In today’s business world, your team’s headshots are often the first impression clients or even potential hires get of your brand. Whether they appear on your website, your employees’ LinkedIn pages, email signatures, or proposals, professional team photos communicate credibility, consistency and personality.

At Strategi Creative, we know a thing or two about design, and great design and branding are only as strong as the supporting visuals you use alongside them, which often includes the use of people. So let’s talk more on why quality headshots matter and how the right tools make a world of difference if you’re doing these yourself.

Why are they important?

• They build trust: A clean, well-lit headshot signals professionalism. When your potential clients or customers see a poor quality image, they may be more likely to not trust your brand.

• They humanise your brand: Your employees are part of your brand. Showing the real people behind your business adds authenticity, especially in industries where good partnerships matter.

• They create consistency: Whether you use a mobile device or a DSLR, you can achieve a cohesive look across your teams photos, which can strengthen your brand. A set of mismatched photos, with different lighting, angles or backgrounds, can feel disjointed and unprofessional.

Creating your own team photos

There is often the assumption that you need a full photography studio to create quality standout headshots – this is not the case. With a few simple tools, you can dramatically elevate your photos, even with a smartphone! Here are our top tips:

• Lighting: Your secret weapon when it comes to photos, good use of lighting can reduce shadows and make your images look polished and professional. Natural light can be great, yet unpredictable, over time lighting can change which can cause a mismatch with multiple employee photos. Using a portable ringlight or LED panel creates a flattering light that’s consistent every time.
  
  We recently utilised this when we updated Jess’s photo, and the results speak for themselves. Without lighting her original photo looked flat with heavy shadows, even in the same background, pose and same device, her updated photo immediately looked more professional with the use of a ringlight.
  

• Tripods: Whether you’re a solo employee or you have a number of staff, the use of a tripod can be beneficial to ensure your camera is level and steady – so no more blurry shots! Paired with a mount and timer, you’re good to go.

• Neutral background: All of our Strategi team feature headshots on a blank wall, ensuring the main focus is on the person and not the scenery. This is also really helpful when it comes to cutting out images where you may need a transparent background.

• Framing and angles: Shoot at eye level for the most natural and flattering look. A head-and-shoulders crop with a bit of breathing room around the subject works best for most platforms.

Although a professional photographer can be beneficial when trying to achieve high-quality team photos, there are work arounds to achieve these yourself by investing in the right tools and time. A key takeaway to remember is to remain consistent and aim for similar lighting, angles, and backgrounds across your team to create a cohesive visual identity.