Corporate headshots do a lot of quiet work. They sit on company websites, LinkedIn profiles, press releases, investor decks and conference programmes. Often they're the first impression a senior executive makes. When Curt Behlmer came into my Downtown LA studio, the brief was simple: a set of corporate headshots that would work everywhere he needed them.
Curt has spent more than thirty years in the entertainment industry. He held senior roles at Warner Bros., Lionsgate and Technicolor, where he was Chief Technology Officer of Entertainment Services. He then joined Dolby Laboratories as Senior Vice President of Content Solutions and Industry Relations. An executive with that profile needs a professional headshot library that's consistent, current and versatile.
We built the session around how the images would actually be used, shooting on two backgrounds:
A cool graduated grey. This is the classic corporate headshot backdrop. It's neutral and clean, and it sits comfortably on company websites, press materials and LinkedIn.
A deep charcoal. This gives a richer, more editorial look, suited to speaker profiles, industry features and conference materials.
Wardrobe for corporate headshots
Curt brought four outfits, which gave us a range from formal to relaxed:
A navy blazer with an open white collar, the polished corporate option
A black polo
A black crew-neck
A black leather jacket
A blazer headshot covers the formal needs, like annual reports, board pages and press releases. The open-collar and darker looks suit a creative-industry setting where a full suit would feel stiff. Bringing several changes to a session is one of the simplest ways to get more value from it.
Natural, credible results
The best corporate headshots look confident and approachable without feeling staged. Curt has a natural, wry half-smile, and my focus was on keeping the session relaxed so it came through in every frame. The lighting is soft and flattering, with retouching kept natural, so the images look professional and still look like him.
Book corporate headshots in Los Angeles
I photograph executives, leadership teams, founders and professionals at my studio in Downtown Los Angeles, and I can arrange on-location corporate headshot sessions for teams. To book your session, get in touch at RL@RORYLEWIS.STUDIO.
