Getting the whole team photographed sounds simple until you're the one organising it. You have diaries to juggle, people who hate having their photo taken, and someone who will always be off sick on the day.
I photograph staff headshots for businesses around Gorey and across Wexford, and the days that go best are the ones where a little planning happened beforehand. Here's my guide for office managers, HR teams and business owners on getting everyone ready.
Pick the right day and time
Timing makes a bigger difference than most people expect. I'd avoid Monday mornings, when inboxes are full and people are still finding their feet, and steer clear of your busiest periods, like month-end or a big deadline. Mid-morning or early afternoon midweek usually suits most teams.
Each person is usually done in a few minutes, but it's worth leaving some buffer time in the schedule. Meetings overrun and phones ring. A relaxed schedule means relaxed faces.
Tell your team well in advance
Nobody likes finding out on the morning that their photo is being taken. Give your team at least a week's notice. That gives anyone who's nervous time to get used to the idea, and everyone can plan what to wear and book a haircut if they want one.
A short email with the date, the time slot and a few tips on what to wear goes a long way. Feel free to copy the advice below.
What to wear
The simplest advice is the best: solid colours photograph well. Mid-tones and deeper shades like navy, grey, burgundy and forest green tend to look good on most people.
Busy patterns, small checks and fine stripes can be distracting, and they don't always come out well on camera. The same goes for big logos, unless your branded clothing is part of the look you want.
It's always a good idea to ask people to bring a spare top. If someone's first choice doesn't work, or they spill coffee on it at 9am, a quick change saves the day.
If you'd like everyone to look alike, agree a simple dress code in advance, for example dark jackets with light shirts, or smart casual in your brand colours.
Glasses, jewellery and grooming
Staff who normally wear glasses should wear them. They're part of how clients and colleagues recognise them. A quick clean of the lenses before the photo helps.
Keep jewellery simple. A watch or small earrings are fine, but large or very shiny pieces can draw the eye away from the face.
For grooming, I'd suggest people keep things close to how they usually look at work. A fresh haircut is best a week or so before, so it has time to settle. A comb, a hairbrush and a mirror in the room are always welcome on the day.
A consistent look across the team
One of the main reasons businesses choose a professional team shoot is consistency. When everyone is photographed with the same background, lighting and framing, your website and staff pages look polished and put-together.
I edit everyone to a consistent look, so the photos sit well side by side. If you have brand guidelines, or a particular style you'd like to match, let me know beforehand.
Reassuring camera-shy staff
Almost every team has a few people who would rather do anything else. That's completely normal. It helps to let them know it only takes a few minutes, and that they don't need to know how to pose. I'll guide them through it.
It can also help to let the shyer people go when the room is quiet, rather than with an audience of colleagues watching.
What I need on the day
I come to your office with a portable studio set-up, so all I need is a quiet room and a power socket. A meeting room or an empty office is ideal.
It's a big help to send me a list of names in advance, with the order people will come in. It keeps the day moving and makes it easy to match the right name to the right photo afterwards.
Your edited images are delivered digitally within one week at most.
What about staff who are off on the day?
There's always someone on holidays, out sick or starting next month. They don't have to miss out. I can come back to the office to photograph absent staff or new starters, or they can visit my studio at Unit 9, Gorey Enterprise Centre. There's plenty of free parking right outside the studio. Follow-up sessions are matched to the same look as the original set, so the new photos sit with the rest of the team. Just get in touch when you're ready to book those in.
If someone needs an individual headshot for their own use, such as a personal profile or a career move, take a look at my headshots page.
Get a quote for your team
To find out more about team photography, have a look at my corporate headshots page. When you're ready, get in touch for a quote. Email info@manofmoments.com, or call me on +353 85 208 9927, and tell me roughly how many people you'd like photographed and where you're based.
