Location portraits are tough — and that’s exactly why I enjoy them. Every shoot in a real-world environment brings its own set of moving targets: light, space, weather, people. All the years I’ve spent solving problems on the fly are what turn challenging settings into successful days. That experience came in handy when I recently worked with Ingenovis Health on a series of location business portraits for their team.
The concept was simple but smart: create a mix of portraits using different backgrounds, lighting setups, and leaving enough negative space for flexible crops later. Thankfully, their office was a dream — open, modern, and filled with natural light. Wide-open spaces give you options. Trying to pull this off in a cramped, fluorescent-lit office with brick walls and no windows? You’d end up fighting the environment all day.
One thing that made a huge difference: a professional makeup artist on site. We had close to an hour with each team member, and the fifteen minutes before they stepped in front of the camera were wisely spent in the makeup chair. It’s tempting to think a little powder from the photographer will fix everything — but it’s not that simple. Not only am I not licensed to apply makeup (which means my photography insurance wouldn’t cover me if something went wrong), but professional makeup artists know exactly how to prep skin for the unforgiving clarity of a high-resolution corporate portrait. Great makeup is invisible; it simply makes people look fresh, confident, and polished under professional lighting. It’s one of the most worthwhile investments you can make in professional corporate photography.
Another key to a successful day: location scouting. Whenever possible, I scout in advance to spot the little things that could become big problems later — things like limited power outlets, tiny conference rooms, tricky light from big windows, or office layouts that don’t give you enough room to work. I also look for how the natural light behaves at different times of day — glaring sun at 10 a.m. isn’t your friend if you’re aiming for clean, flattering portraits.
Location business photography brings its challenges, but with good planning, the right team, and a flexible approach, you can turn just about any space into a great place to make strong, professional images.