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Frequently Asked Questions

Corporate Photography, London, UK

Find answers to common questions about London corporate photography services.

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General

HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP IMAGES FOR AFTER A SHOOT?

I keep RAW images from every shoot for 12 months, so if you delete your edited photos by mistake, or simply need more than your original choice, I can help you out easily. Just let me know. I keep edited photos from every shoot forever.

Since every shoot is different, the cost will vary depending on a number of factors like time required, the desired output and the process involved. You can get some idea of my rates by looking at the page for the type of shoot you require:

It depends on the destination and the type of shoot. If a shoot is in London and I don’t need too much equipment, I will always take public transport and I charge £20. If I need more equipment than I can carry on public transport, I will normally take a taxi. If it is the weekend or an evening, I may drive myself depending on available parking at the location.

I have been taking photos for over 25 years, honing my skills and techniques. I understand how to use and craft light, both natural and artificial, to produce beautiful images. I use the latest, high-end cameras and lenses to ensure the images I produce are of the highest possible quality. I am also trained in the latest post-production software and techniques to make sure my clients’ images always look their absolute best. I take great care to backup client images across multiple hard drives in more than one physical location and I’m also professionally insured in case anything were to go wrong at any stage.

Yes I am insured and have full public liability cover and professional indemnity cover.

No I don’t have a studio as 99% of my work is on location. I often set up in a large meeting room at the offices of my clients. This allows enough room to operate whilst also providing each person with privacy when having their photo taken. I bring with me all the cameras, lenses and lighting equipment necessary to create a studio on location, as well as spares of the above, in case anything were to break during a shoot. If a studio or alternative location is required for your shoot, it can of course be organised for an agreed fee.

I take bookings for events up to a year in advance. When it comes to corporate work, you can usually book a week or two in advance and not have too much problem finding an available slot. The sooner you book, the more chance of your chosen time and date being available. Get in touch today.

If you are a new client and you have paid your booking fee, then that cannot be refunded. However, for all established clients, if you cancel your shoot with more than a week’s notice then no cancellation fee is due. If you cancel between 2 and 7 days before your shoot, 50% of the agreed fee is due. If you cancel 1 day or less before your shoot, 100% of the agreed fee is due. If we are able to reschedule the shoot, the aforementioned cancellation fees are waived.

The finished images are delivered as high resolution and web resolution JPEG files using a private online gallery. From that gallery you can download the whole set of images in one go in a ZIP file, or download individual images one by one as JPEGs.

I use an online gallery system called Pic-Time. If you have your own FTP server, I am happy to upload to that if you provide me with the login details. I can also deliver photos using Dropbox if preferred.

If you prefer physical over virtual, I am happy to send you the photos on a USB stick for an agreed fee.

I shoot with top of the range Sony mirrorless camera bodies and lenses, and I use Godox lighting along with a variety of professional lighting modifiers. I update my cameras every few years in order to ensure my clients receive images of the highest possible quality, whatever it is I’m photographing.

Absolutely, I love capturing weddings. I photograph London weddings, weddings across the country and I love to travel to capture destination weddings. Please visit my separate wedding photography website.

I only take a deposit for big private events from new clients in advance so that I know you’re serious about your booking and so that I can’t be booked up for anything else. The deposit is fully refundable up until 28 days before the event.

Absolutely, I love to travel when I can. Most of my work is in London but I’m often travelling across the country on trains to other big cities across the UK.

Headshots

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU PHOTOGRAPH IN A DAY?

I ask for 10 minutes with each person. This allows me to shoot headshots for 48 people in a normal 8 hour day, or 24 people in a half day. Some photographers will tell you they can do it quicker, and I can do it quicker too, but having 10 minutes will always result in a better photo which each person is genuinely happy with. If you want to shoot 96 people in one day, it can be done with 5 minute slots per person, or for 64 people in one day, it can be done by sending people in pairs every 15 minutes (I know calendars don’t love 7.5 minute increments!).

I always shoot with my camera connected to my laptop, so the photos can immediately be seen on a large 16” screen rather than the 2” screen on the back of my camera. The benefit of this is that it allows the person I am photographing to see how the photo looks and then work with them to ensure they end up with the best possible photo. I coach people within the 10 minute slot on how to look better and the transformation from the start to the end is often significant. In the slot we also choose a favourite photo so that I can get going immediately with the post-production phase. If we don’t have time for that part, I can choose a photo for everyone, although inevitably there will be some people who don’t agree with my selection.

