5.0 56 reviews

5.0 56 reviews

Three Top Executive Portraiture Styles for Over 40s

Eric Cathell Photography

5.0 56 reviews

Three Top Executive Portraiture Styles for Over 40s

Imagine using an old-fashioned phone to plan a picture session and knowing what style suits your mature, professional look. You’re over 40, and the fun or trendy styles for younger professionals don’t seem right. No worries! There are three classy portrait styles for executives that always look good and show off your wisdom and experience. Interested? Let’s check out these styles and help you pick one that will make a great impression.

Key Takeaways

  • Composition, lighting, and subject’s expression are essential elements of executive portraiture.
  • Age-specific portraits challenge stereotypes and showcase authenticity and experience.
  • Classic executive portraiture conveys wisdom and leadership through a timeless aesthetic.
  • Modern corporate portraiture embraces a contemporary approach optimized for social media platforms.

Understanding Executive Portraiture

To really understand executive pictures, you need to know three main parts: how the image is set up, the lighting used, and the person’s expression. Learning about different ways to light a portrait is vital for making a tremendous executive photo. The light sets the mood and highlights the person’s features. Try dramatic split lighting, softer Rembrandt lighting, or flattering loop lighting.


Equally important is the color theory in portraiture. It’s not just about creating an aesthetically pleasing image; it’s about conveying a message. Warm colors suggest passion and energy, while cool colors evoke calmness and dependability. You’re not merely taking a photograph; you’re crafting a narrative about the executive you’re portraying.


Understanding colors is very important when taking portraits. The colors you use can tell a story about the person you photograph. Warm colors like red and orange can show passion and energy. In contrast, cool colors like blue and green can suggest calmness and trustworthiness. When you take a portrait, you are not just taking a picture but telling a story about the person.


Another important part of a portrait is the person’s expression. It’s not just about their smile or where they are looking; it’s about the feelings they are showing. These subtle emotions can say much about who they are and how they lead.


As a portrait photographer, your job is like being a storyteller. By using the right colors, lighting, and expressions, you can create a portrait that tells a captivating story about the person you are photographing.

Importance of Age-Specific Portraits

In the world of executive pictures, making portraits that match a person’s age is important. It’s not just about how nice it looks; it can also affect how people see the person’s leadership style and career. This way of taking pictures can help show the person more real and robustly and change how people think about them based on age.


A picture that shows how old someone is can make them look wise, experienced, and dependable, qualities that make them seem like a good leader. This can affect how people see them at work or in other situations. But ensuring the picture doesn’t make them look weak or outdated is essential. Getting the right balance is tricky, but it can be done by thinking carefully about how the photo is taken – like the lighting, how it’s framed, and the style.


Age-specific executive portraits show a person at different stages of their life, highlighting their growth and success. These portraits focus on the positive aspects of aging and aim to tell a story about a person’s career journey. They mix technical skill, creativity, and purposeful messaging that can change how people see age.

Top Style: Classic Executive Portraiture

Now, let’s talk about a classic style of executive portraiture. This style uses traditional colors like navy, burgundy, and forest green to show wisdom and leadership. These colors help to make the portrait look authentic and deep. The rich and dark shades give off a powerful and sophisticated vibe.


In traditional executive photos, the way the light is used is significant. The light is soft and gentle, making the person in the photo look nice and showing their features well. It also makes some shadows that help show the shape of their face. This type of lighting makes the photo feel calm and wise, giving the person an essential and peaceful look.


The plain background helps make the person stand out and look important. Their clothes, accessories, and facial expressions are shown in great detail to show who they are and how professional they are.

Top Style: Modern Corporate Portraiture

Shifting gears to modern business photos, you’ll see a significant change from old styles. Now, people use a more contemporary approach that is exciting and cool.


Contemporary background choices are essential for setting the mood in these pictures. Instead of boring office backgrounds, modern corporate photos use different settings like high-tech places or outdoor spaces. These backgrounds, whether real or digitally made, work well with clothes, lighting, and poses to create a portrait that shows the person’s personality, job, and field.


Moreover, social media is really important. Companies now take pictures that look great on phones and computers. These pictures are meant to be shared, liked, and talked about. It helps people get noticed and build their personal brand. These pictures show who they are at work and make them seem trustworthy and friendly. In today’s world, these pictures are not just photos—they help businesses succeed.

Top Style: Casual Executive Portraiture

Straddling the line between professional and personal, casual executive portraiture shows who you are in a relaxed and natural way that is friendly and easy to approach. The ‘Relaxed Dressing Influence’ is a big part of this style, as it lets you look less formal and more comfortable. Wear a nice blazer over a clean shirt, maybe with jeans or comfy pants. It’s not just about dressing down, though. Each piece of clothing should match your personality and show you are sophisticated and confident.


The ‘Casual Environment Impact’ is important. Instead of strict office backgrounds, your picture could be taken in a cozy home office, a comfortable coffee shop, or outside. The goal is to have a familiar setting that shows your personality and helps you feel relaxed during the photo shoot, encouraging natural smiles and poses.


The photographer uses natural and artificial light to create a cozy feel. They like to capture natural, spontaneous moments instead of stiff, posed ones. They adjust things like how much is in focus, how things are arranged, and the colors to make you look your best. The goal is to create a portrait that looks like you in the most flattering way.

To view our pricing guide and booking page

please fill out your info

Need help planning for your Headshot?

Download Our Guide on 8 Headshot Mistakes to Avoid

When Planning for your Headshot Session