Point of view: you need a decent headshot, but you don’t want to look like you've been called in for a disciplinary.
If the phrase "corporate headshot" makes you picture a grey backdrop, a borrowed blazer and a smile you last used at a wedding, you're not alone. Many of the people I photograph don't work in a glass tower, and if this includes you, your photos shouldn't pretend you do.
That's where relaxed outdoor headshots come in. They're informal headshots taken in natural light, somewhere that feels like you, and they still look polished enough for your website, LinkedIn and press features. Professional, but not corporate!
What is a non-corporate headshot, exactly?
It's still a headshot. It's sharp, well lit and you're clearly the focus. The difference is everything around it.
Outdoors, in natural light rather than under studio flash against a plain backdrop
Your own clothes, the ones you'd actually wear to meet a client
Real expressions, because we're walking and chatting rather than you staring down a lens on command
A background with meaning: woodland, a mill yard, a canal towpath, your own street
When the setting says something about what you do, it becomes an environmental business portrait. That's a portrait where the place does half the storytelling: a landscape gardener among plants, a coach on the moor, a café owner in their doorway.
Who are relaxed headshots for?
Short answer: anyone whose clients buy from them as a person, not a logo!
Solopreneurs and freelancers. You are the brand. Coaches, consultants, therapists, copywriters, VAs, bookkeepers: people hire you because they like you, so your photos need to show who you are.
Small business owners. Your About page, Google Business Profile and social posts all need a face. A relaxed headshot makes you approachable before anyone's picked up the phone.
Creatives and makers. Designers, florists, potters, stylists. A suit-and-backdrop shot would look odd next to your work. An outdoor portrait sits comfortably beside it.
Wellbeing and outdoor professionals. Personal trainers, yoga teachers, walking guides, dog trainers. If your work happens outside, your photos probably should too.
Speakers, authors and podcast guests. Event organisers and editors need a profile photo that works on a poster, a programme or a press page. Informal headshots have warmth that a passport-style shot doesn't.
Teams who want to look human. Charities, community organisations and small firms where "friendly and trustworthy" matters more than "corporate and polished".
People returning to work or changing direction. New business, new LinkedIn, new you. A good photo goes a long way when you're reintroducing yourself.
Who they're not for: if you're applying to a law firm or your industry genuinely expects a corporate portrait, then come to the studio instead.
Why go outdoors for your headshots?
People relax. Very few of us are comfortable being stared at by a lens in a small room. Put someone in the fresh air, give them something to walk towards and somewhere to lean, and their shoulders drop. You see it in the photos.
The light is kinder. Soft daylight, especially on an overcast Yorkshire day (we're not short of those), is about as flattering as light gets. Open shade and a bit of cloud do the job of a softbox for free.
You get variety from one session. Moving a few metres gives a completely different background: stone wall, greenery, a doorway, open sky. That's a set of images for your website, LinkedIn banner, social posts and press kit, not one headshot you'll use for the next nine years.
The background does some selling. An environmental business portrait tells people where you work, who you serve and what it'd feel like to work with you, before they've read a word.
It looks like you on a good day. That's the whole point. When a client meets you in person, they should recognise you straight away.
What happens on an outdoor headshot session?
A quick chat first. What the photos are for, where they'll be used and how you want to come across. This shapes everything else and is included in the fee.
We pick a location together. Somewhere that suits you and your business. I'll suggest options if you're stuck!
The shoot. Around 40-60 minutes at relaxed pace, lots of talking, no awkward "and... smile". Bring a change of top if you'd like some variety.
Your gallery. A selection of edited images, ready to use online and in print, delivered within 7-10 working days (or sooner if it’s urgent).
Outdoor headshot locations around Leeds, Bradford and Yorkshire
Yorkshire is spoilt for backdrops. A few of my favourites include:
Urban and industrial: Little Germany and the street art in Bradford city centre, Leeds Dock, the canal at Saltaire
Green and leafy: Roberts Park, Hirst Wood, Golden Acre Park
Bit wilder: Shipley Glen, Otley Chevin, Ilkley Moor
Your own patch: your workshop, your garden, your favourite café, wherever your business actually happens
Questions I get asked…
What if it rains? It's Yorkshire, so it might. Light drizzle is fine (and the light is lovely). If it's properly chucking it down, we reschedule. No drama.
What should I wear? Whatever you'd wear to meet a new client on a good day. Solid colours work better than busy patterns. Layers are your friend from October to roughly June.
I hate having my photo taken… Most of my clients say exactly that. Outdoor sessions are the easiest way in: you're moving, chatting and not stuck under lights.
Can I still use these for LinkedIn? Of course. A relaxed outdoor headshot is still a clear, well-lit head-and-shoulders shot. It just doesn't look like it came from HR.
Book your relaxed outdoor headshots
If you want professional photos that don't feel corporate, let's talk. I'm based in Baildon and photograph business owners across Bradford, Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire.
Get in touch to book your outdoor headshot session, or download my free guide to the 20 images every business should have.
