When the Reference Photo is Rough: Creating Consistency in Corporate Headshots
As a professional headshot photographer in Eugene and Springfield, I’ve worked with everyone from solo entrepreneurs to large teams needing cohesive, branded portraits. One of the most common requests I get goes something like this:
“We had someone take a headshot last year we want the new ones to match this style.”
Then they send me the reference photo… and it's often dark, grainy, off-center, or shot in questionable lighting. Sometimes it’s an old phone photo taken in an office hallway, or a snapshot from a laptop webcam with harsh overhead fluorescents.
Still, I get it. The reference photo represents their brand or at least the start of it. It may not be technically strong, but it’s part of their visual identity now. My job as a professional photographer isn't to critique it's to match the style, elevate the quality, and create something consistent that still feels true to their brand.
As a professional headshot photographer in Eugene and Springfield, I’ve worked with everyone from solo entrepreneurs to large teams needing cohesive, branded portraits. One of the most common requests I get goes something like this:
“We had someone take a headshot last year we want the new ones to match this style.”
Then they send me the reference photo… and it's often dark, grainy, off-center, or shot in questionable lighting. Sometimes it’s an old phone photo taken in an office hallway, or a snapshot from a laptop webcam with harsh overhead fluorescents.
Still, I get it. The reference photo represents their brand or at least the start of it. It may not be technically strong, but it’s part of their visual identity now. My job as a professional photographer isn't to critique it's to match the style, elevate the quality, and create something consistent that still feels true to their brand.
Why Matching Matters in Corporate Headshots
Whether it’s a growing real estate team, a group of lawyers, or a startup staff profile, having headshots that feel unified sends a clear message: We’re organized, we’re consistent, and we’re paying attention to detail.
When each person’s photo looks like it belongs on the same website, it builds trust.
But that doesn’t mean replicating every flaw in a low-quality reference image. What it means is capturing the intent the mood, the backdrop, the general vibe and re-creating it in a way that’s clean, well-lit, and flattering.
How I Match (and Improve) a Tricky Reference Image
When a client sends a reference headshot that’s less than ideal, here’s how I approach it:
I study the lighting, not just the photo.
Where is the light falling on the face? Is it flat and even (like window light)? Or directional with shadows? I recreate that same feel, but with professional lighting using soft-boxes, reflectors, or natural light setups so the new image matches, but elevates.
I match the angle and crop.
Was the photo tight or loose? Centered or slightly off-center? These small details make a huge difference when you’re trying to match an existing look across multiple employees.
I recreate the background without the distractions.
If the original shot had a plain gray wall or blurred office setting, I’ll use a similar backdrop in-studio or replicate it with shallow depth of field. My goal: make the photo feel like it fits with the others, but clean up what doesn’t belong (like clutter or weird color casts).
I edit for cohesion.
I won’t make the new headshots look overly retouched, especially if the original was very natural. I’ll aim for subtle color grading and consistent skin tone and contrast, so everything feels like it belongs in the same family of photos even if some were taken years apart.
A Real-World Example (Because This Happens a Lot)
Recently, I worked with a Eugene-based business onboarding new hires. They had one existing headshot taken by a previous team member and wanted the new staff portraits to “match that look.”
The original photo had:
Cool-toned overhead lighting
Slight shadows under the eyes
A neutral background with a slight green cast
And it was slightly underexposed
Instead of copying the flaws, I used soft directional lighting to recreate the shadow placement but I added fill to avoid unflattering darkness. I color-balanced the background to match the cool tone, but eliminated the green cast. The final result? The new photo matched in style but looked intentionally crafted, not accidentally captured.
Final Thoughts
Great headshots don’t have to start with great references. If you’re a company trying to maintain a cohesive visual identity—even when you’ve inherited some rough photos I can help. My goal is to match your brand’s look while giving each person a polished, confident, and professional portrait that elevates your team’s image.
So go ahead and send that reference. No judgment here just a promise to make the next one better.
Need consistent headshots for your Eugene or Springfield business? Whether we’re matching an old image or building a new brand standard from scratch, let’s talk. I’d love to help you create headshots that reflect your team and your vision clearly, professionally, and confidently.