The Definitive Guide to Corporate Lifestyle Photography

Corporate lifestyle photography is all about capturing real moments that showcase your brand’s personality—team huddles, client meetings, and those spontaneous laughs that humanize your business. Is your brand telling the right story?

As a professional photographer and expression coach, I specialize in helping businesses create compelling visual narratives. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about corporate lifestyle photography: what it is, why it matters, how to plan your shoot, and how to maximize the value of your images. So, let’s dive into the types of images you might need and how to get your team ready for a corporate lifestyle photography shoot.

Team Collaboration and Interaction

It’s important to capture genuine moments as they unfold, just as they do in real life, spontaneously and authentically. And that's exactly what makes them so real, it’s because they are!

Show the dynamic of your team with photos of employees engaging in brainstorming sessions, lively discussions, or celebrating milestones.

MindBody Talent Healthcare Corporate Lifestyle Photography

Research Lab Team Corporate Lifestyle Photography

Candid moments bring your company's culture to life and highlight the energy within the workplace.

Highlight moments like casual chats by the coffee machine, a glimpse of your creative workspace, or a group lunch. These images help bring a human face your brand by showing the heart of your company.

Productive Team Meetings

Showcase your team's collaborative spirit through images of group sessions, whether it's a strategic round-table discussion or a focused huddle.

Emphasize teamwork and collective effort, ideal for demonstrating a cooperative work environment.

Employee Action Shots

Focus on individuals as they work in their element. Whether it's a technician solving technical problems, a designer sketching a new concept, or a manager leading a project, these action portraits illustrate the dedication and expertise behind each role.

WashU Medicine Action Shot - Zipfel Neuroscience Research Lab in St. Louis

Architectural Firm Employee Action Shot

These lifestyle images not only showcase the specific skills and passion of your team, but also give clients and partners an insider’s perspective on your day-to-day operations. By capturing candid moments of problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation, action portraits help humanize your brand and emphasize the value your employees bring to every project.

Office Workspace and Culture

Work and Culture images convey the physical space where your team thrives and allow potential clients or partners to connect with the company culture.

RubinBrown St. Louis Offices, Centene Building in St. Louis MO

Wiegmann Associates, Mechanical Engineering

Give a view of the workspace with artistically framed shots of your office. From open, collaborative environments to quiet, focused areas, these images reflect the values and atmosphere that drive your team. They provide potential clients and partners with a visual narrative of how your organization operates, fosters creativity, and prioritizes employee well-being, making it easier for them to envision themselves working with you.

Environmental Portraits

Combine professional headshots with contextual surroundings that tell a story. For example, an executive standing in front of the company building, or a staff member at their workspace can communicate professionalism while maintaining an authentic, relatable vibe.

Alter Trading Corporate Office Environmental Portrait

Heartland Dental Corporate Lifestyle Environmental Portrait

Client Engagement and Relationship-Building

Highlight the trust and rapport your team has with clients or partners. Photos of staff members engaging with clients illustrate the positive relationships that are central to your business’s success and communicate trustworthiness.

John Robert "Jay" Ashcroft, Secretary of State of Missouri engages with a St. Louis business leader

Creative Angles for Visual Interest

Use unique perspectives to add dynamism to your images. Over-the-shoulder shots, angled views, or close-ups can create engaging, visually interesting moments that break the conventional photo style.

A low-to-high angle creates a powerful hero shot, emphasizing authority and expertise.

Brand Integration

Incorporate your company’s branding elements—such as logos, color schemes, or merchandise—into the photography. This reinforces your company’s identity without overwhelming the scene, ensuring brand recognition in a natural and seamless way.

Planning Your Corporate Lifestyle Shoot

1. Define Your Goals

   • What story are you telling? Are you highlighting your team’s collaboration, showcasing your state-of-the-art facility, or emphasizing client interactions? Clear goals will shape the shoot’s direction.

2. Assemble Your Team

   • Identify team members who best represent your brand. Speak with them to ensure they’re comfortable in front of the camera and understand the importance and primary goals of the shoot.

3. Choose the Right Locations

   • Consider your office space, outdoor settings, or client-facing areas that reflect your brand’s identity. If your workspace lacks visual appeal, a studio session with curated props might be the better option.

4. Wardrobe and Styling

   • Ensure clothing aligns with your branding. Neutral colors, clean lines, and minimal patterns work well. Consider hiring a stylist for a polished look.

5. Create a Shot List

   • Plan for a mix of team interactions, candid moments, and environmental details. For example:

     • A brainstorming session in the conference room.

     • Welcoming a client at the front desk.

     • A creative team collaborating on a whiteboard.

     • Close-ups of hands typing, note-taking, or using equipment.

Behind-the-Scenes Process

1. Pre-Shoot Consultation

   • We start with a deep dive into your brand’s vision, values, and goals. This helps us craft a tailored approach to your shoot.

2. Guided Shoot Experience

   • Our approach ensures every team member feels comfortable. From lighting setups to expression coaching, we direct each shot to capture genuine, confident moments.

3. Efficient and Organized Execution

   • On shoot day, we follow a detailed timeline to minimize disruptions while ensuring every planned shot is covered.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Photos

Versatility Across Marketing Channels These photos aren’t just for your website. Use them on social media, email campaigns, annual reports, recruitment materials, and press releases. A well-planned shoot can provide a library of content for months, even years.

1. Website Revamp

   • Use the images to refresh your website’s homepage, team bios, and service pages. A modern, cohesive look will make a strong first impression.

