One of the advantages of photographing a corporate team on location is the opportunity to create images that connect the people to the environment where they work.
For this assignment, I was hired by D Magazine to photograph a group of physicians from OrthoTexas for its 2015 “Best Of” edition. Since the doctors were already being photographed together, OrthoTexas also decided to update their individual professional headshots.
Rather than bringing everyone to a studio, we created the photography setup at their Frisco location.
Choosing the Location for the Group Portrait
Before a corporate photography assignment, I like to think about where the final images will be used and whether the location can contribute something meaningful to the photograph.
After discussing the shoot with the client, we decided to photograph the doctors in the workout area at their office at Dr Pepper Stadium in Frisco.
Because OrthoTexas works extensively with athletes and active patients, the setting gave the group portrait context while still allowing us to create a polished professional image.
Creating a Consistent Set of Physician Headshots
In addition to the group photograph, we created updated individual headshots for the doctors.
When photographing multiple people within the same organization, consistency becomes especially important. Lighting, background, camera position, composition, and cropping all need to work together so the photographs look cohesive when they’re displayed on a company website or in marketing materials.
An on-location studio setup allows me to bring that consistency directly to the client rather than requiring every employee to travel to a photography studio.
Lighting the Group Portrait
For photographers interested in the technical side, this was not a simple one-light setup.
I photographed the assignment with a Canon 5D Mark III and Profoto lighting.
For the group portrait, I used an Elinchrom Octabank as the main light, two strip lights for rim lighting, and two bare heads to illuminate the room.
That allowed me to light the physicians while still retaining the environment around them.
For the individual headshots, I used a Profoto white beauty dish along with a cake-tray reflector.
And yes—an actual cardboard cake tray.
Sometimes the simplest piece of equipment does exactly what you need it to do.
Environmental Group Photography for Corporate Teams
This assignment is a good example of why corporate photography doesn’t always need to happen against a traditional studio backdrop.
For medical practices, law firms, leadership teams, and other organizations, an environmental group portrait can provide context about the business while still presenting the team professionally.
At the same time, individual headshots can be created during the same photography day, giving the organization a coordinated collection of images for websites, marketing, publications, PR, and other business uses.
Corporate Headshots and Team Photography in Dallas–Fort Worth
I photograph executives, physicians, attorneys, leadership teams, and corporate groups throughout Dallas–Fort Worth.
Depending on the assignment, I can create a complete studio setup at your office or photograph your team within an environmental setting that reflects your organization.
For companies that need both individual headshots and group photography, we can plan the two together so the final collection feels intentional and cohesive.