Most of the headshots I shoot happen in the studio on Raeford Rd, where the light never changes and nothing depends on the weather. Outdoor headshots are something I shoot on request, and for a few people they fit better than a studio appointment. Your photo is usually the first thing someone sees when they look you up. Also, people form an impression from it fast, so it’s worth putting it in the right setting.

When outdoor headshots make sense

Two situations, mostly. The first is a brand that lives outside: a real estate agent who wants the neighborhoods they sell behind them, a builder on a site, a trainer who works in the open. The second is scheduling. If a studio appointment means moving three client meetings, a session outside your own office before the workday starts can be the difference between updated photos and another year of the old one.

When the studio wins

If your photo sits next to your colleagues’ photos on a team page, book the studio. Matching light and background is what makes a team page look like one company. However, no two outdoor sessions light the same way. The studio also gives you the lounge, your own music, a chance to choose your favorite images before you leave, and no weather to plan around.

How an outdoor session runs

We pick the location first, usually somewhere near your office with clean architecture or open shade. I schedule early morning or late afternoon, since that light flatters faces and holds steady long enough to work. You get the same direction the whole time. In addition, you see the frames on the back of the camera as we go, and retouched images go out the same day, exactly like a studio session.

What happens if it rains?

Weather is the one thing an outdoor session can’t control, so I hold a backup date when we book. If the sky turns, we move rather than push through bad light. You can also switch to the studio that day if your calendar won’t wait.

What to wear outside

Same rules as the studio: solid colors, good fit, nothing with a busy pattern. My guide on what to wear for a corporate headshot covers the details. One addition for outside: skip anything loose enough to catch the wind.

If an outdoor session sounds like your fit, ask for it when you book. Book a session here and tell me what you have in mind.