Corporate Headshots New York City: Production Notes from Times Square
Corporate Headshots NYC: Production Notes from Times Square
When Your PR Team Says “We Need Headshots by Thursday”
In New York City, no one schedules headshots NYC sessions for fun. They schedule them because the board deck is due Friday, the website refresh launches Monday, or someone just got promoted and their current photo looks like it was taken during the Clinton administration. When people search for corporate headshots new york city, what they really need is a way to get professional headshots done quickly, without blowing up the entire leadership team’s calendar.
A professional headshot photographer and experienced corporate photographer is essential for making a strong first impression in New York City's fast-paced business environment. In today's digital and corporate world, professional headshots NYC are often the first impression potential employers or clients have of you, and they can significantly impact your personal branding and career opportunities.
I’m Lisa Soldberg, Head of Production at Match Production, and I spend my days choreographing corporate headshot sessions across Manhattan and the boroughs. Not the dreamy, artistic kind of photography sessions. The kind where you photograph 30 senior executives between their quarterly review and client dinner, everyone looks consistently professional, and nobody misses their earnings call.
A great profile photo can put your best foot forward, is essential for personal branding, and can open up new career opportunities. Unlike actor headshots, which are built around casting briefs and character types, these sessions focus squarely on how you show up as a professional in your industry. A strong personal brand is necessary to be taken seriously in today's business environment, and many professionals are more willing to work with individuals who have strong personal brands and successful track records.
The reality of team and leadership sessions in New York City is that calendar density rules everything. Your team needs professional headshots that fit around real work, not the other way around. We’ve built our entire production process around that truth, ensuring a pleasant experience and helping clients feel comfortable so we can capture confidence and personality in every headshot. For many teams, these headshots NYC sessions are the only time all key people are in the same room.
Our production process is designed for professionalism and efficiency, ensuring that every session leaves a lasting impression with high-quality headshots that convey both confidence and authenticity.
Building Consistent Results for Corporate Teams
Intake and Pre-Production
Most leadership or team headshot requests start the same way: “We need everyone to look professional and consistent, and we have exactly two hours next Wednesday.”
Here’s how we make that work:
Intake Call: We start with a short intake call to gather headcount, roles, location preferences, and use cases. Are these images for the website refresh, LinkedIn profiles, marketing materials, or press kits? Each use case shapes our lighting, framing, and delivery timeline.
Brand Consistency: Brand consistency happens in pre-production, not post. We lock in backdrop colors, lighting style, and retouching approach before anyone steps in front of the camera. If your current images lean modern and clean, we match that. If your industry demands more traditional portraits, we adjust accordingly. The goal is that your CFO and your coordinator look like they work for the same company.
Quality is at the forefront of our process, and our deep understanding of each client’s brand ensures we deliver the best image for every team member.
On-Set Workflow
The choreography on set involves specific roles:
Photographer: Owns lighting and directs posing, creating a relaxed environment to help clients feel comfortable and achieve authentic, professional pictures.
Lighting Tech: Handles setup and maintains consistency as different people move through.
Production Lead: I run the digital capture, manage the call sheet, and handle real-time client approvals.
Hair and Makeup: For executive sessions, we often add hair and makeup to speed up time in front of the camera.
At our Times Square studio, this system flows smoothly because everything is controlled. On location across Manhattan, DUMBO, or Long Island City, we bring the same systematic approach with mobile lighting and collapsible backdrops. The variables change but the process stays consistent.
Location Logistics
Setup timing protects your business hours. For on-location shoots, we arrive 60–90 minutes before your first person to handle lighting, backdrops, and any building logistics. Most Class A buildings in Midtown and the Financial District require certificates of insurance and sometimes coordination with freight elevators. We’re fully insured and handle COI automatically, but it adds lead time to scheduling.
Choosing the Right Headshot Specialist
Choosing the right headshot specialist in New York City is essential for achieving high-quality photos that reflect your brand. Consider the following:
Research photographers who focus on business portraits and actor headshots as well as corporate work.
