Office Stock: Capturing an Authentic Workplace

All buyers are tired of old school staged office photos, with people smiling while looking at a presentation in a full business attire. The reason is that the workplaces have changed. In recent years, cubicles and offices were replaced with open spaces, which are full of color and unique details.

Nowadays, more offices have a fun approach when it comes to decorating, but also don’t enforce formal dress codes on their employees.

It’s also good to know that office photos sell well today. Clients use them in blogs, Facebook and Google ads, as well as hero images on their websites. If you were wondering if you should add workplace photos to your portfolio, the answer is YES. However, don’t do it before reading these tips for capturing the authentic office atmosphere.

Shoot in Real Offices

Photos taken in a real office, instead of in a studio that’s staged to look like an office give a genuine feel of the office to the buyers (and their audiences). Besides, a real office already has everything you could need in a staged one - stationary, printers and other devices, etc.

You probably already know someone who owns an office, or at least someone who works in one. Try getting in touch with one of the managers to get the location for your photoshoot. You’ll need signed property release forms, but they might be happy to let you use the space if you can add some images they can use in their own marketing.

Just because you’re shooting in a real office doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t rearrange, tidy up or add details that might make your photos extra special.

Try Using Natural Light

Artificial light is one of the things that makes stock photos look staged and unauthentic. If you can, try securing a location with large windows and plenty of natural lighting. However, you shouldn’t leave your lights in the studio.

The most important thing is that you don’t overdo it with your lights, and ensure that the ambient light is dominant in the photos. This way, you’ll create a more realistic atmosphere. If you really need to use the flash or other lighting, try adding some filters to them in order to balance artificial and natural lighting during the shoot.

Make a Scenario

You’ll probably work with models instead of people who are employed in the office. So they’ll actually be acting on the set. Which means that they’ll need clear directions in order to help you create the photos you’ve imagined.

Think about what type of office that is, what’s the type of work the employees are doing, are they attending a presentation, a brainstorming session, or it’s “business as usual”. Give your models as many details as you can - it will help them get into the character. Also, if there’s a certain action they should perform - take the time to show them how to do it.

Try Not to Pose the Models

While you must give models clear directions about what it is that they’re doing, it doesn’t mean that you should be posing them. Remember, these images must look as natural as possible. If you want people laughing - tell a joke, do something funny instead of telling them to laugh.

If you’re looking for a more serious atmosphere, you can always start up a serious conversation, etc. 

One of the things you should do is ask everyone to act as if they were working, let them talk, walk around the office, work on their computers, while you walk around and take photos. This way you’ll create a more relaxed atmosphere among the models, and they’ll forget about the camera.

Capture the Tech

Photos of gadgets, laptops, tablets and mobile phones are great sellers. Try to get some close ups of the things you have on hand. Stage them the usual way - with a coffee mug, a notebook, a pen holder, etc. But also try adding something new to that setup.

You can include people in these photos, or not - try both options and decide which images you’ll use later on. 

The Devil’s in the Details

To recreate the best possible atmosphere on the set, you need to plan ahead. Discuss wardrobe, hair, makeup and accessories with models beforehand. Let them know if this will be a more relaxed working environment, or if they should dress formally. Also, make sure none of them are wearing anything with clear signs or brand logos.

Also, think about the props you might need, and go beyond technology - is it a coffee to go mug, or office mugs. Maybe it’s the notebooks or pens. Think about all of these before getting to the set in order to avoid last minute preparations.

Don’t Forget to Experiment

Yes, planning is crucial to the success of your photoshoot. But, that doesn’t mean you should forget about experimenting and just stick to the original plan. Leave some room for breathing, try taking photos from different angles, try some other scenarios. Also, everyone involved might have some ideas on the go, so make sure you create a safe space where everyone can make suggestions.

Move around while you’re taking photos. Maybe try to get the same setup from different angles, you could end up using all of them, and clients might need all of them in order to adapt the image to every channel they want it on.

Final Thoughts

Workplace stock photography has come a long way since we started reimagining the workplaces. Don’t be afraid to add a splash of color, an unusual desk decoration, or even laid back furniture such as lazy bags.

And in the end, for the best selling results, try to get a mix of ethnicities, genders, and ages during casting. Diverse cast will give you an opportunity to diversify your images and reach a larger clientele.