Create a Corporate Photography Online Portfolio Website

How to Build a Corporate Photography Online Portfolio Website

Corporate photography may not come to mind right away when it comes to developing your artistic career or building an online portfolio website. Though corporate photos can seem boring or dull, in fact, they are a great way to develop your skills as a commercial photographer and expand your client list. The sometimes dry nature of this type of photography can also force you to get creative and bring some personality to these types of shoots.

A big part of doing corporate work successfully is having an impressive portfolio website that demonstrates your past work as well as your skillset and your professionalism. Ready to impress corporate clients with an amazing website of your work? Let’s dive into how you can build a portfolio specifically for your corporate photography.

Corporate Photography Tips to Build Your Online Portfolio

When it comes to creating your portfolio site, make sure you follow these basic tips:

Illustrate that you are adaptable and well-rounded

Corporate clients want to see that you are able to adapt to your surroundings and get a great shot no matter the scenario. When they check out your website, they are checking to see if you are a dynamic photographer with experience creating different shots and shooting different situations or settings. The range of different types of corporate images is fairly large and you want to be sure your portfolio reflects this range, showcasing your well-rounded approach as a photographer.

Though being creative is an important skill set, whether you are shooting real estate or a brand campaign, corporate workers are often looking to get as much value as possible from individuals they hire. Demonstrate your value by keeping the content on your site focused, but varied, to show your adaptability as a shooter.

Highlight only your best photography

Though it may be tempting to throw all your work online and see what happens, this can result in an unfocused, cluttered portfolio that will turn visitors off, especially in the corporate world. Be selective when you decide what images make it into your photography portfolio, choosing only your best images. Go for quality over quantity and highlight your best work so your website appears clean, efficient, and professional.

If you find it challenging to choose your best shots, ask a friend or peer to help you. You can also ask a friend or colleague who is familiar with the corporate world to give you feedback on your best photos, as they will have a better understanding of your target audience.

Update your site regularly

Keep your photography website fresh by adding current work to it on a regular basis, placing your most recent work further up on your site. Updating your site once a week or several times a month with your latest shoots will give visitors a reason to come back and check out your portfolio. It will also demonstrate your growth as a shooter and show you are in demand, which can encourage potential clients to book you for their next event.

To boost new content on your website, post about it on your social media accounts so your followers and online network is aware. A social media post about your latest shoot full of impressive shots will surely catch the attention of followers looking for a great photographer.

What To Include In Your Corporate Photography Portfolio

When it comes to organizing your photography portfolio website, follow these tips:

Have a variety of different types of corporate photography

Corporate photography can mean a lot of different things, depending on the needs of the client. The most common images are headshots and portraits of employees or CEOs, as well as event and conference coverage. But many corporations are also in need of polished images for marketing and branding materials, as well as e-learning and employee training.

To demonstrate your versatility as a shooter, make sure your photography website includes at least two to three different types of corporate imagery. Then, organize your work by type to make it easy for visitors to find specific images. For example, you may have a main section for “Work,” with one subsection for headshots, one subsection for portraits, and one subsection for event and conference images.

Take advantage of the slideshow feature

Many photography portfolio websites go for a big impact image or a grid of great shots on the Home page. For corporate photography, the slideshow feature is a solid way to highlight your work to appeal to your clientele. Include 4-5 images in the slideshow that demonstrate your varied skill set, and will make visitors go, wow, I need to see more.

Check to see if your website builder offers the slideshow feature, and use it to your advantage to create an eye-catching Home page. Don’t forget to update the images in the slideshow so they stay current and give visitors a sense of where you are currently at as a shooter.

Include client testimonials

In the corporate world, clients want to know that when they hire you, you are going to exceed expectations and provide the photography support they need to get the job done. They want to be reassured that you can show up to an event or shoot and do a great job, every time. Referrals and client testimonials are a great way to demonstrate your professionalism and positive work ethic, as well as your ability to follow through on an assignment or brief.

Ask current or former customers to provide a short testimonial about their experience working with you to include on your portfolio website. If you have repeat customers, be sure to highlight their referrals, as it will show visitors to your site that you are able to cultivate long-standing business relationships.

Create an About Me and a Contact Page

Put a human face to your photography work by having an About Me page that briefly explains your work history as well as the types of services you can offer, from headshots to event or conference coverage. Make sure you have a professional-looking headshot on your About Me page that will appeal to your target audience.

Your photography portfolio website should also have a Contact Page that includes your work email and a contact page visitors can fill out to get in touch. This indicates you are professional and organized, as well as currently available to take on new work.

If you use your social media to highlight your corporate photography, be sure to include links to these accounts as well, as they can act as nice examples in addition to the images on your portfolio website.

Make your website mobile-friendly

Most corporate workers are busy and on the go, so they will likely be checking out your photography portfolio website on their smartphone. The last thing you want is for them to open up your photography website on mobile and be stuck with broken links, weird cropping, and low-quality images. Confirm your site works properly on mobile by checking the settings in your website builder. Most website templates will include a mobile option where you can view your site as it would appear on a smartphone to check for any issues.

Professional Corporate Business Photography Ideas For Your Portfolio

In need of quality images for your photography website? Round out your portfolio with these photography ideas:

Do a portrait and headshot photo shoot

Practice your portrait skills by asking friends or family to pose in a professional setting, such as a home office or a living room. Set up lighting and other gear to get a clean, professional-looking shot. Ask your model to practice different poses and facial expressions, as it will also get you more comfortable with asking corporate models to do the same in the future.

Shoot a corporate-style event

As a corporate photographer, you will need to be skilled at shooting large events, conferences, and gatherings. Try your skills at your next friend gathering or family event. Work on getting in-focus shots of people at the event while drawing as little attention to yourself as possible. Often, you get the best shots when people aren’t aware of your presence, particularly in a busy environment.

Practice your group shots

A skilled photographer at a corporate level will be used to taking shots of a crowd, such as teams, departments, and board members. Polish this skill by asking friends or family to gather together in a group for a few shots. See which angles work best (a tripod will be particularly handy in this case), as well as the best lighting and positioning of each person in the shot. Ideally, everyone in a group image will look pretty good, so be sure you get some photos with no weird facial expressions or blurred movement.