Some photography assignments give you time to experiment. Others give you almost no time at all.
A few years ago, I was hired by Google to photograph CEO Sundar Pichai during a visit to one of their offices. On paper, it sounded straightforward: create two strong portrait setups for one of the most recognizable executives in the world.
Then reality set in.
I was told I’d have a maximum of three minutes total with him.
Not three minutes per setup. Three minutes total.
And the challenge didn’t stop there.
The Original Plan
When I arrived, I immediately started scouting the location. The office had multiple rooms with interesting architecture, branded environments, artwork, and Google logos throughout the space. My thought process was simple: create portraits that felt unmistakably “Google” while still looking polished and editorial.
I identified several locations that I thought would work beautifully.
Then I got shut down.
I was told:
- We couldn’t use the Google logos because some of them were outdated.
- We couldn’t use certain rooms because proprietary information might accidentally appear in the background.
- We couldn’t move into more visually interesting spaces because of scheduling and security concerns.
Instead, I was told to photograph the CEO of Google in… a plain hallway.
White walls. A single chair. No visual interest whatsoever.
And they still wanted two distinct portrait setups.
The Pressure Starts
At that point, I had about 15 minutes to come up with a solution.
This is where experience matters in corporate photography.
A lot of people assume great portraits come from amazing locations or expensive gear. In reality, high-level corporate work is often about problem solving under pressure.
So instead of fighting the limitations, I simplified everything.
I quickly concepted two lighting setups that could work in the exact same hallway while still feeling visually different.
For the strongest image, I placed Sundar in a chair against the blank wall and built the scene entirely with lighting.
The Setup
- One flash behind him with a red gel aimed at the wall to create depth and color
- One off-camera flash to camera-left with an umbrella for soft, flattering light
- A tight composition to eliminate distractions
- Fast pacing with almost zero margin for error
Meanwhile, his PR representative stood directly behind me counting down the remaining time.
“You have 45 seconds left.”
“You have 30 seconds left.”
“You have 15 seconds left.”
There’s nothing relaxing about photographing one of the world’s most recognizable CEOs while someone literally counts down the clock behind you.
But that’s the reality of high-level corporate photography sometimes.
Why This Matters for Companies and Event Planners
One of the biggest misconceptions about photography is that ideal conditions are required to create strong work.
In the corporate world, ideal conditions almost never exist.
Executives are busy. Schedules change. Locations get restricted. Rooms disappear. Lighting is bad. Timelines shrink.
The photographer’s job is not to complain about those conditions. The photographer’s job is to solve the problem anyway.
That’s especially true for:
- Executive portraits
- Conference headshots
- Corporate events
- PR photography
- Editorial assignments
- Fast-moving conference environments
- High-profile talent sessions
The reason companies hire experienced photographers isn’t because everything will go perfectly.
It’s because when things don’t go perfectly, they still need excellent results.
The Final Result
In the end, I had roughly 60 seconds to capture this setup and another 60 seconds for a second scene.
Despite the extreme time pressure and difficult environment, the images ended up getting significant use internally and externally, and the final portraits looked far more polished than the setting had any right to allow.
Honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about this kind of work.
Anyone can create a good photo in perfect conditions.
Creating strong images under pressure — with limited time, difficult constraints, and high expectations — is where experience really shows.
And sometimes all you get is a white hallway, a chair, and 60 seconds.
Need a Photographer Who Performs Under Pressure?
If your company needs executive portraits, conference coverage, or high-stakes corporate photography in the Bay Area and beyond, get in touch. Josh specializes in corporate headshots, corporate event photography, and San Francisco executive portraits for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500s.
Josh Edelson is a San Francisco-based corporate and editorial photographer specializing in executive portraits, corporate events, and high-pressure photography assignments. His work has been published internationally by AFP, Getty Images, and major news organizations worldwide. Get in touch to discuss your next project.
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