How to show the best image of you in corporate photos to get a higher position?


The best way to showcase your best image in your professional corporate photo is to make sure it reflects how the public might perceive you during your next promotion. Don’t hesitate to invest in clothing and accessories that will help you attract the attention of recruiters. Choose a clean, sober background, avoid flashy outfits and be honest in your facial expression. Be careful with the light and opt for a soft light that does not mask your face. Use a retouching software to correct any possible defects in post-processing. Finally, try posting your photo on your social networks or personal website to promote your professional image and profile.

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The 10 benefits of a corporate photo for a job candidate?

Are you a job candidate? Ask yourself this question: As you read this, do the photos of you (portrait or situational) that are on social media or on your resume show the best image of you? Are they recent? Do they make recruiters want to bring you into their company to work with you? Are they magnets for recruiters or do they repel them? If you have any doubts, then the following 10 points concern you:

  1. This shows consistency and visually represents the candidate’s skills, abilities and determination.
  2. A corporate photo can humanize and personalize the candidate’s profile.
  3. Is a powerful marketing tool for job candidates.
  4. Allows recruiters to determine the potential and maturity of the candidate.
  5. A photo can give immediate confidence and credibility to employers.
  6. A good photo can help the candidate stand out and attract the attention of recruiters.
  7. A corporate photo can highlight the professional qualities of the candidate
  8. A photo can show the candidate’s involvement with the job and colleagues.
  9. A corporate photo can help the candidate get a second chance, as it will transform them into a real and tangible person.
  10. A corporate photo can help improve the response rate because only a well-designed portrait can encourage recruiters to make contact.

Don’t wait any longer, request a corporate photo session for individuals

How to plan product / packshot photos with a corporate photographer for a company?

A good planning requires the involvement of the photographer before the day of shooting, he will be a force of proposal and will tell you the pitfalls to avoid. A good preparation saves a lot of time on the big day, avoids dead time and allows you to respect the budget allocated by your company.

  1. Set a goal and requirements: Determine the purpose of the shoot and set requirements and expectations. Determine the size and format of the photos and decide on the media on which they are to be displayed so that the photographer can ensure that the final image meets the needs of the company.
  2. Choose the right photographer: Once you know the requirements, look for photographers who specialize in the type of photo you need, make sure they are technically qualified or have the proper training (studio light management) to show their professionalism. Compare portfolios and prices and don’t hesitate to ask photographers about their experience and the techniques they use.
  3. Establish a shot plan: Plan in advance how you want the products to be presented, define a list of poses and angles per product and communicate it to the photographer. Also, allow for the amount of time you think it will take to complete the job.
  4. Prepare the products: Make sure the products are well prepared and ready to be photographed. Make sure they are clean, without visible defects and at the desired levels for the shot.
  5. Decide on the location: Choose a location for the photos that will not lead to political or financial problems. A neutral but interesting location is the best choice. If the budget allows, hire an interior designer, decorator or staging expert to achieve the desired result.
  6. Set a date and a time limit: Set a date with the photographer and determine the number of hours you need. This information must be clearly communicated, and if you are delayed, you must schedule an additional date and time for the photographer.
  7. Post-processing options: Ask the photographer if they can provide print-ready images or if they will post-process the images.
  8. View and select photos: After shooting, view the images and select the ones you want to use.
  9. Uploading and sharing images: Once you have selected the photos, arrange for uploading, sharing and a final version of the images.

Call on Vincent Kem, corporate photographer

How to succeed in your corporate communication thanks to a corporate photographer?

Before you rush to hire a corporate photographer, it is wise as a decision maker for your company to look at the following points to make your corporate communication successful and clarify what you need to explain to the photographer. To work efficiently and to avoid wasting time due to organizational errors, the following points should be observed:

  1. Identify your objectives: in order to know the style and the type of photos you need, it is important to define precisely your objectives and your communication strategy.
  2. Choose a style: choose a visual style that represents your brand image. Decide if you want to be classic, modern, fun, professional, etc.
  3. Find the right corporate photographer: look for a photographer who is qualified and capable of translating your vision into shots that will support your communication campaign.
  4. Establish a brief: once you have found the right photographer, it is time to establish a brief and discuss the technical and aesthetic details.
  5. Organize the shoot: the shoot is an opportunity to harmonize your vision, clarify it and have a good time.
  6. Edit and distribute: once the shooting is over, edit the photos, identify the right ones for your communication and distribute them on the different digital and printed media.

In the meantime, you can already contact Vincent Kem, corporate photographer who will be able to accompany you throughout the process.

The 7 essential points to choose a corporate photographer

Not easy to choose a corporate photographer. Here are 7 essential points to check before making your choice when you have the heavy responsibility of making photos for the communication of your company and you had no right to make a mistake.

