Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, sr vice president Bank of America
Portrait-palooza
Coming off a two-week stretch of back-to-back corporate portraits reminded me of the fun — and frustrations — of executive portraits.
On one hand, shooting corporate environmental portraits really gets my creative juices going. I start each assignment questioning the most-important story my client wants to tell. This is the fun part… especially when I can push the envelope or think outside the box.
Brett Carter, senior vice president Duke Energy
Frustrations? These can be a lengthy list, topped off with uber-busy business executives who arrive saying “you have five minutes to photograph me… and they began three minutes ago” to skittish security guards who nix location requests because the images might “be used to help advance security threats.” Really?
My recent photo subjects were great to work with, especially those times we had to work in public spaces (it’s never easy to have your portrait made while people are looking at you).
But schedules were tight and we had to work quickly. All told, I easily spent more time hauling in gear from the downtown Charlotte parking garages and setting up lights than actually photographing my subjects. Nonetheless, the frustrations add to the challenge of making photos that support creative corporate communications. And that’s why I love being a corporate photojournalist.
Check out this sampling of my most-recent executive portraits.
We photographed Brett Carter at the top of the Duke Tower in downtown Charlotte. I’ve always liked how the architectural lines of the space really enhance the visual interest of the images taken in that area.
Sonya Dukes, senior vice president of Wells Fargo, wasn’t at all phased by the non-stop foot traffic passing by just a few feet away. I asked to photograph Sonya in this hallway because I liked how the bright panels complemented her attire.
Another view of the colorful hallway and Sonya Dukes.
Although we had only about 20 minutes to make Sonya’s portrait, we jumped over to the Wells Fargo atrium area in order to capture a second look (and to help the designer with more options).
Francisco Alvarado, owner and CEO of Marand Builders Inc., a general contractor firm serving the southeast.
Vinay Patel, president and CEO of SREE Hotels.
Vinay Patel, president and CEO of SREE Hotels.
Louis Romero, owner of Network Cabling Systems
Louis Romero, owner of Network Cabling Systems
Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, senior vice president at Bank of America
Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, senior vice president at Bank of America.
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