What is Corporate Photography?

Corporate photography encompasses a wide range of photographic styles, from headshots, group portraits, product photography, and event photography — all with the goal of promoting and/or representing a business.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about corporate photography, including the definition, tips for getting started, and more!

Let’s dive in!

What is Corporate Photography?

Corporate photography is anything that involves photography that’s related to promoting a company’s product and services.

Every business needs visual content to lure in potential customers.

With the goal of selling and branding, corporate photography can use various subjects such as animals, buildings, facilities, or even nature.

As long it promotes its brand, it will work! For example, let’s use Nike’s advertisements.

Their ads evolved and used various subjects starting from; shoes (obviously), models, and even nature.

Although it may seem that they are just taking pictures and slapping a quote on them, you cannot deny that their message is strong.

Creativity paired with their “magic mantra” brings an insanely sharp edge in the fight for sales.

Their success inspired other brands to start using corporate photography and even incentivize photographers to make more stunning pieces.

Answers as to “what is corporate photography” do not stop there though.

It can also improve a company’s image to market more sales.

A common example of brands promoting themselves as supporting PRIDE, especially the last Sunday in June. Which often works in the business’s favor.

Why is Corporate Photography Important?

As a business, your aim is to fulfill your goals, as soon as possible right?

You will be able to achieve your goal faster with other people supporting/buying your product/services.

More supporters translate to more funds, which will work wonderfully for most goals.

Faster developments can be achieved through enough funding.

Funding and fame allow F&B businesses to open more outlets, which translates to even more employment rates and less poverty.

Almost any business could use some funding.

Thus, making corporate photography an essential aspect of any business.

What do Corporations Use Photography For?

When people think “what is corporate photography used in?” they would usually think of a poster or an advertisement.

Interestingly and unsurprisingly photography is also used for their events, internal newsletters, marketing documents, websites, and even quarterly reports.

For obvious reasons too! The usage of visual imagery helps to “jazz” it up!

Giving the commonly perceived boring documents a pleasing gloss on media such as websites, and photographs can further increase the brand’s name/motto.

How to Become a Corporate Photographer?

So, are you interested in becoming a corporate photographer?

Well, for beginners, you already know what corporate photography is so let’s dive into some tips.

1. Fit the Mood and Message

For corporate photography tip number one, we suggest asking your corporate photographer for photos that fit the mood/message.

Matching the brand’s desired image, rather than conflicting it would generally make the pictures look better.

Here’s an example, let’s say you are working with a food company that has a branding of being upbeat and fun. You wouldn’t want to take photos that are in a moody setting and dark.

Although it would be interesting if someone used contrasting colors or pictures, we would stash this away to the rarely used corporate photography tips.

You are giving them a formidable impression of your product while providing a better insight into the products.

2. Seek an Apprenticeship or Internship

Try practicing on your own, experimenting with your camera settings, observing your strengths and weaknesses, and improving them to get better with every passing day!

After you build up your confidence and skills, seek an apprenticeship or an internship.

With connections being more crucial than ever, aiding or even helping a professional in the said field.

Will it take time? Yep.

Will it use considerable energy? Indeed.

Will you gain many benefits? Absolutely!

These benefits range from connections, a sense of business, marketing, and firsthand experience. Especially in a niche such as corporate photography.

We don’t put it high up the corporate photography tips for nothing, you know.

For those who want to be the boss of their own craft ASAP or do not have time to take internships, you can go with another choice, which is also surprisingly popular.

For the Lone Wolves out there, try working from the base. Diving straight into the bedrock and building your career from zero.

Suitable for those who strive to be independent and like challenges.

You will depend heavily on yourself to gather knowledge, get better at your craft, and learn how to promote/sell your services.

Corporate photography tips apply to other niche photographers as they aren’t technique focused (at least our tips).

3. Build a Portfolio

Create a portfolio showcasing your best work. Focus on corporate photography examples, including corporate headshots, event coverage, office interiors, and product photography.

A strong portfolio is essential to attract potential clients.

4. Networking

Attend industry events, conferences, and trade shows related to the corporate world.

Building a professional network can lead to potential clients and collaborations.

Consider joining photography associations or online communities to connect with peers and mentors.

5. Business Skills

Develop basic business skills, including invoicing, pricing, contracts, and client communication.

Consider registering your business, obtaining necessary licenses, and having insurance coverage.

6. Customer Service

Provide excellent customer service. Being punctual, professional, and responsive to client needs is crucial in corporate photography.

Maintain a positive and approachable demeanor during photo sessions.

7. Build a Reputation for Reliability

Meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work consistently will help you build a reputation for reliability in the corporate world.

And if you want some more tips, also check out this video by Grace Wells who discusses networking in photography:

5 tips to NETWORK and build your freelance photography business

What do Corporations Look for in a Photographer?

Creativity and Specialty.

These are the keys to those who are trying to sniff out the meaning of “what is photography” and how it translates into their brief.

1. Alignment

Corporations, businesses, and brands, all want a photographer who is a master of their craft and coincidentally takes photos of products in the same field.

