The Brief: Consistency without the Cookie Cutter

San Francisco is famously photogenic (hi, FiDi windows and Embarcadero reflections). The company wanted a uniform background—subtle bokeh of office towers—so everyone looks like they belong to the same brand, not the same passport line. I set up a compact on-site portrait station near a window with great light, added professional lighting for consistency, and used a longer focal length to create that soft city blur while keeping faces crisp and flattering.

Why the blurred-city look works:

• It’s modern and polished—perfect for LinkedIn, bios, Zoom profiles, and speaking engagements.

• It reads “San Francisco” without shouting it.

• It keeps the attention where it belongs: on your people.

The 10-Minute Workflow (Yes, Really)

Time is money. (And I like both.) Here’s how we kept the day moving—and the morale high.

1. Micro-welcome (1 min): I greet each person, learn their name, and help them relax. “You bring the face; I’ll bring the angles.”

2. Guided posing (4–6 min): Gentle direction for posture, chin, shoulders, and expression—confident but approachable, not “camera-stiff.”

3. Live review & pick (2–3 min): We review on tethered preview so each person can choose a favorite before they walk away.

4. Safety retake (optional): Not feeling it? We go again. No one leaves thinking, “I wish…”

That’s it—about 10 minutes per person. Managers love the predictability, and employees appreciate being heard (and looking good).