Campaign headshot photography needs to create a consistent look while making the experience easy for everyone involved. In 2021, I photographed local participants in the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Matthew Gentry came to my downtown Knoxville studio for his portrait. Because he normally did not enjoy having his picture taken, making him comfortable was just as important as creating the right photograph.
“This was one of the best experiences that I have ever had getting my picture taken. I am usually not one to have my picture taken by myself unless my wife is taking the photo. This experience was really painless and I really enjoyed myself. AWESOME JOB!” – Matthew Gentry
Headshots for marketing campaigns often involve more than photographing one person at one appointment. For this project, I photographed the local participants who would help raise awareness and funds through the campaign. I scheduled multiple photography days so participants had more flexibility to fit their sessions into their schedules.
A consistent visual style helps individual portraits work together as part of a larger campaign. We carefully selected a background that allowed the campaign’s signature pink to stand out. Then I used a repeatable photography approach so the portraits could share the same overall look and feel.
Consistent campaign headshots also require a process that can work across separate appointments. Not everyone involved in a campaign can arrive at the same time or even on the same day. Therefore, the photography needs to remain visually consistent even when participants come through the studio at different times. My experience allows me to recreate the lighting and overall approach instead of starting from scratch with each person.
The participant’s experience still matters when producing a coordinated group of portraits. Matthew was not someone who normally looked forward to having his picture taken. However, I could focus on engaging with him and helping him feel comfortable, rather than letting the technical side of photography dominate our interaction. His testimonial shows how much that changed his experience.
Campaign portrait photography should support both the campaign and the people participating in it. The organization needs photographs with a coordinated visual identity. Meanwhile, each participant deserves an efficient, comfortable session that respects their schedule and produces a portrait they feel good about using.
This Real Men Wear Pink project brought those needs together through campaign headshot photography. Flexible scheduling made it easier to photograph multiple participants, while a repeatable approach helped maintain the campaign’s visual consistency. Just as importantly, Matthew left the studio describing the session as painless and enjoyable.
If your organization needs consistent portraits for a marketing, fundraising, or awareness campaign, Colby’s Photos & Videos can help make the photography easier to coordinate. Click “Schedule” below to discuss your project, or click “More Info” below to learn more about professional headshots.