Staff Headshots 2.0: Summit Learning Charter

August 30, 2022

This August, I was invited back to Summit Learning Charter to create another round of headshots for their entire staff. They’ve expanded since I was last there, so this photo shoot was even bigger than the last time. I also had to match the existing headshot style I had created in 2019 because a few staff members wanted to use their existing photos. All-in-all, it was a nice compliment to be invited back.

My Headshot Setup

I kept my setup very similar to the last round of headshots, but there were a few slight adjustments that are worth noting. These adjustments didn’t affect the image style, but they did make things easier for my clients and myself.

To explain the lighting setup, this look starts with a bounce umbrella positioned camera right and adds two bounce cards for fill light. This provides a quality of light that is easy to work with and flattering for just about anyone. In fact, I even took a moment in between staff to snap a quick headshot of myself (above). But back to the setup…

I used to make a subject hold a bounce card on their lap for headshots, but now utilize a music stand for the lower fill card. This little addition speeds things up because I don’t have to explain how to hold the bounce card. I used to say, “Hold the card like you are reading a newspaper.” This analogy sucks in 2022, so a music stand is a perfect solution! The only issue is the stand doesn’t go quite low enough, so I had to stack two chairs on top of each other for the correct height of the subject.

The side bounce card is a simple 5-in-1 reflector attached to a light stand. Not much to say about this.

Finally, I had a white seamless for the background that was lit by a single flash on a stand. The secret is to have plenty of distance between the subject and the background. In this case, the subject was sitting at least 8 feet away from the background. You can pull this look off with less space, but if the subject gets too close, the background light starts to wrap around the subject and doesn’t look as crisp as it does here.

Shooting Tethered on Location

The next adjustment I made was to shoot tethered. Shooting tethered means the camera is connected to a computer and you are therefore able to review images instantly on the computer screen. I almost always shoot tethered while doing product photography, but this was my first time utilizing this technique while on-location for headshots. It was great because everyone I photographed was able to easily select their favorite photo on the spot. The only issue with shooting tethered is it’s a bit awkward to hold the camera with a cable sticking out the side. I taped the hell out of the cable so it wouldn’t fall out.

Here’s my tethered setup, along with my other odds and ends:

Everyone was scheduled for a 10 minute time slot, which gave me plenty of time to work with each person. To start out, we did a final hair and attire check, and then I gave each person some posing guidelines. I shot about a dozen photos per person, and then we reviewed the photos on my laptop. Seeing the photos on the big screen allowed me to watch for details more easily, and I think everyone really appreciated the instant feedback.

Here’s a few more headshots from this job:

Conclusion

Just like the last time I visited Summit Learning Charter, photographing an entire staff by myself presents a bit of a logistical challenge. Luckily, I enjoy logistics and planning. I had my gear (and backup gear) prepped, my analog-printed directions (in case my phone died), and my well-tested lighting setup that I can confidently assemble while still sleepy (school-people start early).

Again, I want to thank Summit Learning Charter for having me create their staff headshots for 2022!

-Chris