Modern Corporate Headshots & Recruitment Branding in London
Case Study: Altus Partners, Private Equity Executive Search
Client: Altus Partners Location: Central London Brief: Natural Team Headshots, Office Lifestyle & Brand Assets
In the competitive world of Private Equity and Executive Search, first impressions are everything. Altus Partners, an award-winning recruitment firm based in Central London, approached us: their team had grown, their expertise was world-class and they needed more content and fresh headshots for colleagues.
They needed a complete visual refresh that moved away from stiff, "white wall" mugshots and towards a modern, editorial style that reflected their dynamic culture.
The Challenge: Capturing Authentic Corporate Culture
Recruitment is a people-first business. For a firm like Altus, which places high-level investment professionals into Buyout and Venture Capital funds, trust is the currency.
They didn't want the "stock photo" look. They needed authentic business photography that showed their real team, in their real office environment, looking approachable yet professional. The brief was to capture:
Consistent Colleague Headshots: Uniform lighting and style, but shot environmentally to add depth.
Office Lifestyle Imagery: Candid shots of meetings, collaboration, and the buzz of the sales floor.
Brand Detail Shots: The finer details of their workspace to use as website headers and social media backgrounds.
The Solution: A Portable Studio in Central London
We brought our mobile studio setup directly to their London HQ to minimise downtime for their busy consultants.
1. Environmental Headshots Instead of a plain paper backdrop, we utilised the natural textures of their office—glass partitions, city views, and architectural lines—to create modern corporate portraits. By shooting with a shallow depth of field (blurred background), we kept the focus sharp on the subject while allowing the "vibe" of the London office to bleed through. This style of environmental headshot photography is far more engaging for potential candidates and clients than standard studio shots.
2. Editorial "Fly-on-the-Wall" Branding To capture the energy of the firm, we spent the morning shooting reportage-style business photography. We directed "mock" meetings and collaborative sessions to ensure the lighting was perfect, but allowed the team to interact naturally. These images now serve as key visual assets for their website's "About Us" and "Practice Area" pages, replacing generic stock imagery with genuine team moments.
The Result: A Unified Visual Brand
The result is a comprehensive library of custom assets that Altus Partners can use across their LinkedIn profiles, pitch decks, and company website. The imagery positions them exactly where they need to be: as a premium, approachable, and human-centric leader in the London recruitment market.
Ready to Ditch the Stock Photos?
Your business is unique, so why rely on generic images to tell your story?
In a digital world, people buy from people. Your clients want to see the real experts they will be working with, and top talent wants to see the culture they will be joining.
Nothing builds trust (or fills job vacancies) faster than authentic, high-quality imagery of a happy, engaged team.
If you are ready to replace the generic stock photos with a library of assets that actually look like you, get in touch today. Let’s show the world the real face of your brand.
Get in touch directly justin@impact20twenty.com.
