Headshot Example: How We Build Corporate & Executive Portraits That Actually Get Used
What Makes a Good Headshot?
A professional headshot is more than just a photo—it's your first impression online and across business platforms. Key elements for professional headshots include:
Soft, even lighting: Soft, diffused light removes harsh shadows and makes the subject appear sharp and approachable.
Direct eye contact: Engages viewers and builds trust.
Polished styling: Attire should be professional, appropriate for your field, and well-fitting. Dressing one step above daily work attire is recommended, with solid colors preferred to avoid distractions.
Simple, uncluttered background: Neutral tones like charcoal, beige, or off-white keep the focus on you.
High resolution: Images should be at least 300 DPI for clarity across devices.
Natural, confident expression: A genuine, warm, and confident look builds connection. Avoid stiff or overly fake smiles.
Consistent composition: Typically framed shoulder-up, centered, and cropped to work well as small profile pictures.
Polished but authentic editing: Retouching should preserve skin texture and avoid an overly artificial appearance.
Brand alignment: The style should fit your industry and company standards.
Types of Headshots: A Quick Guide
There are different types of headshots, each serving a unique purpose:
Three-Quarter Headshot: Starts at mid-thigh and ends above the head. This type highlights facial characteristics while still showing part of the body, offering a balanced look between personality and context.
Half-Body Headshot: Starts from around the waist and ends above the head. It provides a more detailed depiction than a three-quarter shot, focusing more on the upper body and facial expression.
One-Quarter Headshot: Starts from mid-to-upper chest and ends above the head. This is the classic headshot, offering a clear view of facial features and expressions, ideal for professional profiles.
Full-Body Shot: Includes the entire body in frame, presenting the subject's size, physique, and overall look. This is especially important for models or roles where physical presence matters.
Introduction: What “Headshot Example” Really Means For Your Team
When you search for a headshot example, you are probably not looking for abstract theory or a Pinterest mood board. You are planning a real project. Maybe it is 40 new hires who need to appear on the company website by Q2. Maybe your CEO has a press day in two weeks and the current LinkedIn photo dates to 2019. Maybe you are a founder about to close a round and you want investors to see someone who looks like they run a company, not someone who took a selfie in an elevator.
That is the kind of work we do every week at Match Production. We produce corporate headshots NYC teams can actually use, executive portraits that read board-level, and remote headshots for distributed staff who will never set foot in Manhattan. Our Times Square studio handles controlled, quick-turnaround sessions. Our on location headshots NYC crews cover offices from the Financial District to Long Island City. And for teams scattered across time zones, our CLOS App remote workflow delivers consistent results without anyone boarding a plane.
This article walks through specific headshot examples from our production calendar. I will show you the process, the scheduling, and the outcomes so you can picture your own project and make decisions fast. No generic tips. Just the way we actually do the job.
Corporate Headshots NYC: Real-World Session Example
Session Planning
In January 2025, we shot corporate headshots for a 40-person fintech team in Midtown. The HR lead needed every employee photographed in a single half-day, with consistent images ready for a site redesign launching in March. Here is how it worked:
Scheduling: 8:30 a.m. call time at their office, shoot ran until 1 p.m.
Run-of-show: Leadership portraits first (the CEO and three VPs who had hard stops by 10), then department clusters in 30-minute blocks.
Setup: Glass-walled conference room, soft gray seamless backdrop, professional lighting.
On-the-Day Workflow
Each person stepped in, got a quick hair and collar check, and stood for 5 to 10 frames.
Camera tethered to a laptop so the subject could see their images in real time, pick a favorite, and leave with confidence.
The whole experience took about five minutes per person.
Delivery Process
Leadership received same day headshots NYC previews by 4 p.m.
The full gallery went to HR within three business days, with light retouching on final selects.
Images were natural, clean, and ready for LinkedIn, internal directories, and the new website.
Scheduling and Managing Large Team Sessions
Scheduling 40 people sounds chaotic. It is not, if you plan it right. Here’s how we keep things on track:
Slot 8 to 10 people per hour, with each headshot session running about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add buffer blocks every 90 minutes for executives who run late or junior staff who show up early.
