Not Every Executive Wants a Bright, White-Background Headshot
Most corporate headshots are built to blend in: bright, even light, a clean backdrop and a tight crop for LinkedIn and the company directory. That's the right choice for a team page.
A CFO at a design-led luxury brand has a different job for their portrait. It sits next to press coverage, in investor and annual report materials, and on speaker pages, often alongside the brand's own polished, moody visual style. A standard bright headshot would have looked out of place.
The brief was a portrait that felt editorial rather than corporate: darker, more dimensional and more like a magazine feature than a staff directory.
How We Built the Look
Low-key lighting. Instead of lighting the face evenly, we shaped the light so it falls off into shadow. The result is depth and structure in the face, with the background going dark.
A deep, dark backdrop. A darker background lets the subject stand out and gives the frame the mood an editorial portrait needs.
More of the frame. Editorial portraits often show more than head and shoulders. A wider crop leaves room for text in a press layout or annual report.
Direction for presence, not a smile. For a finance executive, the goal was confident and composed, not stiff. We directed posture, chin angle and expression throughout, with live review on a monitor, so the CFO could see what was working and adjust.
Headshot or Business Portrait? Many Executives Book Both
In one session, we can make a classic headshot for LinkedIn and the company directory and an editorial business portrait for press, annual reports and speaking. The 30–45 minute session has room for both looks.
Executive headshot | Business portrait | |
Look | Bright, clean, simple background | Moody, directional light, darker background |
Framing | Tight, head and shoulders | Wider, with room for text |
Best for | LinkedIn, directory, email signature | Press, annual reports, speaker bios |
See our executive headshots and business portraits page for more.
Book an Executive Portrait Session
$400 · 30–45 minutes · 3 professionally edited images
Headshot, business portrait or both in one session
Private proofing gallery within 2–3 business days, final images within 1–2 weeks
Rush delivery in 24–48 hours: +$100
Our studio is in Jack London Square, Oakland: a 5-minute walk from the ferry, 15–20 minutes from downtown San Francisco
Need your whole leadership team photographed to match? We come to your office: $200 per person, 10-person minimum.
Book a Solo Session · Executive headshots · Call or text Sergio: (510) 506-4892
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an editorial executive portrait? It's a more dramatic, magazine-style portrait than a standard headshot, with directional, low-key lighting, a darker background and a wider frame. Executives use them for press features, annual reports and speaker bios.
Can I get a regular headshot and an editorial portrait in the same session? Yes. A 30–45 minute solo session has room for both: a bright, clean headshot for LinkedIn and a moodier business portrait for press and speaking.
How much does an executive portrait session cost? Solo sessions are $400 at our Jack London Square studio in Oakland and include 3 professionally edited images. Additional images are $100 each.
Where is the studio? At 300 Jefferson Street in Jack London Square, Oakland, a 5-minute walk from the Jack London ferry terminal and 15–20 minutes from downtown San Francisco across the Bay Bridge.
Can you photograph our whole leadership team in this style? Yes. We can bring the same lighting to your office and photograph your leadership team with matching portraits, at $200 per person with a 10-person minimum.
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