Staff Headshots: Shoot at Your Office or Come to the Studio?
Choose an on-site shoot when more people are involved, when you would rather colleagues did not leave the office, or when you want the workplace in the photos. Choose the studio when only one or two people need new photos, or when the office cannot spare a suitable room. For a company of five or six, both work. The deciding factors are travel time for staff versus whether you can free up one room.
When a company arranges staff headshots for the first time, the HR or admin lead often asks: can the photographer come to us, or should we go to the studio? The image quality can be the same either way. The difference lies in logistics, not in the photos.
Three questions to answer first
- How many people need photos? The answer for one or two is usually different from the answer for ten.
- Where will the photos be used? Clean-background headshots only, or images that show the office?
- Can the office free up one room for a while?
Once these are answered, the choice is usually clear.
When an on-site shoot fits better
More colleagues. Getting several people out of the office at the same time is a scheduling problem in itself. On site, each person only leaves their desk when it is their turn.
Workplace or group photos. Reception, meeting rooms and working areas can only be photographed at the office, and company or department group photos are easiest where everyone already is.
Leadership diaries are tight. With the photographer in the building, senior colleagues can step in between meetings.
On-site corporate photography in Hong Kong starts from a project budget of HK$4,800, confirmed by headcount, coverage and venue.
When the studio fits better
Only one or two people. A newly appointed executive, for example, or a colleague who needs a speaker photo. They can book a professional headshot studio package directly: Professional Headshot is HK$1,280 on weekdays or HK$1,480 on weekends and public holidays, with 3 naturally retouched images. Personal Brand is HK$1,980 on weekdays or HK$2,180 on weekends and public holidays, with 6 naturally retouched images.
No suitable space at the office. Co-working spaces, open-plan floors without a private room, or meeting rooms that are always booked. A studio is easier to control.
The cleanest, most consistent background matters most. Studio backdrop and lighting are unaffected by window light, ceiling height or wall colour.
A company of five or six: how to compare
Studio packages are priced for one person and include 3 retouched images each, while corporate staff headshots generally need one each. The scope differs, so unit prices should not be compared directly.
A more practical rule: if everyone needs a photo and the office has a usable room, on-site is usually less trouble. If only some colleagues need photos, or diaries will not line up on one day, individual studio visits are more flexible. If several colleagues would like to come to the studio together, the arrangement and fee need to be confirmed separately.
How much office space is needed
For individual headshots, what matters is depth rather than floor area: there needs to be distance between the backdrop, the person and the camera. As a general guide, a mid-sized meeting room with some furniture moved aside is enough.
- A room with a door is best, so others are not walking through;
- rooms with large windows should have blinds, to keep the light controllable;
- a power socket nearby;
- group photos need far more room and should be considered separately by headcount.
There is no need to measure. Send a few phone photos of the candidate space and feasibility can be judged from those. For more on venue and running order, see 7 checks for HR and admin.
Impact on staff time
On site, each person's time cost is the short walk from their desk and the shoot itself. The studio adds travel both ways, which for each colleague is often longer than the shoot. The gap widens with headcount.
Keeping photos consistent when new people join
Think about this before you decide. New joiners can be photographed in a separate session using the same background and lighting set-up, so new and existing photos still match on one page. If you expect regular hiring, mention it in the enquiry.
What to share for a recommendation
- how many people need photos;
- intended use, and whether group or workplace photos are needed;
- your district and phone photos of the candidate room;
- your target completion date.
Share these on the corporate headshots and team photography page and we will suggest whether on-site or studio suits you better. To understand the budget first, read how corporate staff headshots are priced.
Ready to plan your staff and team photos?
Share your approximate headcount, photo types, district and proposed date. We will use these details to confirm the project scope and quotation.
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