Corporate photo shoot

November 2023: Corporate photo shoot, Birmingham – photographing employees in their office setting. 

I asked male subjects to pose with tie on / tie off, so there was a bigger selection of images for them to use. The tie has become a bit of a talking point with corporate photo shoots, does the subject wear one or not… I usually take photos of subjects with and without tie.

This commission was a continuation of a set of photo shoots I took in the company’s London office. I was asked to set up the shots to look consistent with the previous ones. The office wasn’t large, but there was scope to set up my stands, light and reflector within certain areas around the office.

I asked subjects to pose in three ways, looking at the camera on all shots. The office background setting is deliberate, so there is a sense of place, which is blurred but recognisable. Along with my Canon 5D, I use an 85mm prime lens for these individual employee photos, it works well and is great for portrait work.

Further to individual employee shots, I was asked to photograph employees together, not looking at the camera, acting as if I was not there. At this point, I switch lenses to a 24mm – 70mm lens, to get more of the scene into the shot. I also use an on camera flash unit.

I asked subjects to talk with each other – any topic was fine, as it was the interaction I was after. The key is, the more natural it looks, the better.

Part of the shoot was outside at a nearby location. The employees set up a typical scene, with specific buildings in the background, to identify the location.