Your Boss Asks You To Photog Staff

[35mmdelux]

Hello All,

The “vice-president” of a very large organization I work for stopped at my cubicle when he saw some enlargements I recently made (13 x 19). He said he thought they were great and he said I may be interested in photographing our top staff for possible publication. I smiled, having no interest, but didn’t know what to say. He said he would send one his people to talk with me.

I plan to tell his assistant I’m not interested in shooting 30-40 portraits. I’m in the process of leaving this department anyway. On the other hand, he did offer to pick up the tab on various graduate school books. The books cost about $500 (USD) this term.

I'm fairly good when I put my mind to my work. Some (most) of the staff I don't like and I can visualize them asking for more prints to take home.

Your opinion please.

Thanks

 

[Bill Blackwell]

I would only do it if I had the proper lighting equipment (and I don't). If I did, however, I would do it without hesitation.

 

[dmr]

I'm not a professional photographer, but occasionally I do have work projects that require photography or benefit from it. This is mostly such things as site construction progress, the occasional ribbon cutting, etc.

I really don't expect any renumeration other than my normal paycheck and a few items on my expense report.

I would never even *THINK* of doing staff portraits. I do have some amusing after-work photos though, some of which make good blackmail material. 🙂

 

[Al Patterson]

Hello All,

The “vice-president” of a very large organization I work for stopped at my cubicle when he saw some enlargements I recently made (13 x 19). He said he thought they were great and he said I may be interested in photographing our top staff for possible publication. I smiled, having no interest, but didn’t know what to say. He said he would send one his people to talk with me.

I plan to tell his assistant I’m not interested in shooting 30-40 portraits. I’m in the process of leaving this department anyway. On the other hand, he did offer to pick up the tab on various graduate school books. The books cost about $500 (USD) this term.

I'm fairly good when I put my mind to my work. Some (most) of the staff I don't like and I can visualize them asking for more prints to take home.

Your opinion please.

Thanks

I had a similar request a few years back. A co-worker who was running for town council wanted some shots for a campaign flyer he wanted to make. It was a small town, so it would basically an 8.5 by 11 paper he posted in local stores. Long story short, I filled an entire Compact Flash card on my digital, and he chose not to use any of them. (It was a correct choice BTW).

Now, if portraits are what you do, you might want to think about. Engendering the good will of people up the corporate ladder is usually a goo idea.

But since I was known at that office as the guy who takes train pictures on vacation, and since he wasn't exactly a Baldwin product, I ended up just wasting an hour of his and my time.

 

[Thardy]

Engendering the good will of people up the corporate ladder is usually a good idea.

Ay, there's the rub...........

 

[Dektol Dan]

Do it!

Do it!

Do it!
Shoot everyone of them on their own turf (behind their own desk or in their own cubicle). If you have a bounce flash, bring it.

Don't try to make them the same. Don't try to get all their eyes to line up on the same plane. Don't try to do anything that would be best done in a studio environment, and DO try to have a good time!

 

[FrankS]

If you think you would enjoy doing it, if it sparks your interest, if you see this as an oppotunity to blow their socks off with your stuff, go for it.

If you don't like doing portraits or think you're in over your head, decline.

 

[RML]

I'd do it. But I'm not you. This is something you have to decide for yourself. $500 is a lot of money, but 30-40 portraits of top staff is a huge job. Very stressy as things will have to be done in a few minutes, and correctly as there probably won't be a second visit. I'd want to get paid real money for this job. A hired pro would ask big dough for it, so why not you? BTW, if you need some hints on flash use, check out http://strobist.blogspot.com/ . There you can find quite a few examples of corporate mug shots done quickly, cleanly and professionally, and absolutely in your range of skills.

 

[RML]

I've been asked a few times by our Micro Finance Support department to do mug shots to accompany articles in publications and websites, on congresses and events.

http://shardsofphotography.blogspot.com/2007/02/slow-blogging.html

http://shardsofphotography.blogspot.com/2007/06/gnbi-meeting-2007-hague-update_19.html

 

[Kin Lau]

Corporate headshots is big business. If you can handle it, then it could be your ticket to more jobs like it. It would be nice to have a glossy corporate annual report with your pictures in it.

