this kind of portraits?

    1. Hi Jordimac, no I don’t think a professional make up artist is necessary and it would usually make the budget too high for clients for business portraits.

  2. is it a class that explain how to shot invidividual a person and put them together for the group shot? (1 hour and 30 for your video)

  3. PhotOMahuna

    Hey Karl, how are you keeping? Thanks so much for all the great info and instructions in these videos.

    I’m just wondering as you say 100mm is the limit you’d shoot a portrait at, (on 35mm camera), would/could you stretch that to 105mm, or is that ‘no good’ as regards the reasons for your limit? I have a Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro Art on a full frame Sony A7RIII. Gorgeous sharp lens that can do great portraits too, by many accounts. Would you say that’s still ok to use for portraiture, if a 100mm was acceptable?

    If it is still good to use, I’m about to pick up a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 Art series lens, which many consider as sharp as some primes, would you say use the 70mm on that over the 105mm, or is it horses for courses?

    Thanks a million!
    Kindest regards,
    Craig

    1. Hi Craig, yes the limit would actually be 135mm in full frame 35mm format. But I’d prefer between 80-100mm (105 won’t make much difference). Cheers Karl.

  4. This video was excellent. My weakness is that I watch to many videos and don’t grab my camera to practice.
    However, for curiosity, How much should a photographer charge for a location job? Does it depend on how many people you have to photograph? Can you give estimates please?
    If and when I decide to do anything in photography, I would hate to overcharge of undercharge.
    I probably going to try to do some for free after I can buy some lighting gear.

    P.S. Thank you for covering shutter speed and focal lengths. Beginners like me needs to hear basics over and over again.

    Thank you

    1. Hi Mark, for pricing you should take a look at our business section, there is a class on pricing: https://visualeducation.com/business/ most commercial photographers work on a day or half day rate but in instances where you have lots of business portraits to shoot that may not be the best way to price as it doesn’t account for the many hours required in post production. For example, I could set up and shoot 40 business portraits in half a day but it would be foolish to just charge a half day rate as there would be 40 shots to select, grade and retouch. As such many photographers have a rate for turning up and setting up and then a rate per person, with the rate getting less per person if there are more people to shoot.

  6. Your best lecture so far, the technical details can be master with study and repetition, but the ability to resolve the multiple issues in dealing with human sensitivities can not be taught. I have been practice a highly surgical specialty, and still find your essay enlightening . Thank you.

  9. Hi Karl,
    As usual this was a very helpful session, especially these more in depth explanations. It’s all good and well seeing you do things, sometimes these more theoretical explanations can be very beneficial.
    I do have one specific question regarding lenses and focal lengths for portrait in general, not just business portraits. I’m using a Sony A7III full frame camera and own a 85mm F1.8 lens. This is not one of their top of the line GM lens, but still quite good. I’m still uncertain whether I should exchange that lens with their GM 85mm F1.4 lens, or add the GM 135mm F1.8, which so far every review has been absolutely glaring, but sometimes one has to be careful with these reviews anyway. Even if you probably don’t know these particular lenses, what would be your recommendation, change the 85mm to their top lens or add the 135mm?
    Cheers, Ralf

  10. Gary Stasiuk

    Is the call sheet a give and take iterative process? It sounds like, for instance, you should scout the place if you are going to do location work and then make recommendations. Or, if the company gives you specifics on the style, where you are making recommendations of coordinating colour suggestion and avoidances.

    Much of what you are saying seems so logical. It is great to hear it articulated. Excellent Video.

  11. Hi Karl!
    Hope all is well. Is there a certain lighting style that you recommend for women who have rounder faces and curvier bodies who are civilians and not models? (Rembrandt, Loop, Short, Broad, Clam Shell etc.) This would be very helpful, because I am doing a friends portrait and I want to make sure I flatter her and provide her with an image she would be proud of.

    Humble thanks,

    -Ted

    1. Hi Ted, you can try very soft light but more from the side and less from the front that tends to slim the body or alternatively it would need to be a Para 133 or similar from the front so that both sides of the face fall into more shadow and the front of the face is lit also having a slimming affect.

      1. Thanks so much Karl for taking the time to answer my question! I will give it a try and see how I make out! Thanks again and hope you have a really great day!

        -Ted

  12. This is an incredible session, Karl. I’m still taking copious notes on the 3rd viewing. Just viewing this, internalizing it, and practicing your suggestions will dramatically help achieve one of the main goals you stress: confidence as a photographer. Very valuable. Thank you.

  14. Hi Karl, great job. I have couple of questions to ask
    1. Can we categorize personal branding photography with environmental portrait and corporate photography?

    2. When it comes to photographing people in a board room, I don’t think 85mm lens can work. This means one has to have additional wide angle lens alongside. Am I correct?

    3. In terms of copyrighting for corporate and personal branding photography where the company owns the pictures, do we give them total ability to use everything or we charge them for having total control of the image?

    4. Does corporate photography involve event photography as well? In the sense that you might be called to photograph several events the company might have.

    Looking forward to your response.

    1. Hi Felicia, thank you. 1. Yes 2. It depends on the size of the boardroom and the group arrangement but you can go as wide as 35mm for that type of shot if you have to but I would prefer to go longer on the focal length if you have the space, often a 50mm can be a good choice. 3. For personal people shots you usually hand over complete copyright but with the ability for you to still publish them on your website. 4. I don’t consider that the same type of photography, event photography is event photography but some commercial photographers do include this sort of work under their umbrella. All the best Karl.

  15. Hi Karl,

    Really enjoying the courses and I thought it would be useful on ones like these that are a bit longer to maybe have a list of time notes that you talk about each thing.

    For example:
    8:12s – Focal length

    This way if you go away and return or are wanting specific information it’s easy to find.

    Thanks,

    Sam.

  17. Hi Karl ,..I have my first business portrait in 2 days..the purpose is to used it the photo for linkdln profile,.so in this case what is the most suitable or appropriate photography size ?

    Regards and thanks a lot for the quick business portrait video…

    Maria

    2. Hi Maria, for linked in it is only a small web based size image 1500px is probably large enough.

  19. The first of your courses I have taken, And the informationm you share in details is so well explained and thought through that i am thinking about cancelling my monthly subscription for a lifetime one instead.. – Really really an actuall schooling. Thank you for being to the point and not gibbering around the subjects.

    One question though, you say to photograph them on eyelevel. What reasoning goes behind that choice? – Is it not a good thing to give business people a picture where they are portraited a bit “strong” and display their authority or knowledge or power? (i am thinkin taking it from eyelevel to mouth/chin-level.

    Once again thank you for your time and great course.

    1. Hi, thank you for your kind thoughts and words about our platform, that’s good to hear. There’s a fine line between, power, superiority, arrogance and disconnection if shooting low. We shoot products low to make them important but you will never feel dominated by a product. Most companies are looking for new business so the requirement is usually for approachability.

  21. The mirror tip is great. Never thought of that. I love the idea of narrowing down the photo’s before hand with the client. I show them photos but I always have done the culling afterward. I will definitely incorporate your way. It will save so much time. I’ve dealt with some of the other problems you have mentioned but also learned from them. Excellent advice Karl, thank you so much.

  25. This is a very informative lesson and it has great tips (The mirror, The self-triggering photo). I absolutely agree about self perception: I usually hear “I dislike the photo” from many of the subjects, Taking it personally (“I don’t like your photography”) but in 99% of the cases, It’s just that they don’t like how they look.

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