2. Social Media Strategy

   • A library of lifestyle photos allows you to maintain a consistent posting schedule with high-quality, on-brand visuals.

3. Recruitment Campaigns

   • Show prospective employees why they’d want to join your team by highlighting your workplace culture.

4. Client Presentations and Proposals

   • Impress clients with polished visuals in your presentations, proposals, and reports.

5. Public Relations

   • Submit professional images alongside press releases to enhance media coverage and brand perception.

Next Steps

Are you ready to create a visual library that elevates your brand and showcases your team? Let’s start planning your corporate lifestyle photography session today.

Contact us to schedule a consultation, and let’s bring your brand story to life through imagery.

Capturing Moments of Influence: Insights from the US India Business Council - US Chamber of Commerce Meetings in St. Louis

#eventphotography #chamberofcommerce #stlouisbusiness #businessleadership

I had the honor of being part of a prestigious event that brought together some of the most influential figures in business and politics in St. Louis this past week. The US India Business Council meetings were a gathering of minds that aimed to strengthen relationships and create new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.

One of the highlights was the luncheon at the Ritz Carlton, where the US Chamber of Commerce convened with business leaders from St. Louis. This gathering served as a platform for insightful discussions on Missouri governance and politics, strategic collaborations among Missouri business leaders, and the forging of new partnerships.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's presence added gravitas to the event, highlighting the importance of international business relations and India-US relations.

Missouri Secretary of State John R. (Jay) Ashcroft addresses the concerns of business leaders in St. Louis

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, was also in attendance, bringing her wealth of experience in aviation management to the discussions. She has been at the helm of STL since January 2010, overseeing its role as the primary air carrier facility for the St. Louis region, serving more than 14.7 million passengers annually.

My goal as a corporate event photographer was to not only document the event but to also capture the emotions and interactions that were unfolding before me. More than just taking pictures, my role was about telling a story and immortalizing important moments. Challenges were inevitable, as the event was fast-paced and dynamic. I had to be quick on my feet, constantly adjusting my settings to ensure that each shot was perfect. However, these challenges only fueled my passion for photography, pushing me to strive for excellence.

As the day turned to evening and the guests moved to The Four Seasons for dinner, I knew that I had a unique opportunity to capture the magic of the event in a different light. The ambiance was elegant and sophisticated, with candles flickering and glasses clinking as toasts were made.

The evening continued with a dinner at The Four Seasons, where conversations delved deeper into economic opportunities, global partnerships, and the future of commerce between the US and India. Ambassador Atul Keshap led engaging discussions that explored avenues for growth and cooperation, emphasizing the role of diplomacy in fostering business ties.

Vivek Malek, State Treasurer of Missouri and a prominent figure in Missouri politics and business, sharing his inspiring vision and immigrant experience.

Looking back on the experience, I am filled with gratitude for being able to be a part of such a significant event. The connections made, the conversations had, and the moments captured will stay with me for a lifetime. Corporate event photography has a way of bringing people together, forging alliances, and creating lasting impressions. I am honored to have played a small role in this grand scheme of things, and I look forward to the next opportunity to capture moments that matter.

First Impressions and the Importance of a Great Headshot

"First impressions are lasting" understates the actual case. The first impression, with startling frequency, is also the final decision.

-You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, by Harry Beckwith and Christine K. Clifford

A 2006 study by Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov showed that people make a judgement about a person's likeability, trustworthiness, and competence, in one-tenth of a second. Furthermore, their research confirms that this first impression does not change with time.

In 2016, Vivian Zayas, professor of psychology at Cornell University, and her colleagues found that first impressions were formed simply from looking at a photograph predicted how people felt and thought about the person after a live interaction that took place one month to six months later.

This is an incredibly powerful argument for making sure your headshots are the best they can possibly be.

Headshot Impression Test on Photofeeler.com

I recently discovered Photofeeler.com and I think it’s a fun way to test out what kind of impression your headshot is making. Photofeeler crowdsources votes from real people who will score the photo on metrics like competency, likeability, and influence. Disclaimer: I’m not in any way associated with this service, but I do think it’s a useful tool.

Written by Henry David, St. Louis Headshot and Portrait Photographer

Studio Lighting and Mood

Small changes in studio lighting can dramatically change the mood of a portrait.

I recently had the pleasure of working with author Dr. Tahir Rahman, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis.

Clamshell Lighting for Commercial Portraiture

Oxford University Press needed an approachable, commercial looking headshot to promote Dr. Rahman’s newest book.

We used a clamshell setup with a soft key light source above the subject’s face (the top part of the “clamshell”), and a broadly curved reflector for the lower part of the shell.

The key light above provides flattering wrap-around light, while the bottom fills in the shadows and smooths out the skin. I often find that adding a hair light opposite the key light adds depth and provides subtle background separation:

Commercial Portrait with Clamshell Lighting (Angler 48 inch BoomBox + Westcott Eyelighter + Gridded Hair Light)

Single Light Dramatic Portrait

By removing the reflector and hair light, we are left with just the key light. Moving the key light to one side of the subject’s face creates a classic Rembrandt lighting setup with deep shadows cast on the other side of the face. Removing a few light modifiers and changing the placement of our key light creates a profoundly different mood:

Single Light Dramatic Portrait (Angler 48 Octobox, feathered)

Post-Production

Lighting is paramount to controlling the mood of a portrait, but we can go one step further with editing and retouching in Photoshop. Black and White conversion, exposure reduction, contrast rebalancing, and detail enhancing all work together to add a sense of mystery and deepen the drama of the portrait:

Black and White Edit, Adobe Photoshop