Professional Team Headshots for Hazen and Sawyer | Concord & San Francisco Offices | Two-Day Case Study
- Sergio Gomez
- 3 minutes ago
- 14 min read
Introduction
When a globally recognized engineering and environmental consulting firm needs to update its professional team imagery across multiple Bay Area offices, the approach matters. Recently, Camerawerkz had the privilege of working with Hazen and Sawyer, a leading water infrastructure and environmental engineering firm with significant operations throughout the Bay Area, to create professional headshots for teams at both their Concord office and their Downtown San Francisco office.
Hazen and Sawyer is known for designing solutions to complex water and environmental challenges worldwide. Their Bay Area presence spans multiple locations with talented engineers, project managers, and consultants working on critical infrastructure projects. With substantial teams in both Concord and San Francisco, they needed comprehensive professional headshots that reflected their expertise, credibility, and forward-thinking approach to engineering.
Rather than rush both offices into a single compressed day, Hazen and Sawyer chose a different approach: dedicate one full day to their Concord office, then dedicate a second full day to their San Francisco office. This allowed each team the focused attention, unhurried direction, and premium photography experience each location deserved.
The result? Two exceptional collections of professional headshots—one capturing the dedicated Concord engineering team, the other showcasing the San Francisco office's leadership and project professionals. Both executed with meticulous attention to detail, individual direction, and professional excellence.
This is the story of how we delivered professional team photography across two offices over two dedicated days, and why giving each office its own day elevated the entire experience.
The Challenge: Two Offices, Two Full Days, Maximum Quality
Hazen and Sawyer's situation was nuanced and strategic. They had two significant office locations in the Bay Area:
The Concord Office: The operational hub housing a larger engineering team—water infrastructure designers, project engineers, and technical specialists working on Northern California municipality and utility projects. Approximately 25-30 team members.
The San Francisco Office: Their Downtown San Francisco presence—the client-facing headquarters housing project leadership, business development professionals, senior engineers, and key client relationship managers. Approximately 18-22 team members.
Both offices needed updated professional team imagery. Initially, they considered consolidating into a single day. But after consultation, they realized something important: each office deserved focused, premium attention. Rushing both teams into a compressed timeline would mean less personal direction, tighter scheduling, and potential quality compromises.
Instead, Hazen and Sawyer chose quality over speed: one dedicated day for the Concord office, one dedicated day for the San Francisco office. This approach allowed:
Unhurried sessions: No rushing. Each person received the time and attention needed for confident, excellent headshots.
Optimal scheduling: Each office could schedule their team members without time pressure.
Individual direction: More time for personal rapport-building and tailored direction for each professional.
Premium photography: Dedicated attention to lighting, positioning, and expression for each person.
Consistency within locations: While photos would be taken on different days, each office's imagery would be cohesive and polished.
Flexibility for adjustments: If adjustments were needed during shooting, there was time to perfect images.
The two-day approach reflected Hazen and Sawyer's professionalism: when it comes to representing your team, quality and attention to detail matter more than convenience.
Why Two Dedicated Days Makes Sense for Team Photography
Before diving into execution, it's worth understanding why some organizations choose to dedicate separate days for each office, rather than rushing multiple locations into one day.
Quality Over Speed
Professional photography is about capturing your best self. When each office has a dedicated day, there's no rush. Photographers can spend more time with each person, explore different expressions and angles, and ensure every image is excellent.
Personal Rapport and Comfort
Photography is as much about psychology as technique. Building rapport, making people feel comfortable, and bringing out authentic confidence takes time. With a dedicated day per office, photographers can invest time in each person's comfort and confidence.
Optimal Lighting and Time of Day
Photography relies on light. With dedicated office days, you can schedule at optimal times for that location's natural light. The Concord office could be shot at mid-morning when light conditions were perfect. The San Francisco office could be shot at different optimal times without compromising quality.
Scheduling Without Pressure
When you have a full day dedicated to an office, team members can come at times that work with their schedules and workload. No one feels rushed. The shooting experience is relaxed and professional.
Individual Office Culture
Different offices have different cultures and energy. A dedicated day allows the photographer to understand and capture each location's unique professional atmosphere while maintaining brand consistency.
Post-Shoot Flexibility
If adjustments or retakes are needed during the shoot, there's time. You're not constrained by a packed timeline trying to move to the next location.