  1. Skills: make sure the photographer has the skills and experience to produce the type of photos you need that reflect your brand and identity
  2. Familiarity with your product or service: make sure the photographer understands your business and its objectives and knows how to showcase your products and services.
  3. Personality: choose a photographer who fits your style and ideas. A photographer who can work in harmony with your team is a very important asset.
  4. Services offered: when you select a photographer, check what services they offer. You may want product photos, videos or photos of people or events.
  5. Quality of work: take the time to review a sample of the photographer’s work to ensure that he or she can provide quality photos.
  6. Reputation and certificates: make sure that the photographer is well known in his field and that his clients are satisfied. Check for specific certifications, such as professional certification.
  7. Price: Price is an important consideration, but should not be the only one. Make sure you choose a photographer who offers good value for money and gives you a service that meets your expectations.

10 good reasons to hire a corporate photographer

You work in a communication, marketing or sales department? Here are 10 good reasons to hire a corporate photographer:

  1. Create professional quality images for your business.
  2. Increase your company’s visibility online and on social networks.
  3. Offer photos to your clients to show them what you do.
  4. Use original photos for your advertisements.
  5. Showcase your business with quality photos.
  6. Create unique images for your website and social media.
  7. Use photos to illustrate your articles and press releases.
  8. Bring a personal touch to your business with photos of your employees.
  9. Offer photos to illustrate your products and services.
  10. Create quality images for your products and services to attract new customers.

Call on a corporate photographer now

Study of light in photography

The light

Photography, a word that has its origin in the ancient Greek

Photo = Photon which means light; Graphie = to write, to draw

Light is a set of electro-magnetic waves to which our human eyes are sensitive. A wave is characterized by its wavelength.

A human eye is sensitive to waves between 400 and 700 nanometers. 1 nanometer (nm) = 10 -9 m = 0.000000001 meter

In this range of 400 to 700 nm, each wavelength corresponds to a different visual sensation, so 1 color.

In this visible spectrum, there are 3 main colored areas:

Illustration of the visible light spectrum - @copyright
Illustration of the visible light spectrum – @copyright

These 3 colors BLUE / GREEN / RED are the fundamental primary colors

They are the basis of human vision and photo systems.

Indeed, on the human retina, there are cones sensitive to colors.

1/3 of these cones are sensitive to BLUE

1/3 of these cones are sensitive to GREEN

1/3 of these cones are sensitive to RED

In a color silver film, which has 3 layers, there is a layer sensitive to BLUE, a layer sensitive to GREEN and a layer sensitive to RED.

In a digital sensor, some of the photosites are sensitive to BLUE, some of the photosites are sensitive to GREEN and some of the photosites are sensitive to RED.

The association of these 3 primary colors allows to recreate ALL THE OTHER COLORS

The whole of the visible radiations simultaneously creates the WHITE LIGHT

White = Blue + Green + Red;(in equal proportion)

White = 1/3 Blue + 1/3 Green + 1/3 Red

If one of these thirds is a little more important, it changes the whiteness of this light, and therefore its color temperature (CT)

And this has a direct impact on the BALANCE OF WHITES

BLACK = NO RADIATION VISIBLE BETWEEN 400 and 700 nm

The colors

3 fundamental primary colors = B G R (Blue Green Red) or in English RGB = Red Green Blue

When we associate 2 primary colors, then we obtain a SECONDARY COLOR which is the COMPLEMENTARY of the absent primary.

BLUE + GREEN = CYAN; cyan is the complementary of red

Note: The complementary is the most different color, opposite of the primary color concerned.

GREEN + RED = YELLOW; which is the complementary of blue

BLUE + RED = MAGENTA; which is the complementary of green.

2 colors are complementary when their association gives the neutral, ie WHITE / BLACK / GREY

Ex : [B+R= MAGENTA] + V ==> B + R + V = WHITE

==> 3 fundamental secondary colors : YELLOW – MAGENTA – CYAN

It is with these 3 dyes, and only with these 3 that we obtain the prints or color prints.

Color temperature

It is known that a white light is composed of 1/3 of Blue, 1/3 of Green and 1/3 of Red

In general, all white light sources do not scrupulously respect these proportions

BLUE

  • Natural light is rich in blue
  • The flashes are rich in blue light
  • LEDs and fluorescent tubes are rich in blue

RED

  • All TUNGSTENES are rich in red

All these light sources have a color temperature expressed in KELVINS K° (measured with a thermo colorimeter)

Color Temperature (CT)

The HIGHER the CT, the more blue the light source (COLD LIGHT)

The LOWER the CT, the more red the light source (HOT LIGHT)

CT Benchmarks

5500 K° ==> Natural daylight and electronic flash

6000 K° ==> Fluorescent, Led

3200 K° ==> Tungsten, halogen, Quartz

In silver color photography, we have the same problems of color temperature.

We have 2 ranges of films:

  • A balanced range for 5500 k° (Type D film)
  • A balanced range for 3200 k° (T-type film)

Article written by Vincent Kem, as a corporate photographer

Wedding photographer in Lyon

Interview with Stéphane VALOTTEAU, photographer based in Lyon.

Written by Vincent Kem

Photo credits: Stéphane Valotteau

As a photographer, I have to meet a lot of new people from different backgrounds, often people I have to photograph, but also colleagues.