Check testimonials for professionalism and comfort.
Review portfolios for consistent lighting, genuine and relaxed expressions, and the overall quality of their work.
Comfort is key for authentic photos, so select a photographer you connect with.
By prioritizing expertise, specialization, and a deep understanding of your needs, you ensure your team receives the best professional headshots and the best image for your brand.
Timing Windows That Actually Work
Session Timing and Scheduling
The math of scheduling leadership and team sessions in New York City is simple. Each person needs 7–10 minutes for great shots, including walking time and quick adjustments. Executives often prefer 15–20 minutes. We structure sessions around those realities, not wishful thinking, and ensure a fast turnaround time—professionally retouched headshots are typically delivered within 3–5 days, which is a realistic window for professional headshots NYC where schedules are tight. This efficient turnaround time appeals to busy professionals who need quick, high-quality results.
Scheduling Tips
Call times work around your existing patterns. Most NYC offices have morning stand-ups, dense meeting blocks from 11 to 1, and client calls from 3 to 5. We typically propose mid-morning starts after your team meetings, or early afternoon sessions that wrap before your critical calls.
For smaller leadership groups, our Corporate Standard Session covers up to 10 people in 3 hours. That might look like crew call at 8:30, first executive at 10:00, and wrap by 1:00 with a lunch buffer for stragglers.
For larger teams, our Enhanced Session handles up to 100 people in 8 hours. We’ll often suggest multiple shooting stations or stagger departments to keep individuals away from their desks for under 15 minutes.
Remote headshot sessions coordinate differently but follow similar timing principles. Our Remote Standard Sessions run 20 minutes per person with live posing guidance and digital backgrounds. We focus on creating a pleasant experience and helping clients feel comfortable during the headshot session, ensuring everyone looks confident and authentic. We can schedule these around anyone’s calendar, anywhere, which helps when you have distributed teams or last-minute PR needs.
Session Types
Corporate Standard Session: Up to 10 people in 3 hours.
Enhanced Session: Up to 100 people in 8 hours, with multiple shooting stations.
Remote Standard Sessions: 20 minutes per person, live posing guidance, digital backgrounds.
Preparation Advice
To get the most out of your session:
Arrive early to relax and prepare mentally.
Wear solid colors and choose comfortable clothing to help you feel at ease and avoid distractions.
Practice your poses in front of a mirror.
Communicate your goals with your photographer for the best results.
Take a few deep breaths before your session to reduce anxiety.
Remember that a genuine smile can make a big difference.
Select a background that complements your outfit to enhance the overall impact of your headshot.
Flexibility and Contingency
Realistic scheduling protects everyone. We hold a few open slots at the end of each session window because someone important always runs late or needs to reschedule. For urgent requests, we can accommodate same-day bookings, but the calendar physics remain the same.
Delivery Logic: Proofs, Retouching, and Same-Day Reality
Proofs and Selection
The delivery timeline for team and leadership sessions depends on volume and urgency, but follows a predictable pattern.
Proof Galleries: Typically delivered within 1–3 business days after the shoot. These are lightly color-corrected photos where clients can see everyone’s options and make selections for final retouching.
For smaller leadership sessions, we can often deliver proofs same day or next day when deadlines demand it.
Retouching Process
Retouching happens after client selections. Our New York studio packages include:
1 high-end retouched professional picture per person
10 color-corrected alternatives
Once you select which images to retouch, final files typically deliver within 3–5 business days. We keep retouching natural and professional—cleanup and color correction, not digital makeovers. Our packages include unlimited commercial usage rights for all digital images, highlighting the value of a comprehensive, predictable service.
Same-Day Delivery
Same day delivery is justified for specific scenarios: press deadlines, board presentations with hard print dates, or website launches that can’t be delayed. We can execute same-day turnaround for smaller groups when booked as a rush job, though it requires careful coordination between photographer and retoucher.