I would definitely read thru Strobist (and the flickr group) since there's quite a few examples there of exactly this kind of photography. It's harder than it looks.

If you do decide to take it, get the compensation down in writing.

 

[Thardy]

A-hem....

I don't think 35mmdelux cares much for these people, or climbing their corporate ladders and what not.

But if you can get past that, and know that you can do a good job......hey, nothing like showing off a little.

 

[jlw]

There seem to be two questions percolating behind here:

-- Should I accept a commission to photograph people I don't like?

-- If I do, how should I go about it?

I can't answer No. 1, other than to say that if you don't like them, then all the more reason to take some of their money away from them, right?

As for No. 2 -- I do a lot of corporate portraits, and technically they're not difficult and don't require a lot of equipment, especially if they want to see the people in their office environment rather than against a studio backdrop. You probably can handle the whole thing with one main light (hot or cold) with some kind of diffuser, and one reflector, which you can make by spray-mounting some crumpled aluminum foil onto a 20x30" sheet of foam board (which is exactly what I use in our company studio.)

Now, here is the hot tip that will make your job a lot easier: tell them that you'll do the shots IF (and only if) they also engage a professional makeup stylist. Tell them that this will help the subjects feel more confident that they look their best, and will help assure more professional, executive-grade results.

This way, you'll not only get better shots with less effort on your part, but you'll also get the experience of working with a makeup stylist, which is very educational and can help build your skills as a photographer. Stylists know all kinds of amazing tricks, from how to make lapels lie flat to how to remove lint from dark suits, to how to eliminate baggy eyes by wiping them with Preparation H! (No joke - the stylist I use at work also styles photos for a well-known US Senator's political ads, and she says he needs the Preparation H treatment every time -- he's a very hard-working guy who doesn't get enough sleep.)

Where do you find a stylist? If you live in a large city, there should be a few who belong to the theatrical craft unions, and the union can refer you to them. If not, try asking around at places such as university theater departments or high-end salons.

Remember, the CLIENT is paying for the stylist -- this is a reasonable request, and if they aren't serious enough to go along with it, I would say this would be reasonable grounds for politely declining the job: "I'd love to help you, but I just can't be sure of producing results you'll be proud of unless you're able to approach this in a completely professional way." (Also, if the shots aren't as good as they like, having a stylist gives you someone else to blame!)

 

[murrayatuptown]

and if you want the requests to stop, make them unflattering...although that won't help your rep any.

I pointed out to our security badge people they must have used a wide angle lens because they took some perfectly nice looking people and made them scary-looking. I can think of three I don't even recognize from their ID's.

 

[MartinL]

[. . .] photographing our top staff for possible publication. [. .]

"Possible publication" is pretty encompassing. Ask some more questions. The final print size is not likely to be very large----not with 30-40 shots; even a 1/4 page runs into a good-sized brochure or whatever this winds up being. Are these to be formal, corporate, suit & tie----silk scarf shots or more informal "getting to know who runs this place" type. All these things matter.

They shouldn't expect that you'd show up with pro-studio lighting and a make-up person, but if they are as clueless as some, you'd best write up an informal proposal / memo and in a friendly way, list all your caveats (one of which is that you will not be using flash or lighting, and all shots will be in those parts of the building or outdoors where available light is appropriate for a portrait.)

Will you somehow feel obliged to continue your usual work output? Or will you have adequate time to do the photos without adding to your work burden? I'd begin with "This probably won't take all the time, but I'd have to allow 2+ weeks."

Would you be working with a media person or contractor? Who's going to produce the final product? That's a person to be talking to.

I do all sorts of in-house photos (projects, publications, website) and just this morning I've been setting up a schedule for about 30 shots. Part of my job.

I'll remove lines and tone down blemishes. I promise that no one will have to live with a photo she or he doesn't like, and I'll take some more until we get one that passes. Will you be asked to provide proofs? I take lots of care and try to make everyone look good, and I don't like to show anything short of a finished shot. But I make very clear when I think that I've got as good a shot as it's possible for me to get.