I really enjoy talking to other professional photographers, partly because everyone is different and their working methodologies can be as well, but mainly because it is important for a professional photographer not to sit comfortably in his seat.

Exchanging with others, when you are a freelance photographer, allows you to get out of your isolation, to know the trends in order to stay up to date, both artistically and technically, and sometimes to get off the beaten track to try new things.

During a trade show in September, I met Stéphane Valotteau, photographer in Lyon (I am also a wedding photographer in Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Cagnes-sur-Mer). Very friendly, we exchanged a lot on our different practices and our way of relating with our customers. I found his approach interesting, and as many people have already asked me why and how I became a professional photographer, here is another example of a journey I want to share, a self-taught journey.

Stéphane Valotteau

Focus on Stéphane Valotteau, his path to become a photographer with a specialization: Lifestyle photography.

Stéphane, how did you get into professional photography ?

From a young age until I became a professional photographer in Lyon, my work as a photographer has evolved.

As a child, my parents gave me a camera, a silver camera, with a roll film that was then developed in the laboratory, and a cube-shaped flash.
I think the product inside was generating light when it exploded, by the way I had fun a few times with this camera just to trigger the flash light but you won’t tell my parents!

I became a wedding photographer in Lyon, but before that, I had to train myself, and do a lot of different images and find my specialty.

How did you learn the basics of digital photography in Lyon?

I tried my hand at concert photography, being myself at one time a musician in Lyon, and so I had the chance to rub shoulders with musicians, participate in concerts, and even take photos of craftsmen like a photo report on a violin making workshop.


I had a Canon 400D, and you couldn’t go above 800 isos otherwise the image was really awful.
When you think that now you can go up to 6400 isos, and that here we are a bit limited, unless you like images with a lot of grain.


I was able to work and evolve thanks to the internet which guided me towards photo blogs with which I could make my weapons.
For the record, the first image I showed was an overexposed backlight image that was unexploitable, the wrath fell on me…

Do you use digital photo processing techniques?

Yes, as a professional photographer, it’s imperative, it’s like saying I’m a film photographer and don’t know how to develop film and make enlargements. Digital processing is modern development.

In addition to all the parameters of the photo which is complicated, speed aperture and ISO, it was necessary to learn how to treat an image to embellish it on computer.

Find tutorials on programs like Photoshop and Ligthroom and learn how to calibrate a monitor to get a true color image.

I saw that you make digital photo portraits in Lyon?

I actually started my work as a photographer by inviting friends to pose in places like the Croix-Rousse hill or the old Lyon.
These beautiful places have an orange color atmosphere and the old stone embellishes the background.


At the moment, I’m being asked to do more modern and fashionable portraits that we would take more in the new Confluence district in Lyon.
This modern and chic area is the work of architects who present their construction works.
The lines are aggressive and modern accompanied by bright colors.
Atmosphere guaranteed, because Lyon is a magnificent city with its own architecture.
These photos were intended to show my work to more experienced photographers.


Now that I master the light, I offer portrait sessions, family, couples, weddings, and EVJF / EVG in the location of their choice. There are many places in Lyon where we can capture the moment in photography.

What photographic equipment do you use?

I currently use two Canon cameras, as I am a professional wedding photographer in Lyon.
Two cameras on which I mount two lenses for two different shots.
A 35 mm fixed focal length with an aperture of 1.4 for wide shots, and an 85 mm fixed focal length also for closer portrait shots.
These two lenses allow me to take really creative and spontaneous shots.
I also use a harness so I don’t strain my back carrying my two cameras all day long.
And I also use an ultra wide angle lens
17-40 mm to realize the exit of the ceremonies as well as the photos of groups.

Wedding photographer in Lyon ?

I am also in Nice and Paris, I am interested, tell us a little…

This is my main activity today and I love it.
My job is to take the best stolen moments from weddings, the funny moments, the emotional moments and be there for the important moments of their day.
We must succeed in establishing a climate of trust with the future bride and groom, because I will follow them throughout their days.


My advice as a wedding photographer in Lyon is that it is important to meet several times, to get to know each other, to understand their day, to visualize perhaps through a few shots the people who are important to them to take pictures.
I show them certain poses for couple photos, and give them tips and advice for the highlights of their day.

You should know that I also take the photos of the of the engagement session before the wedding.

With the bride and groom, I take a moment to do a photo session in civil clothes, in the place of their choice.
At the same time, they learn how to pose so that they can quickly love themselves in pictures! And be comfortable in front of the camera on their wedding day.

Concerning the group photos during weddings in Lyon These are delicate moments in these days if they are not well organized.
A lot of people to take pictures of means a lot of organization to lose as little time as possible, and that our bride and groom do not lose patience.
I set up important things beforehand to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible!

And for the wedding preparations in Lyon These are intimate photo sessions of the preparation of the bride and groom, it must go quickly, the morning is a magical moment or the atmosphere is soft.
There are a lot of surprise moments in these days and every wedding is different.

That’s what being a photographer in Lyon is all about, diversifying your clientele and understanding your customers.

Thanks Stéphane, I hope to meet you again.

Vincent Kem,