File Delivery and Usage Rights
File delivery includes unlimited usage rights for all corporate packages. You get high-resolution JPEGs suitable for everything from LinkedIn to print materials. Online galleries stay active for a month, and files are archived for future retrieval. Transparent fees for our photography services mean all costs are clearly stated upfront, so you know exactly what to expect.
High-quality professional photos are essential for attracting the right attention and enhancing your personal brand. Quality images help you stand out in your professional network, making a strong visual impression that can open up new opportunities and elevate your public perception.
Real Example from Our Production Crew
Case Study: Midtown Tech Team
Last month we photographed a global tech team during their quarterly leadership offsite in Midtown. They had a 90-minute window between their strategic planning session and investor calls, needed both traditional headshots and a few environmental portraits, and required proofs that same afternoon for a funding announcement.
The Production Challenge
12 senior executives
Mixed preferences for formal vs casual styling
Zero flexibility on timing
Our Solution
Set up two shooting positions in their conference room—one with traditional backdrop for LinkedIn and press use, another by their floor-to-ceiling windows for environmental portraits.
Our lighting tech dialed in consistent illumination that worked for both setups.
The Timeline
Crew arrived at 7:30 for setup
First executive at 9:00
Photography wrapped at 10:25 with five minutes to spare
Captured both styles for each person, tagged favorites on-site, and delivered proofs to their communications lead by 2:00 PM
Results
The funding announcement went out Tuesday morning with fresh executive images across all materials. Their head of marketing told me it was the first time their leadership team looked consistently professional across platforms. The team was thrilled with the amazing results, noting how the headshots made a strong impression on investors and partners. The pleasant experience during the session helped each executive feel confident, allowing their personality and expression to shine through in every photo.
This demonstrates how putting your best foot forward with professional corporate headshots in New York City and polished headshots NYC can create a lasting impression and elevate your brand image.
This scenario represents typical team headshot production in New York City: tight windows, multiple stakeholders, and delivery deadlines that matter for business reasons.
Corporate Headshot Packages and Investment
Session Packages
Our pricing for corporate sessions reflects the production realities of working in New York City. These aren’t casual photography appointments—they’re coordinated productions with specific deliverables and timelines.
Standard Team Sessions: USD 1,889, covers up to 10 people for up to 3 hours, either in our Times Square studio or on location anywhere in Manhattan and the boroughs. Each person gets 1 high-end retouched image and 10 color-corrected alternatives, with unlimited usage rights and a private online gallery.
Mini Sessions: USD 1,449, handle up to 5 people in 2 hours with the same deliverables per person.
Remote Standard Sessions: USD 150, provide 20-minute guided sessions with live posing direction and digital backgrounds.
Individual Standard Sessions: USD 600, provide 1 hour in studio with multiple outfits and backdrops.
What’s Included
The investment reflects not just photography time, but production coordination, equipment, insurance, post-production, and delivery systems that work reliably in today’s digital world.
When choosing a headshot photographer or studio, it’s important to consider the range of services, the professionalism and expertise of the photographers, and the quality of the final images. Specialized studios focused on corporate headshots New York City deliver high-impact results that support your brand and professional image.
Getting Your Corporate Sessions Scheduled
How to Book
Whether you need 5 executives photographed in our Times Square studio or 50 team members at your office in DUMBO for headshots NYC, the process starts with a simple conversation about headcount, location, and timing.
I handle intake and production coordination because these projects in New York City require more than just a good photographer—they require someone who understands building logistics, calendar constraints, and delivery deadlines that actually matter for business.
Booking Steps
Send headcount, preferred location, and timing to hello@match-production.com or book studio slots directly through our scheduling system.
We’ll handle the production details so you can focus on the business decisions.
The goal isn’t perfect portraits in today’s digital world—it’s consistent, professional headshots delivered on time without hijacking your team’s working hours. The result is a library of images your marketing and HR teams can actually use. That’s a production challenge, and production challenges require systems that work reliably under pressure—the same systems we bring to every corporate session in NYC.
By Lisa,
keeper of the call sheet and the camera that never lies.