For each final image, there is a charge which includes licensing and retouching. Retouching for headshots includes: removal of blemishes (anything that won’t be there in 6 months time), softening of wrinkles and bags around the eyes, reducing shiny skin and tidying of any flyaway hairs. Excessive creases or wrinkles in an outfit can also be reduced.

You can have as many final images per person as you like, but I charge on a ‘per-image’ basis so some organisations stick with just one photo per person. The price per image can be reduced with high volume orders.

I can upload their other photos to a gallery from which they can choose another image for the same cost as the original.

Because I work with my camera and computer attached, and in each 10 minute slot I pick out a favourite shot for each person, it means that as soon as I leave your workplace, I am ready to go with the post-production phase of your project. That means the turnaround time is usually quick, within 1-5 business days depending on the number of people photographed.

I suggest having a look at my headshots page where you can see examples of different styles of headshot. There are options for lighting styles, varying from shadow-free and bright to more contrasty and dramatic, as well as options for the background, ranging from plain colours to a blurred out background. There are pros and cons for each style, depending on what you want your headshots to say about your business or organisation.

Each final image is delivered with a license to publish it in any media in perpetuity, worldwide. But that license is granted exclusively to the business that books me, not to any other business.

For photos on a white background, ideally I need a space of 5 metres by 3 metres at a minimum. For photos with the office in the background, a space of 3 metres by 3 metres is normally ample.

I can work in any conditions really. It is a common misconception that photographers need a room with lots of natural light. That misconception comes from certain photographers who are only comfortable taking photos using natural light. But the problem with natural light is that you can’t count on it staying the same from one minute to the next. I can take consistent looking, artificially lit headshots in any lighting environment. Of course it’s more pleasant to be in a room with natural light, but it won’t impact the photos I take if that’s not possible on the day of your shoot.

Yes of course, I often bring along a pop-up backdrop for this exact reason. However, sometimes it is worth sending me some phone photos of your office in advance of your shoot so I can suggest where might work best.

Most of the time I ask for 30-40 minutes to arrange one lighting setup. This allows me time to test the lighting and attach my camera to my computer so I can review all the images as I go.

Please get a good night of sleep before your headshot session and make sure your clothes look their best, giving them an iron or steam is great. Come in with a positive attitude, trying your best not to say the words I hear all the time, “I hate having my photo taken”.

The dress code is something for you to decide on internally and communicate to your team. Ties on or ties off for men? When it comes to what to wear, I ask people to not wear anything too busy and patterned. For example, plain shirts for men rather than stripy or checked. This particularly applies if the photos are ever going to be cut out from the background. Please also don’t wear anything overly branded. Some of my clients opt for 2 photos of each person – one more formal, and the other more relaxed. This can be reflected in an outfit change, e.g. jacket and tie on vs jacket and tie off, or simply with a formal and informal expression!

I am very experienced with people who don’t love having their photo taken. It is a frequent case that they have never had a great photo taken of them, so often they say to me following their session that they love their photo. Working with my camera and computer connected means that people can see their photo as we work, so they can change anything they don’t like and we can work together to get them a winning image.

I appreciate that 99.9% of the people I photograph in offices are not models, so they are not used to being in front of the camera. As such, they probably don’t know how to position themselves in order to look their best. I am there to help with this and will give guidance on how to pose, what to do with hair, if necessary, and the small changes in expression that can make a big difference to the finished picture.

I just ask that the room is ready for me, ideally with any large tables pushed to one side of the room to create space for me to set up. After that, I ask for a list of the people being photographed so that I can keep track of who I’m photographing and when. After the shoot, when it comes to delivering the images, each photo will have the person’s name in the filename, which makes organising them at your end a lot easier. I ask for 30 minutes for lunch and ideally a 10 minute break in the morning and afternoon.

Absolutely I have various hair and makeup artists I work with and I am happy to bring them along to a headshot or portrait shoot. They are great to help your team members feel great and look their absolute best. They obviously require paying and I will incorporate their fee into your invoice after the shoot.