Premium Experience
Dedicating a full day to an office sends a message: we value your team. It elevates the experience from "we got photos" to "we invested in professional photography that represents you well."
Hazen and Sawyer understood this. They chose the premium approach.
The Planning Process: Two Offices, Two Dedicated Strategies
Working with two offices meant developing tailored approaches for each location while maintaining brand consistency.
Concord Office: Site Visit and Planning
We conducted a detailed site visit at the Concord office:
Space assessment: The Concord office is an operational hub. We identified a clean, professional conference room with good natural light from large windows.
Lighting evaluation: We assessed available natural light and planned professional lighting enhancements.
Backdrop options: We selected clean, professional backgrounds that complemented the office environment.
Team size confirmation: Approximately 25-30 engineers and technical professionals would participate.
Logistics planning: Parking, building access, team flow, and scheduling coordination.
Key insight: The Concord office's culture is focused, technical, and detail-oriented. The photography approach would reflect that—professional, polished, confident engineering expertise.
Scheduling: We selected a date that worked with the Concord team's project schedule, avoiding their peak project deadlines.
San Francisco Office: Site Visit and Planning
We conducted a separate site visit at the San Francisco office:
Downtown location: The San Francisco office is in Downtown, with a more contemporary aesthetic.
Space assessment: We identified their professional conference room with optimal window light and contemporary background options.
Lighting evaluation: Different natural light conditions than Concord. We planned lighting specifically optimized for this space.
Team size confirmation: Approximately 18-22 project leaders, business development professionals, and senior engineers.
Client-facing focus: This office manages client relationships. Photography should reflect leadership, approachability, and professionalism.
Logistics planning: Downtown parking, building security, team flow.
Key insight: The San Francisco office is client-facing and relationship-focused. The photography approach would emphasize approachability paired with leadership credibility.
Scheduling: We selected a separate date, allowing adequate time between the Concord shoot and San Francisco shoot for editing and any touch-ups.
Day One: The Concord Office Team Headshot Day
Pre-Shoot Preparation (Two Weeks Before)
Four weeks before the Concord shoot, we sent detailed preparation guidance:
Wardrobe Recommendations: For an engineering team, we recommended business casual to business professional. Specific guidance included:
Solid colors (avoid busy patterns)
Professional blazers, button-ups, polos
Colors that photograph well: navy, charcoal, whites, earth tones
2-3 outfit options per person for variety
Professional grooming (neat, polished appearance)
Camera-Shy Assurance: For team members nervous about photography, we explained our approach: "We provide professional direction. You'll look confident, professional, and authentically yourself. We make people comfortable."
Scheduling: We coordinated scheduling so team members could participate around their project work. No one had to interrupt critical client work.
Logistics: Parking, building access, timing, and what to expect during their session.
Day One Morning: Setup and Preparation
We arrived early on Day One to set up at the Concord office:
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Equipment Setup
Professional lighting positioned for optimal, flattering light
Backdrop selection and positioning (clean, professional, non-distracting)
Tethered camera system so subjects could see images in real-time
Camera settings tested and optimized for the Concord space
Comfortable waiting/staging area for team members
All systems tested and ready
The Environment: We created a professional, welcoming space. Photography can feel intimidating. We made the environment comfortable, professional, and calm.
Day One: The Photography Session (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
With a full day dedicated to the Concord office, we could work methodically and personally with each engineer.
The Process:
For each team member:
Rapport-building: Brief conversation to put them at ease and understand their personality
Direction: Specific, actionable guidance on posture, head angle, shoulders, expression
Multiple shots: Varied angles, expressions, and positioning to capture different facets
Real-time feedback: Tethered camera showing images live so they could see themselves and request adjustments
Expression range: Capture the breadth needed—confident and authoritative, warm and approachable, thoughtful and professional
Refinement: Make adjustments based on feedback until they felt confident
Typical session: Each Concord engineer spent 12-18 minutes in front of the camera. Unhurried. Professional. With full attention.
Why the full day mattered: We weren't rushing to the next location. We could spend time with each person. We could take 50-75 shots per person if needed. We could explore different angles and expressions. We could get it right.
The Concord Culture: The Concord team brought focused, professional energy. Engineers asked good questions. They understood the value of professional imagery. The session reflected their diligent, technical approach.
