DIY Portraits
Portraits showcase the individuals in your division or department. Headshots are also a chance for us to communicate a sense of place. When possible, we recommend headshots that showcase the outdoor beauty of our campuses. To ensure uniformity and achieve the best portraits for individuals featured on your website, please consider these guidelines:
Lighting and Background
Proper lighting is the foundation of a great portrait. Soft, diffused lighting is often best as it minimizes harsh shadows and creates a flattering, even complexion. Consider a background that is not distracting and/or that gives a sense of place with trees and nature.
Composition and Framing
Composition is crucial in portrait photography. Maintain a consistent, pleasing background that doesn’t distract from the subject.
Professional Portraits
University Communications offers professional portrait sessions for faculty and staff during fall, winter, and spring terms.
There is limited capacity for each seasonal session. A signup form is released in the workplace edition of AroundtheO two weeks prior to the start of each seasonal session. Space is limited and sign-up is on a first-come-first-served basis. Only available dates and timeslots will appear on the form. These sessions are not available for student employees.
Portrait Sessions
The 2023–24 portrait sessions occur on the following dates:
Fall 2023
Thursday, October 12
Tuesday, October 24
Wednesday, November 15
Winter 2024
Tuesday, January 23
Monday, February 12
Friday, March 8
Spring 2024
Thursday, April 11
Tuesday, April 30
Wednesday, May 15
If you have received a professional portrait from University Communications within the past three years, please accommodate others who have not recently participated.
If you are interested in being added to our waitlist, please fill out this form. By doing so you will receive notification of any openings, as well as early access to the release of our next signup sheet.
If you have any questions, please contact our visuals team.