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How to choose a location for your headshot session | Headshots by Tara Flannery Photography

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in headshots and corporate photography.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your individual headshot session or corporate headshots for the entire office.

How to Choose a Location for your Headshot Session

Choosing a location for your corporate or individual headshot session is an important decision.  When I first chat with clients about their end goals for the headshot, knowing the end goal is one of the topics we will cover.  If it’s for a business publication, a business card, website, magazine, or other promotional materials, we need to consider the background for each scenario.  Here are some examples of backgrounds that I use and why they are the right choice for each scenario.

Studio

I mostly use white, grey, and black studio backgrounds for a professional look.  Grey is the best color to use with multiple people since all colors of hair and clothing coordinate beautifully.  Considered the business standard, this studio headshot is professional, well-lit, and easily repeatable.  These studio sessions can take place in my home studio or at your office location.  Keep in mind that I’ll need space to set up background and lighting.

Natural Light Studio

The Natural Light Studio is only available in my home studio.  This is still a professional look but a little bit softer since no studio lights will be used.

Environmental

An environmental headshot takes place at your office or other location where the environment tells a story.  A headshot that includes a bit of story can be very interesting.  Even a little bit of a waiting area in your office can help people engage and connect with you through your headshot.

Outdoor

An outdoor headshot is a great modern alternative to the traditional studio headshot.  Again, we should consider the background and make sure that it tells the right story for your business.

Corporate Headshots for The Professionals Group

Lance contacted me about a corporate headshot session for his team.  Some team members work with commercial real estate, some with residential real estate, and others in the office setting.  After discussing the options, we decided to do the shoot in my home studio where we were able to get a mix of images for everyone.  We got a standard professional studio headshot for each team member.  Then we used my home for an environmental headshot for the residential real estate members.  Next, we took outdoor shots of the commercial members.  And finally, we took an outdoor group photo in the park with a natural setting.

Headshot session location in The Woodlands and ConroeHow to choose a location for your headshot sessionHow to choose a location for your headshot session

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in headshots and corporate photography.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your individual headshot session or corporate headshots for the entire office.

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@taraflanneryphotography

At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you.

For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it.

Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off.

That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish.

📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.

34 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18116997898903617
At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you. For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it. Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off. That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish. 📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.

If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio.

If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting.

Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time:

1️⃣ Lighting from below
Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level.

2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light
Softer, controlled light will always look more professional.

3️⃣ No direction to your light
Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth.

4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources
This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones.

5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights
Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes.

Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional.

Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

32 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17870461365628869
If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio. If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting. Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time: 1️⃣ Lighting from below Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level. 2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light Softer, controlled light will always look more professional. 3️⃣ No direction to your light Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth. 4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones. 5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes. Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional. Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?

I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what`s not). The link is in my bio!

Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be.

At the end of the day—light is light.

You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use.

Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind.

Start simple.
Focus on gear you can trust.
And build from there.

Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?

44 1
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18124927108663241
I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what's not). The link is in my bio! Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be. At the end of the day—light is light. You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use. Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind. Start simple. Focus on gear you can trust. And build from there. Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?

My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out.

Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away.

When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces.

A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet.

If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there.

A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things.

Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?

51 3
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17980146186029923
My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out. Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away. When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces. A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet. If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there. A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things. Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.