contents
- Shooting on location at BCG’s offices
- What makes a great corporate headshot
- An ongoing relationship
- Corporate photography FAQs
- How to book your corporate photography in London
BCG is one of those clients we’ve had the pleasure of working with more than once.
They came to us looking for professional portraits for their London team, shot on location at their Fitzrovia offices. BCG is one of the world’s leading management consultancies – a firm with offices around the globe and a team that reflects that international reach.
From the start, they knew exactly what they were looking for: portraits that felt individual, reflecting the personality and energy of each person, rather than a uniform corporate look. It’s an approach that resonates perfectly with how we work – and with a team as diverse and talented as BCG’s, there was plenty to work with.
SHOOTING ON LOCATION AT BCG’S OFFICES
There’s a lot to be said for photographing people where they actually work. The environment is familiar, which helps people relax. And a well-chosen office space – good light, interesting architecture and a sense of the culture of the place – can add real depth to a portrait.
BCG’s Fitzrovia offices gave us exactly that. The building has a north-facing orientation, which for a natural light photographer is something of a gift. North-facing light is consistent, soft and flattering, with none of the harsh contrasts you get when direct sunlight moves through a space. It meant we could work fluidly across different areas of the office without constantly chasing the light or setting up artificial alternatives.
Combined with the contemporary interiors – well-designed, with enough visual interest to add depth without distracting from the subject – it made for a genuinely enjoyable location to shoot in. That balance matters when you’re creating a set of images that need to work together across a website, team page or press materials.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT CORPORATE HEADSHOT
The best corporate portraits do two things at once: they look professional and polished, and they look like the person.
That second part is harder than it sounds. A lot of headshots achieve the first without the second – technically fine, but somehow flat. The person is there, but not quite present. What we’re always looking for is the moment someone stops thinking about being photographed and is just themselves. That’s when the portrait comes alive.
With a team shoot, there’s an additional layer of creating images that feel individual, while still belonging together. Each person brings something different and the portraits should reflect that.
AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP
BCG is one of those clients we’ve had the pleasure of working with more than once. Both Serena and Phoebe, one of our associate photographers, have photographed their team across different sessions – returning as the team grows and new members join. It’s the kind of ongoing relationship we particularly value, because the brief becomes more refined over time and the trust is already there. Plus we love catching up with familiar faces who already know what to expect and can relax, knowing we will capture them at their best.
For larger organisations especially, having a photography team rather than a single photographer makes practical sense. It means we can accommodate scheduling, scale up for bigger sessions and ensure there’s always someone available whose work you already know and trust.
As one of BCG’s team put it: “Serena is an absolutely fantastic photographer. She puts her subjects at ease and captures photographs from the outlined brief, with a quick turnaround on the finalised edit. I would highly recommend her to colleagues, friends and family.”
CORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHY – FAQs
If you’re thinking about booking corporate photography or headshots in London, here are some of the questions we’re often asked.
How long does a corporate headshot session take?
It depends on the size of your team and the brief. For individual headshots we typically allow 20-30 minutes per person, which gives enough time to settle in, try a couple of setups and review as we go. For larger team shoots we’ll plan the day carefully in advance to make sure everything runs smoothly and no-one is kept waiting longer than necessary.
Can you come to our offices?
Yes – in fact it’s often our preferred option. Photographing people in their own environment helps them feel at ease, and a well-chosen office space can add real character to the portraits. We’ll do a brief assessment of the space beforehand to identify the best light and backgrounds. If you’d like to incorporate some outdoor shots too, London offers no shortage of brilliant backdrops, and we have plenty of experience making the most of them.
How many images will we receive?
This varies depending on the brief and the number of people being photographed. We’ll agree this with you in advance so expectations are clear on both sides. All images are professionally retouched before delivery.
How do you make people feel comfortable in front of the camera?
It’s probably the thing we’re asked about most. Very few people feel naturally at ease being photographed, and that’s completely normal. We work slowly and conversationally, and we never move on until we’re confident we have something the person will be genuinely happy with. The aim is always to capture someone as they actually are, not a stiff or self-conscious version of them.
Can you accommodate ongoing headshots as our team grows?
Absolutely – and it’s something we’d actively encourage. Keeping your team imagery consistent and current is important for your brand, and having a photographer who already knows your offices, your style and your brief makes the process much smoother each time. Several of our corporate clients book regular sessions with us throughout the year for exactly this reason.
book YOUR CORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON
If you’re looking for professional portraits for your team – whether that’s a full team shoot, individual headshots or a refreshed set of images as your business grows – we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us at our West London Studio on info@serenabolton.com or on +44 (0)7415 792499. Or click here to fill out a contact form.
“Photography through the lens of a storyteller”
Professional Portrait Photographer London
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