Communication:
HR sends calendar holds with 15-minute windows a week out.
We send a prep email with advice on what to wear: solid colors, no distracting patterns, skip the lanyard.
Simple signage outside the room so people know where to go.
Equipment Checklist:
Two-light configuration with soft modifiers
Tethered laptop
Backup gear
Adaptability:
During this Midtown shoot, morning sun flooded the conference room at 9:15 and blew out the background.
We re-lit within three minutes and kept rolling. The client never noticed.
While team sessions require careful scheduling, executive portraits demand a more tailored approach, as we'll explore next.
Executive Portraits & Leadership Headshots: Example Looks That Work
Executive portraits are a different animal. These sessions serve C-suite leaders, partners, and founders who need images for press kits, investor decks, speaking events, and the occasional Forbes profile. The stakes are higher, the usage is broader, and the planning is more deliberate.
Pre-Session Consultation
20 to 30 minute call with the comms or brand lead.
Discuss where the images will live, brand palette, and whether we are matching existing portraits or creating a new standard.
Sometimes share a mood board or client sends examples of good headshots they admire.
Walk into the studio or location with a concept, not just a camera.
Example Looks
Classic Studio Leadership Portrait:
Photographed against seamless gray or white background, with controlled lighting that shapes facial features without flattening them.
Timeless, works on any company website, and reproduces cleanly in print.
Environmental Office Portrait:
For a managing partner at a Downtown law firm, photographed in the atrium with the Manhattan skyline soft behind her.
Background adds context and character without becoming distracting.
Lifestyle Thought-Leadership Frame:
For founders building a personal brand, sometimes shoot a looser, editorial-style portrait.
Warmer light, relaxed posture, maybe a three-quarter headshot crop instead of tight on the shoulders.
Session Timing and Deliverables
Studio executive portraits session: 30 to 45 minutes.
On location: add 15 to 30 minutes for lighting and background adjustments.
Deliverables: 2 to 5 polished final images per person, with retouching that respects reality (natural skin tone, character lines intact).
Case Snapshot: CEO Portrait Session In Times Square Studio
Booked a 4 p.m. studio call time to work around her schedule.
She arrived with three looks: suit and tie, blazer with no tie, and a relaxed knit sweater for founder-style storytelling.
Shot against both light and dark backgrounds to give her options.
Directed body language: slight angles, seated portrait for approachability, direct eye contact with the lens.
Contact sheet sent to her team by 10 a.m. the next morning.
Final retouched files delivered 48 hours later, well ahead of the PR deadline.
For teams that can't gather in one place, remote headshot solutions offer a consistent alternative.
Remote Headshots Example: CLOS App Sessions For Distributed Teams
Remote Session Workflow
Not every team sits in one office. For companies with employees across states or countries, we offer remote headshots through the CLOS App. The quality is consistent, the process is guided, and no one has to fly to New York.
Example:
25-person product team, only 6 based in NYC, rest in California, Texas, and Georgia.
HR wanted quality headshots for the website that matched the in-person sessions.
Step-by-Step Process:
Schedule remote sessions in 20-minute blocks.
Each person joins through the app; I connect to their phone camera in real time.
Direct them to move near a window for natural light, adjust pose, and control framing from my end.
Shoot 10 to 15 frames per person and review them together before wrapping.
Team Experience
From the subject’s perspective, a remote headshot session is simple:
Join from a phone or laptop.
Walk through setup live: find a bright spot near a window, stand against a plain wall or tidy corner, hold the phone at head height.
Active shooting takes about 10 minutes; total time commitment under 20 minutes.
Tech requirements: decent Wi-Fi and a modern smartphone camera.
Troubleshoot live if lighting is too harsh or background is busy.
Remote headshots start at around USD 100 per person, depending on volume and scope.
The result: a cohesive grid of team headshots on the company website. Every image shares the same framing, color treatment, and level of retouching. You cannot tell which portraits are from our Times Square studio and which are from a home office in Austin. That consistency is the point.
