When a company calls me about headshots, one of the first things I ask is what the photos are for. The answer decides whether I recommend a headshot booth or an on-site corporate session, because the two are built for different jobs. They both involve me bringing equipment to you, so people assume they are the same thing. They are not.
What an on-site corporate session looks like
An on-site session is a portrait session that happens to take place in your office. I set up lights and a backdrop in a conference room or an open corner, and each person comes in on a schedule. I spend about 7 to 10 minutes with every person.
That time is the whole point. The first few frames of almost anyone are stiff, because most people do not like being photographed. I use those minutes to talk, adjust their posture, check their collar, and coach their expression until I get the image that actually looks like them on a good day. I show it to them on the camera, and we keep going until they are happy.
The result is one carefully perfected headshot per person. It is the photo that goes on your website team page, your LinkedIn profile, your proposals, and your press materials. I use this approach for executives, partners, client-facing staff, and any team that wants a consistent look across the company site. You can read more about on-site corporate headshots.
What a headshot booth looks like
A booth is a different tool. I set it up at an event, such as a conference, trade show, or company celebration, and guests step in when they have a minute. I take three to four images of each person, and then the photos are matched to each guest by facial recognition and sent to them.
Nobody waits for a gallery, and you do not have to collect names or run a sign-in sheet. The photos are clean and professional, and they work well for LinkedIn, name badges, and conference profiles. What a booth cannot do is give every person a long session to perfect one image. That is not a flaw. It is the trade for speed, volume, and an easy experience for a large crowd. See my headshot booth page for details.
The main differences
| On-site corporate session | Headshot booth | |
|---|---|---|
| Time per person | About 7 to 10 minutes | A few minutes, 3 to 4 images |
| Goal | One polished image for your website | Quick, professional photos for many people |
| Best for | Executives, team pages, new hires | Conferences, trade shows, company events |
| Delivery | Private gallery, same day | Photos sent to each guest automatically |
| Scheduling | Booked time slots | Guests drop in during the event |
How to choose
Pick an on-site session if the photo will represent a person for the next couple of years. If a prospect will see it before they ever meet your team, it deserves the extra minutes. This is also the right choice for leadership, since executives usually need more time to loosen up and a little more attention to detail.
Pick a booth if you are hosting a lot of people in a short window and you want everyone to leave with a good photo. A booth is also an easy way to give attendees something valuable without adding to your event schedule.
Many companies use both. They book on-site sessions for the leadership team and key hires, and a booth for the larger event or the broader staff. That gives the executives the polished portrait they need and gives everyone else a great photo without a long day of scheduling.
A note on consistency
If your goal is a matching team page, the on-site session is the better tool, because I control the lighting and backdrop for every person. If you hire someone new six months later, I can match the setup so the new photo fits in. A booth gives you good photos, but it is not built to match a website grid down to the shadow.
Not sure which one you need?
Tell me about your team, your event, and where the photos will live, and I will tell you which option fits. If the answer is a mix, I will help you plan that too. Send me a message through the contact form and I will reply within a few hours. If you are working out a budget, see how my pricing works or my post on the cost of professional headshots in Tampa.
