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Client field guide · Schwab

Schwab headshot guidelines

For Orange Photography associates shooting Schwab headshot sessions. Setup, camera settings, posing, onsite selections, file naming, and delivery to our gallery system.

Schwab headshot example in vertical orientation

Most headshot sessions are simple to execute. Your demeanor and professionalism are what make the project successful.

Schwab has very specific requirements for how their headshots are taken and delivered. The current project brief and producer direction take precedence over anything on this page.

Required for every Schwab session

  • Shoot in vertical orientation with sufficient fill light.
  • No crossed arms (and don’t cut off shoulders).
  • Shoot tethered to Capture One or Lightroom so the assistant can tag names.
  • Each subject makes ONE selection for retouching.
  • Rename each selection exactly as LastName_FirstName.jpg.
  • Deliver two galleries: selects and all photos.

01 · Before the session

Arrive early, set up, and know the look

Arrive early

We typically build one hour of setup into the appointment’s start time delay, but we recommend being set up 15 minutes before the first subject arrives. Arriving early means less stress for you and our client.

Review the sample gallery

See how many images to take per person and the expected look in this sample gallery, along with the example images and portrait guidelines below.

Shoot tethered

Shoot tethered to your laptop via Capture One or Lightroom. The assistant uses the software to tag each person’s name.

Pack the right kit

A long lens of at least 100mm (ideally a 70–200mm), and an apple box for very tall subjects so you can stay at eye level.

02 · Camera settings and the look

Default settings when the brief is silent

Use these defaults unless the client has requested a shallow depth of field, which you can tell from the examples we send.

Item Default recommendation Field notes
Lens 100mm minimum; 70–200mm ideal A long lens keeps features flattering and the background clean.
Shutter 1/125 or 1/160 sec Keep consistent across the session.
Aperture f/8–f/16 Open up only when the examples call for shallow depth of field.
ISO 100–400 Keep noise low for retouching.
Orientation Vertical, always Schwab requirement.
Lighting Sufficient fill on both sides No significant shadows on either side of the face. Watch for glare on glasses.

Schwab examples

0 min
Set up and ready before the first subject arrives
0 mm
Minimum focal length; 70–200mm ideal
0 select
One retouching selection per subject
0 galleries
Selects and all photos, full-resolution JPG

03 · On-set standards

Once the lights are set, it’s about the person

  • The headshot is more about coaching the subject than the lighting. Guide them through poses and make it a fun, relaxed experience. Have a few jokes or stories ready to keep the energy up through the whole shoot.
  • Shoot everyone from both sides of their face, in a variety of appropriate poses.
  • Shoot at eye level. Bring an apple box for very tall subjects so you’re never too high or too low.
  • Be vigilant about anything out of place: hair caught on shoulders, visible straps, a necklace askew, a suit buttoned incorrectly, a crooked tie, an untucked shirt, or stray hair and glasses.
  • Ask if you can “adjust” someone’s hair. “Fixing” implies a problem; “adjusting” sounds fine.
  • Always ask permission before you touch anyone.
  • Watch for glare on glasses and adjust the subject or the light accordingly.
  • No crossed arms. Arms can be at the sides or hands in pockets.
  • Always shoot vertical, with sufficient fill light and no significant shadows on either side of the face.
  • Don’t promise anything onsite about retouching or delivery turnaround. If you don’t know the specs, say: “I’ll check with the producer on the shoot and they’ll pass those details to your company contact.”

04 · Onsite selections and naming

One pick per person, named exactly

Each subject’s selection must be renamed exactly in this format, with capitalized first letters. Incorrectly named files will need to be redone.

Selection filename

LastName_FirstName.jpg

ONE selection for retouching

When you’re working with an assistant, subjects make ONE selection for retouching. If they can’t decide between two images, we’ll make the choice for them, but it’s best that they pick.

Some people feel rushed making a final selection onsite. Invite them to come back at the end of the session to take their time. We typically add 15 minutes to your appointment to account for this; if you stay beyond that, let us know.

Export all JPGs at full resolution from the resolution you shot at.

05 · Delivery to our gallery system

Two galleries, one dated folder

Deliver two sets of full-resolution JPGs to the Associate Upload Area: the subjects’ selections in one gallery, and every other image from the shoot in a second gallery.

Year / Quarter

Open the folder for the year and quarter of the job. Q1 = Jan–Mar, Q2 = Apr–Jun, Q3 = Jul–Sep, Q4 = Oct–Dec.

Date_City folder

Create a folder named with the date and city of the shoot. Both galleries go inside it.

Selects + All photos

Gallery one: “Selects” with the renamed selections. Gallery two: “All photos” with every image from the shoot.

Upload steps

  • Go to our Zenfolio upload area and log in with the associate credentials your producer provides.
  • Confirm you’re in the “Associate Upload Area”, shown on the left side of the screen.
  • Select the year and quarter of the job.
  • Create a folder with the date and city of the shoot, then create two galleries inside it.
  • Name the first gallery “Selects” and upload the selections there.
  • Name the second gallery “All photos” and upload every image from the shoot in JPG format.
Associate Upload Area location in Zenfolio

06 · Session checklist

Before you call it done

  • Set up 15 minutes before the first subject, shooting tethered.
  • Vertical orientation, sufficient fill, no crossed arms.
  • Both sides of the face, varied poses, shot at eye level.
  • Each subject made ONE selection (or we’ve noted a pick for them).
  • Selections renamed exactly LastName_FirstName.jpg.
  • Selects and All photos galleries uploaded as full-resolution JPGs in the correct Year / Quarter / Date_City folder.
  • Producer notified if you stayed past the allocated time.