Wear solid colours that suit your company, bring a second top, sleep well and don’t get a haircut the day before. For team shoots, agree on one look for everyone in advance – that is what makes a website look professional.
Most people don’t love being photographed. Good preparation turns a nervous few minutes into a portrait you will use for years – on LinkedIn, on your website and in press releases. Here is what we tell everyone before a business portrait shoot.
What to wear
- Wear what you would wear to an important client meeting. Not a costume – you, on a good day.
- Solid colours. Small patterns and thin stripes flicker on screens.
- Fit beats brand. A well-fitting, ironed shirt looks better than an expensive one that doesn’t fit.
- Bring a second option – one darker, one lighter. We choose together what works with the background.
- Glasses: if you wear them every day, wear them in the photo.
| Good choice | Better to avoid |
|---|---|
| Navy, grey, beige, white, muted colours | Neon colours, big logos |
| Plain fabrics | Fine stripes, small checks |
| Jacket or blazer you feel good in | Brand-new clothes you’ve never worn |
| Simple jewellery | Large, shiny accessories |
The day before and the morning of the shoot
- Haircut about a week before – not the day before.
- Sleep well and drink enough water. It shows in the eyes.
- Make-up: natural and matte. Shave or trim your beard the way you usually wear it.
- Iron your clothes the evening before and bring them on a hanger.
What happens on the day
We come to your office with a mobile studio, or photograph you in your workplace or around the city. We guide you through posture and expression, keep the session short and make sure you look like yourself – just at your best. Afterwards you see all the photos and choose your favourites – those are the ones we retouch and deliver.
Five things we have learned from our shoots
1. Decide first what the photos are for
LinkedIn, the website, a press release or the annual report – each needs a slightly different style and format. Tell us before the shoot, and we plan the light, background and framing around it.
2. Tell us the location early
Office, rooftop, studio or outdoors: the location decides which lights and equipment we bring. A last-minute change of room is the most common reason a shoot starts late.
3. Plan a few minutes of “warm-up”
The first photos are rarely the best. A few minutes to get used to the room, the light and the camera – and to try two or three spots – make a visible difference.
4. Have someone for hair and make-up
Not for a new look – just to take the shine off the forehead and fix a strand of hair between people. For team shoots it saves a lot of retouching. If you don’t know anyone, ask us.
5. “I’m not photogenic” is almost never true
We hear it all the time. Usually it comes from one bad experience with a rushed photographer. We don’t rush, we don’t force complicated poses – we give clear direction on posture and gaze, so the photo looks professional and still like you.
Team shoots: one look for the whole company
The most common problem we see on company websites: every portrait was taken somewhere else, with different light and framing. It looks unfinished. For a team shoot, decide in advance:
- Style: clean studio background or portraits in your office.
- Framing: head and shoulders, or half body.
- Dress code: formal, smart casual or relaxed – the same for everyone.
- Schedule: a list of people with time slots, so nobody waits.
- Later hires: we note the set-up, so new colleagues get the same look.
Headshot or environmental portrait?
| Headshot | Environmental portrait | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Clean, neutral | Your office, workplace or city |
| Best for | LinkedIn, team pages, ID badges | Press, annual reports, “about us” pages |
| Feel | Consistent, clear | Personal, tells a story |
Many companies book both: a headshot for every profile and a few environmental portraits for the management and the press.
Also read: corporate headshots at events.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for a LinkedIn photo?
What you would wear to an important client meeting: solid colours, a good fit, nothing brand new. Bring a second top so you can choose on the day.
Can you photograph our whole team on site?
Yes – we set up a mobile studio in your office and photograph one person after another, with minimal disruption to your day.
Do you also shoot environmental portraits?
Yes – besides clean studio-style headshots, we photograph portraits in your workplace or around the city.
Where do you work?
In Zurich and across Switzerland, including Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne, and abroad on request.
Need new portraits?
Business portraits, corporate headshots and team photos – in your office or on location across Switzerland.
Swiss Moments – AI photo & video booth, event photography and business portraits in Switzerland. More than 10 years behind the camera and over 500 events.