Why shoot outside?
Trees and old brick look like a place. A gray backdrop looks like every other company.
Outdoor portraits feel warmer, and they work well for teams who are out in the field anyway. They do need a little more planning, because the weather doesn’t take requests.
Where works well?
- Your own building. Often the best option. A good entrance, a courtyard, a row of trees by the parking lot. It’s yours, and nobody has to drive anywhere.
- Old town streets. Old Town Alexandria, downtown Leesburg and Middleburg have brick, shop fronts and quiet side streets.
- Gardens and parks. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna takes reservations for portrait sessions. Plenty of parks have rules of their own, so ask before you pick.
For a whole team, closer is better. A spot five minutes from the office gets everyone there. A spot forty minutes away gets half of them.
What time of day?
The first hour of the morning or the last hour before sunset. The light is soft and nobody’s squinting.
If midday is the only option, I’ll find shade. The shaded side of a building or the edge of a tree line works fine.
What if the weather turns?
Have an inside spot ready. I look for a space with the office’s own character, often the lobby or a big window, so the backup still looks like you.
Will everyone match?
They should. Same spot and the same light, one person after another. That’s what makes a set read as one team, inside or out. Portraits at coworking spaces shows the idea indoors.
I’ve photographed across Northern Virginia, from Alexandria to Leesburg. Portraits for teams has more, and what to wear helps everybody show up ready.
