In most cases, to present your practice in the most professional way, we'd recommend getting a professional photographer to take a photograph of each of your team members so you get clear, consistent results. Even with the convenience and quality of digital cameras, it's still easy to take a bad portrait.
However, it is still possible to get good results, even with a phone camera, if you know what to do. If you are taking the photos yourself, then here's some rules to follow to ensure you get good clear photos.
- Don’t get too close as this will distort faces, instead use medium zoom. (Stand about 1-2 metres from your subject and zoom to head and shoulders image)
- Find a plain(ish) background that doesn't have any sunlight falling on it. In most cases, a medium tone is best. Avoid harsh, brightly coloured backgrounds.
- Don't sit the subject too close to the background as they may cast a shadow.
- It usually looks better if the subject is slightly angled to the camera with their head turned to look straight down the lens.
- Have your camera at the same height as the subjects eyes, never below.
- Try to have the light coming from side/front and slightly above.
- Use soft window light if possible
- Avoid using flash
- Don't use direct sunlight
- If your subject is wearing light sensitive glasses that darken, then get them to put the glasses in a pocket till just before taking the picture, so that they become clear.
- Look out for reflections on glasses. Sometimes you can tilt them down slightly to reduce reflections.