Beyond the Handshake

How to break the cycle of trite corporate photography

There is a particular kind of corporate image that refuses to die.
Two people shaking hands. A staged group pointing at a laptop, one person even daring to touch the screen. A diverse team standing in perfect symmetry under bright white lighting. You know the type.

These images aren’t bad (yes they are), they’re just empty (and lazy). They say nothing real about the organisation.

They don’t show values, culture or actual work. They are wallpaper. If fact they do the organisation an injustice.

In a world where audiences are visually literate and deeply sceptical of anything staged, these images land with a thud. They break the trust you’re trying to build.

Here’s how organisations can move past the clichés and show something with weight.

1. Photograph real work, not rehearsed moments

Real work has rhythm, focus and energy. You can see intent on people’s faces. You can see how a site operates. You can see pride without forcing it. That’s compelling.

When you photograph teams as they are, rather than how you think they should look, you get images with depth and honesty.

2. Use light that reflects the environment

You don’t have to blast everything with a flash. Natural light, directional light or carefully controlled ambient lighting can make a scene feel alive rather than flattened.

Authenticity starts with atmosphere.

3. Show the process, not just the pose

A single handshake says nothing. If fact, what are you not saying?
But a sequence of images showing planning, collaboration, execution and delivery says a lot. Is shows content and realism in practice.

Narrative beats decoration every time.

4. Embrace imperfection

Authenticity is not chaos. It’s the human element. A sleeve rolled up. Dust in the air. A moment of concentration. These tiny cues add realism without lowering quality.

Why this matters

When the story and the visuals don’t align, your audience feels it.
When they do align, everything feels more credible.

Prior preparation and planning prevents a piss poor performance, and that includes how you approach your visuals.

CTA

If you want to retire the handshake and build authentic visuals into your 2025 reporting and 2026 photography needs, I can help you design a photographic approach that reflects who you actually are.