Corporate Photography Assignment for Virgin Galactic

On my first corporate photography assignment for Virgin Galactic (The Space Ship Company) we had a really big work load to complete but they kept adding to it and I hate being rushed into a mediocre job.

Fortunately I responded with a good idea under pressure. After shooting lit groups shots, and miscellaneous items they ask me to shoot astronauts, managers and engineers and instead of lighting them with strobes I opened the 38 ft tall bay doors and let the light flood in…

We used floppies and returns to shape the light then later ran it though post production. I did not know if Virgin would like the treatment but they loved it and now it has become a sort of branding for the bio’s on the virgin site.

I did lit portraits for most of my career but the impact of lifestyle photographers has now transformed corporate photography. The natural look has been popular for some time but the corporate world has been slow to adopt the look. It is in full swing now and a good chunk of my clients are asking for the natural light look. It does not mean that I just pick up a camera and just shoot. I still have to find and recognize the beautiful light and then shape it. When the light is not great I still have to know how to make it work.

Corporate Photography Assignment

Portrait of Virgin Galactic Pilot and executive

Corporate Photography Assignment

Portraits of Virgin Galactic executives

The corporate photography assignment is changing fast. Aside from a market over saturated with photographers, lighting equipment is becoming so light that a photographer is now expected by some companies to work alone and it is doable but far from ideal. Working alone means that you are the mule, you have no backup, no additional problem solving perspective, no one to do small things like hold large unweildy reflectors, place lights and do small things that make your corporate photography assignment run without friction. No matter what you  are forced to slow down when you work without an assistant and when something goes wrong you are the one running around trying to fix things while the client is waiting.

Corporate Photography Assignment

Portraits of Virgin Galactic executives

Fortunately, communications professionals at larger corporations understand this and never think twice about paying for assistants for photographers. They cannot afford a less than frictionless workflow while executives are waiting around. They are my favorite clients to work for.

 

Corporate Photography Assignment

Portraits of Virgin Galactic executive and Pilot

Corporate Photography Assignment

Portraits of Virgin Galactic executives

 

 

Contact me for information pertaining to your corporate photography needs

 

 

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