Longer answer: that’s exactly how these shoots are designed to work.
Most offices aren’t built with photography in mind. Lighting is usually a mix of overhead panels, daylight, and whatever happens to be switched on that morning.
Office backgrounds can work but can be either too messy or too boring, so I like to come prepared!
When I photograph headshots on location, I bring a complete, self-contained setup that’s designed to slot into a real working office with minimal disruption.
What I bring with me
Professional lighting
I use portable studio lighting that’s controllable, and consistent. That means:
- No reliance on existing office lights
- No harsh shadows or dodgy colour casts
- The same look across everyone’s headshot, even if they’re photographed on diffeent days
Everything is quick to set up and safe to use in an office environment. It’s battery powered so I don’t need to plug into anything.
Backdrops (when needed)
If your space doesn’t have a suitable background, I’ll bring one. This will be a clean neutral backdrop (light or dark, depending on the brief), Or if we’re using a wall in your office we can use that. Alternatively, I can include your office in the shot and throw it out of focus to keep attention of the person in the headset.
The aim is always to keep the focus on the person, not the background.
A small footprint
I don’t take over your office. The setup usually fits into:
- A meeting room
- A quiet corner of the office
- Or a cleared section of an open-plan space
Most people are in and out in 5-10 minutes.
What I need from you
Very little:
- A bit of space (roughly 3 metres depth is ideal as a minimum)
- A short timeslot where people can step away from their desks
- A coffee
Why do I bring my own lighting and background to do headshots?
Bringing my own lighting and backgrounds means:
- Consistency across the whole team
- Predictable results, regardless of the office environment
- Less stress for everyone involved
You don’t need to prepare your office for photography. The whole point of a professional headshot shoot is that it adapts to your space.
If you’re unsure whether a particular room or area will work, I’m always happy to advise in advance.
Here’s how it could look:
