Headshot Photography at The Glasgow Academy -

Consistent set of portraits

I was recently commissioned to shoot headshots of the senior leadership team at The Glasgow Academy. The Academy have booked me before to photograph for their current prospectus. I have also covered various events in the school calendar but this was the first time doing portraits.

My aim was to create a consistent set of portraits for use across their website and all communications. Confidence and trust are the cornerstones of any good school and I wanted the team to come across as confident, approachable, and true to the character of the school with each individual’s personality shining through.

Tethered shooting to help the sitter get the best out of the session

I set up my mobile studio on-site using a simple and consistent lighting style to ensure a cohesive look across the team. The portraits were photographed tethered to my laptop. This allows everyone to see their images as we went along.

This collaborative approach always helps people relax and understand how subtle changes in expression or posture can transform a portrait.

The school’s senior team were a pleasure to photograph. They were all warm, professional, and fully engaged in the process. The resulting portraits have a calm authority to them. They sit together very nicely as a collection but also reflect each individual’s personality and role within the school.

See the photographer at work

Alongside the final portraits, my trusty assistant (son Robbie on this occassion) filmed some short behind-the-scenes clips during the session. They’ll give you an idea of the process and show how I work to refine posture and expression in real time.

Often, what feels slightly unnatural in the moment — a small turn of the head or a shift in stance — can make all the difference on camera. Seeing the images appear instantly on screen helps people visualise why I’m suggesting a particular adjustment. This approach builds trust. By the end of each session everyone has already seen the results and knows they’re going to get a new headshot they can be proud of.