Introduction
Should you hold your group headshot session in studio or on location? I get this question often. The short answer is, if you have the space, it’s typically better to hold your session on location. It’s important to note that there is no difference in quality between images made in studio or on location. Below, I list some reasons why you may want to hold your session on location and some reasons why you may want to hold your session in a studio.
Contents
- Shooting on location is typically easier to organize
- Shooting on location can be more relaxing
- Shooting on location is often more convenient
- Reasons you may want to hold the session in a studio
- Wrapping up
1. Shooting on location is typically easier to organize
Bringing everyone together at the same time is often not an easy thing to do. I’ve found that it’s a little easier to get everyone together at a common location that they’re already familiar with. Not to mention, depending on your office situation post-COVID, you may already have most of your team on site.
2. Shooting on location can be more relaxing
Most people don’t like having their headshots taken. Understandable. It’s a little unusual. Knowing this, I try to do everything I can to make the process relaxed and less intimidating. I think shooting on location in a familiar environment often takes a bit of the edge off.
3. Shooting on location is often more convenient
The most common reason clients hold their session on location is that it’s just so much easier. This is especially true for executives or individuals with full and less flexible schedules. Often, being on location will make the difference for an otherwise too busy employee to find the time for a photo.
4. Reasons you may want to hold the session in a studio
Really, the most common reasons for choosing to shoot in-studio are related to physical space.
- You have no formal office
For example, I’ve done a number of group sessions for businesses that operate out of a co-working space or temporary space. Or, for example, on occasion, I’ll hear from a group of remote workers from around the country (globe even) who plan to meet up in Atlanta for a few days.
- You have an office but no extra usable space
This may mean you have space, but you don’t want to disrupt the flow of business. Or it may mean you simply don’t have enough usable space, period. I typically recommend at least 10×8 feet of space for basic headshots. I don’t need an empty room, but I do need enough space to set up a couple of lights on stands and have enough distance between myself and the subject.
- Cost
I put cost last because, surprisingly, it’s typically not the biggest factor. It’s a bigger factor when you’re dealing with 2 or 3 individuals, smaller numbers. But it’s really not all that much different when you get into larger numbers.
5. Wrapping up
- There’s no difference in headshot quality between on location and in studio shoots.
- It’s often easier to organize, more relaxing and more convenient to hold group sessions at your location or on location.
- Cost is a bigger factor when you’re dealing with low numbers. But not as much when you move above the 5-7 person mark.
If you have any questions about the above, please reach out!