Events

CAN I/WE USE THE PHOTOS YOU TAKE ANYWHERE WITHOUT RESTRICTION OR COPYRIGHT PROBLEMS?

Absolutely, when you ask for a quote, part of the quote breakdown will include licensing for the images.

I don’t limit the number of photos I take at an event shoot. Every event is different but I normally end up delivering between 30 and 60 images from each hour of a corporate event.

I work to fulfill the brief which you give me. For events I normally work in a discreet, documentary style, capturing the event as it unfolds before me. My cameras are completely silent so make no disruptive shutter noises which allow me to blend in and get photos that would otherwise be impossible. Of course if your brief requires posed photos of people I will do that too. We just need to be agreed on the brief before the shoot so I can get on with the job in hand once the event starts.

Editing is included as part of each quote. Additional retouching is charged at £75 plus VAT per hour.

I aim to deliver photos no later than 48 hours after the conclusion of the event. It is often within 24 hours, and for an extra agreed fee it can be done by the morning following the event. I sometimes work with clients who need photos to share live during an event and I am happy working in that manner, though it does mean I have to stop taking more photographs in order to send some over (in which case I sometimes recommend having a second photographer in order to ensure nothing is missed). Alternatively I can offer a small selection of photos at the end of the evening or by the following morning.

I use an online gallery system called Pic-Time. If you have your own FTP server, I am happy to upload to that if you provide me with the login details. I can also deliver photos using Dropbox if preferred.

If you prefer physical over virtual, I am happy to send you the photos on a USB stick for an agreed fee.

Once you’ve received your final photos and you’re happy with them, I will send you through an invoice. The best way to pay is direct bank transfer, but if necessary I also accept payment by credit card.

I work with a network of like-minded photographers who I can pull together into a team to cover larger events when needed.

I have a large network of like-minded photographers who I can call upon in emergencies, but this has happened only once or twice in over 13 years so far.

I try to support charities the best I can. Please get in touch to find out more.

I’m afraid this is not a service I offer but I do work with chosen partners to offer ‘same day’ printing within central London if that interests you.

This is something I can do, yes. It does add to the cost, of course, and it comes with a sacrifice; I can only do photos or video at one time, so for certain moments there can only be one or the other. This means that if you want both photo and video of key moments, it is best to have a separate videographer. However, if you just want a short highlights video of your event, set to some royalty-free music, I can definitely help with that. Just let me know and I’ll add it to your quote.

I’ve worked at plenty of venues across London, including but not limited to: Houses of Parliament, 1 Great George St, Guildhall, Syon Park, The Connaught Rooms, The Royal College of Surgeons, The Gherkin, The Savoy, The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, The V&A Museum, The OXO Tower, The Dorchester, Grosvenor House, 8 Northumberland, The National Gallery, ExCel London, The London Olympic Park, Berry Bros and Rudd, The Oval, The London Transport Museum, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, The Brewery, Banqueting House, Australia House, The Hilton on Park Lane, Andaz London, Somerset House, The Mermaid Blackfriars, The Ivy, Claridge’s, The IET.

Office Lifestyle

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO AN OFFICE LIFESTYLE SHOOT?

There are two ways to go about office lifestyle photos. One is a documentary style, and the other is an artificial style. Both have their pros and cons. If your office or workplace is nice and bright and well lit (ideally by natural light, but not necessarily), then the documentary approach may work well. If it’s a bit darker and closed off, a more artificial style might work better. I go into more depth about the difference between the two styles, including examples of images, in this blog post.

If you are opting for the documentary approach, you don’t need to do too much. I will be wandering around the office with my camera snapping away. It would be sensible to give advanced warning to everyone that I’m going to be there, and to let you and/or me know if they don’t want to be in any photos. You should also ask everyone to ensure their desks and general work environment are tidy and free of personal items and coats aren’t slung over the back of chairs etc.

If you are going down the artificial/posed route, then it does take a bit more planning. You need to gauge interest from people as to who is happy to take time out from their actual work to be featured in the photos. You need to schedule them in small groups throughout the day in different locations across the office to ensure you get as good a variety of photos as possible. If you have enough volunteers you may not need to rotate people, but if you don’t have that many people, you may need to pick out groups carefully. I can of course photograph real meetings going on as well as fake meetings, formal or informal, for the sake of the photos.