Okay, that may sound confusing, let’s just say if you are a corporate photographer for shoes, a future corporation that you should apply to must have the same interest in shoes.

Make a portfolio geared to a particular niche, e.g. landscapes, food & beverage, clothes, etc.

Cater the portfolio to that special client and make sure that they look flattering, creative, and deliver a message.

2. Trust

Trust is also an important aspect, which is complicated.

The more your client trusts you, the bigger projects will naturally follow along.

In big corporations, networking will bring you a long way. If you are just getting started, try approaching potential clients.

Be active on your social media/website, and you could even try attending social events.

They may turn out as a blessing in disguise.

So, start acting now and plan ahead!

Now with directions giving you clues to your future; it is time to know corporate photography pricing. You know, for a little spike of motivation.

3. Social Media Promotion

With almost everyone in cities holding phones and browsing their social media all day long, it is only logical to promote your work there.

This platform can be used as your portfolio to display all your flattering works to the world.

Most preferably, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

We recommend separating your private life from this account, to avoid unprofessionalism and clutter.

It makes the account more professional too.

Although you could add the same caption that promotes your services on every single post, we highly suggest adding the promoting captions once in a while.

Once every two or three posts.

You could also try adding educational content for new aspiring photographers like yourself.

Maybe explain headshot photography or what is aesthetic in photography.

Encourage your followers to like, comment, and save your posts.

This action increases the engagement rate between you and your audience, which in turn increases the potential of your post showing up on other people’s explore pages!

Many options are available in this media, you could post the same style every day, but we encourage some changes once in a while.

You know, to give something new to your following.

4. Website & Email Subscriptions

Websites do take some money to make; it surely isn’t free.

You could put all your photos here to share and show off.

Adding photos to track your progress, adding them to form a portfolio and surely many other uses.

On these websites, you could also upload educational content coupled with the promotion of your services.

To top it off, websites can also provide you with additional income from the ads displayed on them.

You could also add an email service, sending your subscribers emails bi-weekly or even monthly.

Reminding them every time you discount your services or have some news that might pique their interest.

Think of it as a more professional version of your social media account.

How to Prepare for Photographing Corporate Events?

So, you know corporate photography pricing, some knowledge on “what is corporate photography,” and other bits of information on how to be good at being a corporate photographer.

Like other photographers in events, you shouldn’t stand out.

1. Understand the Event Details

Communicate with your client to understand the event’s purpose, schedule, and goals. Determine the key moments and aspects they want you to capture.

2. Check Lighting Conditions

Assess the event’s lighting conditions. Corporate events may take place in a variety of settings, from well-lit conference rooms to dimly lit banquet halls.

Bring external flashes, diffusers, and reflectors to adapt to different lighting situations.

3. Blend in With the Crowd

Try to blend into the crowd by using similar clothing with dark/light colors depending on the occasion.

When the crowds wear red, blend in, and use red. Do not forget to ask about the event’s dress code.

Just use neutral dark colors that don’t grab attention and presto!

Become one with the crowd, and try your best to make them comfortable with your presence.

You can clearly see when people start to realize that you are taking pictures, then they just freeze up.

After blending into the crowd by using the same clothes, start searching for angles to take photos.

Talking to the crowds or some guests is a good choice, especially if the crowd is sensitive to having their pictures taken without their consent.

But try to hold back and only chat occasionally with them.

Now, time for the big photos. Make a smile and gather all the people in the group to join in.

Direct them by giving recommended poses to make the process quicker, only if they seem clueless about what pose to take.

Make it snappy, make it flatter, and end it with a smile when the session is finished.

The longer you get, the more uncomfortable the people will become.

But after it’s finished, blend back into the crowd with your trusted camera, snapping conversations, and people here and there.

It’s like being a stealthy candid photographer, or a ninja photographer.

You disappear into the crowd when you aren’t required to take pictures of large groups. You act when an interesting/important member shows up.

Show up for large groups and again disappear once your services aren’t needed.

Corporate Photography Pricing

About corporate photography pricing… well it will depend on who you are talking to.

Every photographer has their own rates based on their ability and demand.

As it can also branch towards headshot and event photography, there are many various rates for corporate photography pricing.

The rates for hiring professionals start from $100 per hour and up, although it may differ for each photographer.

But as you grow your name and improve your photo quality. You can start setting a higher price point, although we suggest that you increase it slowly.

Giving your audience or potential clients some samples of your photos will help them when deciding whether to use your services or not!

Would you rather choose a photographer that charges cheap fees but has no samples or a photographer that has average fees but owns a website full of sample photos?

Well, we assume that most corporations would like a guarantee of their photo quality, right?

There is no point in hiring a photographer that cannot guarantee the quality of their photos.

Even corporates will not take any risks that could result in a loss.

So, corporate photography includes headshots, event photography, and even product photos.

You’ve learned some useful tips, information, and even corporate photography pricing.

Now you just need to start practicing and developing your portfolio.

Good luck, and have fun!