Portraits can be fun stuff. I don't see how you can pass this up. An absolute "must" is that you feel in charge at the shoot, and if you don't like these people, that's not something I can have an opinion on. Because I don't sell photos, I don't have a proprietary sense over my portraits----"you like it? I have no further use for the negative or file. Just spell my name right if you have the photo published."

Martin

 

[ebolton]

I'd do it. I assisted a photographer doing a product shot for us, and now I do some of that myself. But I work in a small place...I'd have to shoot everybody in the company twice to get 40 portraits.

And, as a general rule, you shouldn't dismiss people you work with or for just because you don't like them. You might need something from them someday.

Ed

 

[Welsh_Italian]

Hmm, maybe it all depends on what you want to do with your photography? Do you want to make a career of it, or are you happy doing your own shots? Even if the latter, could this job be a valuable lesson?

Assuming you want to accept the job:

Remind your boss that this work is out of contract and you should be paid equivalent to a pro.

Get a written contract.

Retain the copyright to all photos and demand that you get credited with each picture. In a few years time, these people might remember the one good shot of them and they might want a copy.

If the pics do the job, the credit will help you too.

All of this is much easier said than done.

I cannot answer the question of whether you should do the job, only you can. But if your company is a very large one, putting "corporate portraits" looks good on a resume even if you don't want to be a photographer - it shows enthusiasm, adaptability and initiative.

best of luck!

 

[sienarot]

There's some good advice here. Maybe I can add some to it...

First off, you didn't say what your 13 x 19 enlargement was of. Some people assume that "Hey, you take great landscape photos. Can you photograph my wedding?" not knowing that different types of photography require different skills and passion. If it's not the style of photography the photographer is into, there just won't be any effort to do good. People who aren't into photography just don't realize that it's more than just pressing the button.

Another thing to mention is, presumably, you're on a casual/semi-casual relationship with many of these people. What's to stop some of these people days (or weeks) after the shoot and say "Hey Paul, you know that picture you took? I really didn't like the way I looked. If you've got 5 minutes, maybe we can redo it?" not realizing these sort of photographs require more time to set up and take than it would to go grab a coffee. Or just as annoying, the self conscience person who needs to look at every single photo right after its taken for their approval (if you were to do this in digital).

If this isn't your cup of tea, don't do it. Just tell them it won't be the sort of work you'll be putting your effort into. Perhaps you know of a photographer that would be interested? If so, pass the job onto him or her if that is their thing.

If this is something you're willing to do, make sure you set the rules straight at the beginning and treat this as a professional photoshoot.

 

[35mmdelux]

Brilliant!

I thank you.

I got into this racket 15 years ago to shoot occasional portraits and photog various celebrities here in Hollywood. By trade I'm a CPA and I shoot street often, carrying my MP everywhere everyday. Along the way I pounded the monographs big time to get a handle on my passion of portrait and fashion photography. My library consists of Avedon - Karsh- Penn- Mary Ellen - Sander- Demarceilier - and many others.

I had two 13 x 19 fotos up on my wall that day. One was Rudy Giuliani, up close and personal. Slightly cropped on heavy paper the foto is remarkable. The other portrait was of my son, again up close and personal Avedon style. I've had a continuous train of people stopping and saying "wow." That led to the "VP" coming over with his proposal. I've also photographed Schwartzennegger (Terminator) and various other celebs which I post on my cube wall.

Some of the executive staff have seen these fotos and perhaps they think the doctor (me) can do something for them. I dunno about that (LOL).

Problem is I'm just not into "Free." $10,000+ into my kit and three years of training and now I want to SEE THE MONEY!

You're right tho, I need to think professionally.

Thanks much for advise. Paul

 

[Terao]

If there's one thing in business that people don't like its "free". Particularly senior business people. Agree to do it and invoice them for an appropriate consideration particularly if you're not doing it on their time...

 

[mwooten]

When it comes to situations like that which you have described, I am reminded of the words of musician & producer Nick Lowe that I read a couple of decades ago. He said, "Of course I'm an artist, but I can be a prostitute if it's a matter of the rent being due."