Traditional vs. high-volume headshots

There’s no denying the importance of a good headshot. Whether you’re an actor trying to break into the industry or a company looking to bolster its brand, a professional headshot can make all the difference. Although there are many types of headshots out there, today we’re focusing on one of our favourite topics—corporate headshots.

Corporate headshots have a whole host of benefits. They can help companies make a memorable and lasting first impression with potential clients, customers, or partners, and they can lend credibility and professionalism to brands of all sizes. This means that hiring a business photography company to capture headshots of your team can be an excellent decision. However, if you’re thinking of doing so, there are two options you’ll have to choose between: traditional headshots and high-volume headshots. What is the difference between the two and which one is right for my company? We answer these questions and more below.

What are traditional headshots?

Let’s kick things off with a quick explanation of traditional headshots. Traditional headshots typically work like this: An individual or small team hires a business photographer to capture professional portraits. A date is set and on that date, a personalized photography session occurs, either in a studio or on location. In the end, the client receives professional digital headshots that can be used on their website, social media pages, and more.

Take Indigo Events’ traditional headshot package as an example. Our sessions can be done at our in-house studio or at your office. For a hassle-free experience, all you have to do is notify your team and let us take it from there. We can provide customized lighting, backdrops, and of course, pose each and every team member to perfection. White or grey are the most popular backdrop colours. However, we also have an environmental office backdrop option for added depth.

With our traditional headshots, you can expect more coaching and a greater selection of images. one-on-one attention. In fact, each person gets an entire 20-minute session to themselves! During this time, our business photographers will work tirelessly to capture the best angles, expressions, and appearances of your team. You can also rest easy knowing that our traditional headshots come with detailed retouching for an extra polished aesthetic. Skin blemishes, teeth whitening, even flyaway hairs—we’ve got your back! We want you and your team to put your best foot forward, and that starts with headshots as professional as your brand.

An event photographer capturing a man in a red turban standing in an office.

Event photography of a woman in a white shirt elegantly seated on a white couch.

Person in a black polo shirt standing indoors with arms crossed, smiling at the camera, capturing the essence of professional headshots.

When do traditional headshots make sense?

As a brand, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding between traditional headshots and high-volume headshots. Generally speaking, traditional headshots make the most sense in the following scenarios:

You have a smaller team
You want coaching and support to ensure a polished senior leadership team headshot collection
You have a large team, but you’re looking for a premium business photography solution

Although companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from traditional headshots, they are ideal for executives, entrepreneurs, speakers, and professionals who want a refined, premium look.

A quick tip? Once your headshot photographer is booked, read through this headshot checklist and send it around to your team members to ensure everyone is photo-ready on the big day.

What are high-volume headshots?

Now that you have a better idea of what traditional headshots are and how they work, let’s dive into all things high-volume headshots. High-volume headshots are a streamlined headshot service designed for big groups of people, ranging from businesses with hundreds of employees to large-scale conferences and trade shows.

Indigo Events’ high-volume headshot packages combine efficiency, professionalism, and scalability—all of which are needed to get the best possible results. Our high-volume sessions move quickly. We take care of the setup, which includes both professional lighting and a backdrop. We keep the lighting and backdrop uniform across all sessions to ensure a cohesive brand image. Sessions last between one and five minutes per person, depending on the number of individuals requiring a headshot. Unlike traditional headshot sessions, which are typically priced per person, high-volume headshot sessions are priced per hour, with the assumption that the photographers can accommodate up to 25 people per hour.

With high-volume headshots, the Indigo Events team prioritizes a fast and convenient turnaround without compromising on quality. All clients receive their colour-corrected images on the spot! Alternatively, if you opt for the elevated package your galleries will include demi-retouched photos featuring skin softening and blemish removal, all within 48hrs.

As we see it, one of the main perks of high-volume headshots is that they are easily scalable. If you require hundreds of headshots in a short time span, you can hire our team to create multiple headshot stations during an event—the world is your oyster, we’re just here to capture.

A young woman in a professional ensemble of a black blazer and black pants captured in an event photography setting.

An elegant black man in a suit and tie posing for an event photography.

A young business woman posing with her arms crossed on a gray background for event photography.

When do high-volume headshots make sense?

Keep in mind that high-volume headshots involve quicker, more efficient sessions, fast turnaround times, and are generally less expensive per person than traditional headshots. For these reasons, high-volume headshots are ideally suited to large businesses and organizations, or companies hosting large-scale events. If you fall into either of the following categories, high-volume headshots may make the most sense for you:

You are a large business that wants to update the headshots of its employees and you have a tight time frame
You are a company or organization that is hosting a large-scale event, such as a trade show, conference, internal event, or networking event, and you wish to provide headshots to attendees

Create a lasting impression with traditional and high-volume headshots

Whether you opt for high-volume or traditional headshots, a corporate headshot will help your brand make a good first impression, and we all know just how make or break that can be in the world of business.

Indigo Events specializes in delivering high-quality business photography, and that includes corporate headshots. We have a number of customizable traditional and high-volume headshot packages that will not only make your brand look more professional but can help foster brand trust and credibility. Let us update your team’s existing photography or curate your brand’s first-ever portfolio of headshots, and we promise you won’t be disappointed.