Your corporate image is important. It's not unusual for potential clients to check out the team page on your company's website. This is where they will see you for the first time and have a chance to read about your background and experience. It's critical that you look as professional as possible. A Los Angeles business portrait photographer has some suggestions for creating that all important good first impression.

Whenever you are having a professional photograph taken, you need to plan your outfit carefully. It should match the type of business you are in as well make a statement about your place in the corporate environment. No matter your position however, there is clothing that needs to be avoided.

Thin stripes and busy patterns won't photograph well. They can look great in person, but when they are photographed, a moire effect can show up. This becomes much more apparent once a photo is reduced to fit a web page or corporate brochure. Solid colors and simple designs are often your best choices.

You also need to think about how the photos will be used. Many times company pictures taken in color are turned into black and white images. When this happens any subtle color variations in what you're wearing will be gone. A light pink tie that looks great in the mirror against your snow white shirt, will blend together, in an unflattering way, in a black and white photo.

If your business is of the creative variety, casual clothing is probably appropriate. You need to take care when posing in a tee shirt with a logo on the front however. If the photo is going to be one of you above the chest, the logo will be indistinct and confusing to the viewer. Wild patterns on ties and shirts won't translate very well when the photo is reduced.

When you are having a professional photograph taken, the photographer is probably going to have you sitting under high intensity lighting. If you sweat easily, you don't want your face, especially your brow and upper lip, to come out shiny. Applying some foundation is a good idea for the women in the group. If you don't feel comfortable with that, run a damp cloth over your face right before you get in front of the camera.

Photographers are always surprised at how many clients come into their studio for formal portraits with their hair a total mess. This is more often the case with women than men because men tend to have shorter hair. Photographers suggest bringing a brush, gel, and hairspray along with you in case you get caught in a gust of wind on the way to the studio. It's important that your hair look immaculate.

To wear your glasses or not to wear your glasses is a question photographers get all the time. Their advice is to wear them if that is what you usually do. If you only wear them occasionally, leave them off. The lenses must be completely clear if you wear the glasses.