There is no certification for a headshot Photographer that truly tells you what the photographer’s expertise is. The Best Corporate Headshots in Los Angeles are usually created by professionals who also offer other photography services and styles as well, and it’s fair to say that a “portrait photographer” can offer several kinds of portraits, and be equally good at all of them. Most shooters have a specific discipline that they are indeed best at, regardless of their other offerings. A review of any given photographer’s portfolio will often reveal what they have the strongest portfolio of, be that corporate headshots, actor headshots, or modeling and fashion images.
Corporate headshots are just what they sound like, images of people being presented for business purposes. They often feature a solid backdrop, in a range of colors, depending on several factors. If the images are for a company website, the customer usually is not an individual, but a corporation or business, and they will most likely be looking for shots that are uniform in their style, and fit stylistically with an existing website’s design and color scheme. Depending upon the company’s image and brand, they may be very formal, with suits and ties and a very “buttoned up” aesthetic, or feel more relaxed, featuring “business casual” attire. Business Headshots in Los Angeles encompasses a fairly narrow spectrum of style, and though each photographer has their own fundamental style, for the most part, these kinds of images tend to look similar, with minor variations.
In either case, or anywhere in between, the photographer’s mission to create images that capture the key qualities of employees, which is almost always “professional, expert, confident, and approachable. While shots may include an office environment, that will be suggested, rather than truly making the office space as important as the person in the image. Images that show staff at work, interacting with one another, talking around a conference table or working in cubicles, are technically “lifestyle” images, rather than headshots, and may be part of the package a client chooses.
Commercial Headshots in Los Angeles markets are actually actor headshots, specifically intended to promote actors for work selling products in television commercials. These kinds of images vary according to the most current trends, which is established by what Commercial Casting Directors are responding to best. There was a time when such shots required a broad smile, showing teeth… that trend is diminishing, though a warm, friendly demeanor is still requisite. Generally, such images are framed from the mid-chest up, and feature vibrant wardrobe and background colors, and friendly expressions, reflecting the broad range of styles encompassed in commercials. No one is looking for an intimidating commercial actor’s headshot, even if the actor plays tough bikers, or rough construction workers, “approachability” is still the goal. These images differ substantially from the other main category of actor headshot, “theatrical headshots.” Those images are more serious, clothing is more muted and often darker, expressions vary depending upon the casting the actor is trying to convey, and lighting and backdrops can change substantially as well, to approximate the look and feel of dramatic television shows.
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