The Results: By 4:00 PM, we had captured professional headshots of all 25-30 Concord engineers—confident, polished, authentic engineering professionals. The team was pleased. The experience felt premium.
Between Days: Editing and Preparation
After Day One, we didn't immediately jump to San Francisco. We took time to:
Concord Editing (Days 2-3 after Concord shoot):
Cull best images from each session
Professional color correction and retouching
Consistency adjustments across all Concord images
Optimization for web and print
Organization by team member
San Francisco Planning (Day before San Francisco shoot):
Reconfirm San Francisco logistics and timing
Equipment inspection and preparation
Final San Francisco location assessment
Lighting plan optimization for that space
Team member schedule confirmation
This break between shoots allowed us to:
Deliver maximum attention to each office
Apply lessons learned from Day One
Ensure fresh energy and focus for Day Two
Maintain consistency standards for both offices
Day Two: The San Francisco Office Team Headshot Day
Pre-Shoot Preparation (Two Weeks Before)
Similar to the Concord office, we sent detailed guidance to the San Francisco team:
Wardrobe Recommendations: For a client-facing office, wardrobe was professional and contemporary:
Business professional preferred (but business casual acceptable)
Solid colors and contemporary styling
Professional blazers, modern shirts, quality accessories
Contemporary aesthetic reflecting San Francisco business culture
2-3 outfit options per person
Client-Facing Context: We explained: "This office manages client relationships. Your photos will appear on your website, LinkedIn, and in client-facing materials. You're representing leadership and approachability."
Scheduling: Coordinated around client meetings and deadlines. San Francisco team members often had more unpredictable schedules, so flexibility was key.
Logistics: Downtown parking information, building security, timing.
Day Two Morning: Setup and Preparation
We arrived at the San Francisco location with fresh energy for Day Two:
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Equipment Setup at San Francisco Office
Professional lighting optimized for San Francisco space (different natural light than Concord)
Contemporary backdrop selection reflecting San Francisco aesthetic
Tethered camera system setup
Camera settings optimized for this location
Comfortable staging area
All systems tested
The Environment: The San Francisco space felt different from Concord—more contemporary, more urban professional. We adapted the setup to reflect that while maintaining professional photography standards.
Day Two: The Photography Session (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
With a full day dedicated to the San Francisco office, we brought the same methodical, personal approach as Day One—adapted for this location's culture.
The Process:
For each San Francisco professional:
Rapport-building: Understanding their role, client-facing nature, what they wanted to convey
Leadership positioning: For a client-facing office, positioning conveyed both approachability and authority
Multiple angles: Captured the breadth needed—confident leader, approachable partner, thoughtful professional
Real-time direction: Live feedback and adjustments
Expression variety: Different expressions for different use cases (LinkedIn, website, RFP responses)
Typical session: Each San Francisco professional spent 12-18 minutes in front of the camera. Same unhurried approach as Concord. Same professional attention.
The San Francisco Culture: The San Francisco team brought relationship-oriented energy. They understood the client-facing importance. They asked about how images would be used. Sessions reflected their collaborative, business-development mindset.
The Results: By 4:00 PM, we had captured professional headshots of all 18-22 San Francisco professionals—confident, approachable, leadership-ready. The team was enthusiastic. The experience felt premium.
Post-Shoot: Editing and Delivery
After both days of shooting, we invested significant time in post-production:
San Francisco Editing (Days 4-5 after San Francisco shoot):
Cull best images from each session
Professional color correction and retouching
Consistency adjustments across all San Francisco images
Optimization for web, print, and social media
Organization by team member
Consistency Across Both Days:
While the Concord and San Francisco shoots happened on different days, with different backgrounds and times of day, we ensured visual consistency:
Consistent professional standards in lighting quality and direction
Consistent retouching and color correction approach
Consistent professional aesthetic
Consistent file formats and specifications
The result: 45-50 professional headshots across both offices that felt cohesive while maintaining each office's unique character.
Final Deliverables (5-7 Days After San Francisco Shoot)
We delivered:
Per-Person Selection: Each employee received proofs and could select preferred images. 2-3 finished images per person.
Multiple Formats:
High-resolution files for print (business cards, annual reports, large formats)
Web-optimized files for website and email use
LinkedIn-optimized files (correct dimensions and specs)
All properly organized by office location
Organization: Separate folders for Concord office and San Francisco office, making it easy for each location to access and use their imagery.