For office lifestyle photos, smaller groups of people generally work best, so that each person can feature properly. With larger groups it can be difficult not to feature the backs of people’s heads. I normally suggest groups of 2 or 3, although photos of individuals can work, as well as photos of larger groups when necessary. With smaller groups of 1-3 people, it is easier to take close up photos, which allow me to blur out the foreground and background to draw the viewer’s eye to the subjects. When the groups are larger, a wider angle lens is needed which makes it harder to hide certain things in the office.

Portraits

DO YOU OFFER A 30 MINUTE SHOOT?

I’m afraid not. The shortest session I offer lasts one hour.

After a portrait shoot, I will email you a link to an online gallery where you can view all the best images from your shoot. You can immediately order digital files or prints through the gallery. It is best value to buy the whole set, but you can always just buy a few if you prefer.

For a one hour portrait shoot, there is one hour of retouching included. For a two hour shoot, there are two hours of retouching included. For a three hour shoot, there are three hours of retouching included. Any additional time spent retouching photos beyond what is included is charged at £75 an hour.

That’s absolutely fine – if you get in touch, I’d be more than happy to discuss your needs and make suggestions based on your situation.

It depends on what you need the photos for. In many work situations, where a plain/neutral background is required, I would recommend a studio shoot, as it is the best way to control the lighting and ensure you are perfectly lit. However, these can sometime come across a bit too formal and some people prefer a more relaxed work portrait in their office or at another location.

Natural photos work better for less formal situations, such as family portraits. Although I am happy photographing families and children in the studio, I strongly recommend taking photos of children whilst they are doing something they enjoy.  That might be running around outside and playing or doing an inside activity like painting.

If you are looking for studio style photos, I have a portable studio so I am happy bringing it to your home or other location (for a fee).

If you are looking for natural, on-location photos, I always suggest we go somewhere that is relevant and/or convenient for you.

The important thing is that you feel comfortable in what you are wearing. My only suggestion is that you don’t wear anything too ‘busy’. Keep it simple.

You are welcome to bring as many outfits as you like and change as often as time allows. It’s always good to have a variety of outfits in a shoot, so you have more of a selection of photos to choose from at the end.

You are welcome to bring along any props that might add some context to your shoot. If it’s a family session and you have small children, I would definitely recommend bringing their favourite toy/s and some snacks.

 I am happy taking photos of you for use in your passport, yes, although my minimum hour long session does apply, so it will certainly not be the most cost effective option for a passport photo.

PR

HOW MANY FINAL IMAGES ARE INCLUDED IN A PR SHOOT?

The simple answer is as many images as are needed. Most PR clients like to send a selection of 5-10 great images to a picture editor or picture desk. More than 10 and the images will be ignored and glossed over. An editor is normally looking for 1 great image to work as a hook for the story in question.

For PR shoots I charge for the set of best images, knowing that it is usually 5-10 images. If many more images are required, the cost would be adjusted accordingly.

I am not, no. I deliver the images to you, the agency, and would expect your agency to take care of that part of the process.

I don’t do this either, because I believe it is a PR agency’s role, as a communications agency, to caption the photos. They are often best placed to know the exact names of people and things in the photos I capture, so it is faster for them to caption them.

Interiors

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED PER ROOM?

It depends on how many images you are looking for from your shoot, and if you are just looking for wide shots of the room or if you want particular details or angles. It also takes longer if the room isn’t ready to be photographed.

It is obviously very difficult to photograph a retail environment when it is open to the public, so I recommend either the hour or two before the space opens or the hour or two after closing. Normally the time before opening works best because the time after closing is often needed for cleaning. I can work around staff needing to carry out various morning tasks if necessary, but ideally they would be in the staff room to allow me to work as fast as possible.

For retail interiors I don’t bring an assistant. It is quickest and most efficient for me to work alone so I can get around the space easily. However for more architectural interiors shoots I might bring along an assistant to assist me with lighting and styling the space.

Of course, I am happy to work together, always. I can have my camera send photos to an iPad nearby if necessary so you can monitor and review the images as we shoot.

Still Have Questions?

Get in touch and I'll be happy to help with any queries you have

Get in touch