When your team needs a sense of place, on-location headshots across NYC offer a unique solution.
On Location Headshots NYC: Environmental Examples Across Manhattan & Boroughs
Environmental Session Examples
Sometimes context matters. When a company is launching a new office, refreshing its brand, or producing images for a campaign, on location headshots NYC add character that a studio cannot replicate.
Law Firm in Downtown Manhattan:
Photographed 15 partners in their glass atrium, using natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows.
Architecture added gravitas; portable lighting controlled shadows and kept skin tone even.
Brooklyn Tech Company in DUMBO:
Client wanted headshots reflecting their creative industry.
Shot outdoors on the cobblestones, with the Manhattan Bridge as a distant backdrop.
Nonprofit in Long Island City:
Skyline across the river became the background.
Timed the shoot for late afternoon to catch soft light and avoid harsh midday contrast.
Location Scouting and Logistics
Scout the space beforehand or do a virtual walkthrough.
Identify primary and backup spots.
Plan for harsh sun or rain.
Coordinate with building security for load-in times.
Typical call time: 8 a.m. arrival for a 9 a.m. first portrait.
Stay invisible around normal office operations.
Weather, Light, and the Reality of Shooting in NYC
New York weather does not follow production schedules. Here’s how we adapt:
Schedule outdoor looks for early morning or late afternoon when light is soft and streets are calmer.
Midday slots go to indoor setups where we control the lighting.
Backup plans are non-negotiable:
If rain cancels the rooftop, pivot to an interior hallway or conference room with a portable backdrop.
The day proceeds, and the client still gets their images.
As you consider timing and logistics, understanding delivery timelines is key for planning your project.
Same Day Headshots NYC & Turnaround Timelines: What’s Actually Possible
There is a difference between same day headshots NYC and standard delivery. Same day means you shoot in the morning and have a usable image by evening. Standard means you shoot today and receive final retouched files in 2 to 5 business days, depending on scope.
Same-Day Example:
CFO flew in for a board meeting and needed an updated portrait for a press release going out that night.
Booked a 30-minute session in our Times Square studio at 11 a.m.
Proof gallery sent to his assistant by 2 p.m.
One lightly retouched executive portrait delivered by 6 p.m.
Delivery Timelines by Project Size
| Project Size | Typical Delivery | Rush Fee Info |
|---|---|---|
| Single executive | Same day to 48 hours | Rush fees may apply for tight turnarounds. |
| Team of 5–10 | 3 business days | Quick decisions from stakeholders help us deliver faster. |
| Large team of 50+ | 5–7 business days | If three people need to approve retouching notes, build that into your timeline. |
File Delivery, Formats, and Consistency
High-resolution files for print and web-optimized versions for LinkedIn, internal directories, and the company website.
Files organized by name and role.
Consistent color, crop, and retouching across a cohort.
If you have existing brand guidelines (white background, specific crop ratio, particular color treatment), send them over—we match them.
If you are in a rebrand and need to define a new standard, we can help with that too.
With timelines and deliverables in mind, here’s how to plan your own headshot project.
Planning Your Own Headshot Project: Scoping, Budget, and Next Steps
Every headshot project comes down to a few key variables: number of people, location (Times Square studio, on location in NYC, or remote headshots), deadline, and usage (LinkedIn, press, internal directories, investor decks).
Budget Planning
Individual Standard Session in studio: around USD 600
Corporate Mini Session for a small team: starts at USD 1449
Remote sessions: start at USD 100 per person
These are markers, not a full rate card. Scope and volume shift pricing.
How to Brief Us
Share your headcount, location mix, ideal date range, and a few reference images that feel on brand to you.
A few lines are enough to start the conversation.
Ready to scope your project? Send details to hello@match-production.com or use our booking link. We will map the day, create a good choice for your team, and keep the look consistent across every deliverable. No pressure, no glossy sales pitch. Just a practical conversation about making great headshots that actually get used. Interested in joining our creative team? Explore career opportunities at Match Production.
By Lisa,
keeper of the call sheet, the color swatches, and the emergency lint rollers of Times Square.