Documentation: Usage guidance, file specifications, and recommendations for different applications.
The Results: Two Days, Two Exceptional Collections
Once delivered, both offices immediately integrated their new imagery:
Concord Office Impact
Website: The Concord team page was refreshed with professional headshots. The polished, confident imagery communicated that this is a serious, professional engineering team.
LinkedIn: Individual Concord engineers updated their profiles with professional headshots. The coordinated appearance on LinkedIn enhanced their professional credibility.
Marketing: Concord team photos were used in project proposals, case studies, and marketing materials. Having professional imagery ready meant Concord could present a polished appearance in all client-facing materials.
Team Morale: Concord team members appreciated the premium experience and professional results. It sent a message: the company values quality and professional representation.
San Francisco Office Impact
Website: The San Francisco team page became a showcase of client-facing leadership and expertise. Potential clients visiting the website saw professional, approachable, capable leadership.
LinkedIn: San Francisco professionals updated their profiles with polished headshots. The cohesive appearance enhanced the office's professional presence on the platform used most by their clients and partners.
Client Communications: RFP responses, project presentations, and client proposals featured professional team imagery. The San Francisco office could present itself confidently in every client interaction.
Business Development: Having professional imagery ready accelerated the business development process. Proposals and presentations had polished, professional team photography included.
Unified Company Presence
Despite being photographed on different days:
Both offices had coordinated, professional team imagery
Company website showcased professional teams at both locations
LinkedIn company page featured consistent professional presence across offices
Marketing materials maintained visual coherence
Clients and partners saw Hazen and Sawyer as one unified, professional organization
Why Two Dedicated Days Delivered Excellence
Hazen and Sawyer's two-day approach offers valuable lessons about professional team photography:
Quality Beats Efficiency
Yes, you could photograph two offices in one day. But should you? The two-day approach allowed:
More time per person (12-18 minutes vs. 8-10 minutes)
Deeper rapport-building and comfort
More expression options and angles per person
No rushing or time pressure
Better lighting optimization for each location
Fresher photographer energy for each office
The result: better quality headshots.
Each Office Gets What It Deserves
The Concord office is the operational hub—technical, focused, detail-oriented. Day One captured that culture.
The San Francisco office is client-facing—relationship-oriented, leadership-focused, contemporary. Day Two captured that culture.
Two dedicated days allowed each office to get a photography approach tailored to its unique needs and culture.
Premium Experience Matters
Dedicating a full day to an office sends a message: you're valued. This reflected Hazen and Sawyer's professionalism and their respect for their teams. Team members felt that investment. It showed in the photographs.
Consistency Despite Different Days
People often worry: "If you shoot different days, won't the photos look different?" The answer is no—if you apply consistent professional standards, direction, and post-processing. Our approach ensured both offices' imagery felt cohesive and unified.
Flexibility and Adjustments
With a full day per office, if something needed adjustment or retakes, there was time. This flexibility ensured every image met our standards and the client's expectations.
The Concord Office: Behind the Scenes
The Concord office shoot revealed something interesting about team dynamics and engineering culture:
Technical Precision: The Concord team asked detailed questions about the photography process. Engineers wanted to understand lighting, positioning, and technique. This informed how we explained the process to them.
Professional Dedication: Despite busy project schedules, team members showed up on time and ready. They understood the value of professional imagery for their firm.
Diverse Team: The Concord office included engineers of varied backgrounds, experience levels, and specialties. Each person brought unique energy. Photography captured that diversity while maintaining professional consistency.
Collaborative Energy: The Concord team supported each other throughout the shoot. As people came out looking great, they encouraged their colleagues. The office culture was collaborative and supportive.
The San Francisco Office: Behind the Scenes
The San Francisco office shoot reflected client-facing, relationship-oriented culture:
Relationship Focus: San Francisco professionals asked how their photos would be used in client materials and LinkedIn. They thought about audience and impact.
Leadership Awareness: The San Francisco office included project leadership and senior professionals acutely aware of their role in representing the firm to clients. This informed posture and expression.
Contemporary Energy: The San Francisco office brought contemporary, forward-thinking energy. The photography reflected that—modern aesthetic, confident positioning, approachable confidence.
Appreciation for Quality: San Francisco team members appreciated the professional approach and premium experience. They understood that quality photography supports their client relationships.
Key Takeaways for Multi-Office Organizations
If you're an engineering firm, consulting company, or professional organization with multiple Bay Area offices considering team photography, Hazen and Sawyer's two-day approach offers valuable lessons:
1. One Day Per Office Allows Maximum Quality
Rushing multiple offices into one compressed day sacrifices quality. One dedicated day per office allows:
More time per person
Better photographer energy and focus
Optimal timing and lighting for each location
Premium experience for team members
2. Cultural Context Matters
Different offices have different cultures. A dedicated day allows the photographer to understand and capture each location's unique professional character while maintaining brand consistency.
3. Scheduling Is Easier With Dedicated Days
Each office has different schedules and deadlines. A dedicated day per office provides flexibility for team members to participate without feeling rushed.
4. Premium Experience Builds Team Appreciation
When an organization dedicates a full day to professional team photography, team members feel valued. This investment in quality shows respect.
5. Consistency Is Possible Across Days
You don't need all photos taken simultaneously for consistency. With consistent professional standards, direction, and post-processing, images from different days can be visually and professionally cohesive.
6. Two Days Still Delivers Efficiency
While one day is faster than two days, two dedicated days still compress what could be months of individual scheduling. It's efficient while maintaining premium quality.
7. Flexibility Improves Results
With a full day per office, there's flexibility for adjustments, retakes, or exploring additional shots. This flexibility leads to better final results.
Planning Your Own Multi-Office Team Photography
If Hazen and Sawyer's two-day approach resonates with your multi-location organization, here's what it typically involves:
Planning (4 weeks before): We discuss your team sizes, office locations, culture, and goals. We visit each location to scout spaces and plan dedicated shoot days.
Pre-Shoot (2 weeks before): We send detailed guidance to each office on wardrobe, scheduling, and what to expect. We coordinate logistics so each location feels prepared.
Day One (First Office): We spend a full 8-hour day photographing the first office location with professional lighting, direction, and attention to detail.
Between Days (2-3 days): We edit Day One photos while preparing for Day Two with fresh energy.
Day Two (Second Office): We spend a full 8-hour day photographing the second office location with the same professional standards and premium attention.
Post-Production (5-7 days): We deliver professionally edited, high-resolution images organized by office, ready for immediate use.
Cost: Multi-office team photography with dedicated days per location typically starts at $3,500-$4,500 depending on team sizes and scope. It's an investment in representing your organization professionally across all locations.
The Flexibility of the Two-Day Approach
An important advantage of Hazen and Sawyer's approach: it's scalable and flexible.
Two offices over two days: What Hazen and Sawyer did
Three offices over three days: Add another location? Add another day.
Four offices over two weeks: Spread throughout the month as schedules allow
Condensed schedule: If needed, we can photograph multiple offices over consecutive days (though one day between is ideal)
The flexibility of dedicated days per location means the approach works for various organizational structures and geographic spreads.
Ready for Your Multi-Office Team Photography?
If you're an engineering firm, consulting company, or professional organization in the Bay Area with multiple offices that need professional team headshots, we specialize in delivering quality photography across multiple locations.
We've photographed engineering teams, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and professional services companies across the Bay Area. We understand the unique dynamics of multi-office organizations and deliver consistent, professional imagery that represents your entire organization.
Whether you want one dedicated day per office or need to coordinate many locations across several weeks, we bring professional direction, modern aesthetics, individual attention, and an understanding of multi-office coordination to every team photography day.
Ready to invest in professional team photography across all your offices? Let's schedule a consultation to discuss your vision, office locations, team sizes, and timeline. We'll create a dedicated photography plan that gives each office the attention and quality it deserves.
Next Steps:
About Camerawerkz
Camerawerkz specializes in professional headshot photography for individuals, executive teams, and organizations across the Bay Area. With over a decade of experience, we've helped hundreds of professionals and companies present their best professional image.
We've photographed single-office teams and coordinated multi-office photography over multiple days. We understand that quality, premium attention, and individual focus produce the best professional imagery.
Whether you need solo headshots for LinkedIn, corporate headshots for your leadership team, or comprehensive team photography across multiple offices with dedicated days per location, we bring professional direction, modern aesthetics, individual attention, and a commitment to premium quality to every session.
Serving: San Francisco, Oakland, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Menlo Park, Berkeley, Concord, Walnut Creek, and throughout the Bay Area.
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