Team portraits: one of the most underestimated investments in your employer brand

At the start of the 2026 school year, at Tawkr, we made a simple decision: take portraits of the whole team. It might sound trivial. It isn't.

Honorine, our 360 Communications Manager, had a recurring problem: every time she needed a team member's portrait for the website, an article or a public appearance, it was a challenge. Alex looked 10 years younger in his last photo. Charlotte had changed her hairstyle five times. Gauthier and Mathilde, who joined mid-way, had no photo at all.

Every communications team knows this problem. And yet team portraits remain one of the most neglected investments in employer branding.

Here's why that's a mistake.

What an outdated team portrait communicates

An obsolete team portrait sends several unintentional signals.

H3: A signal of disorganisation

When you visit a company's website and see photos of uneven quality, different styles, faces that no longer match the people who answer the phone — you instinctively wonder: does this company pay attention to detail?

The visual coherence of a team is a proxy for operational rigour. It's not rational. But it's real.

A signal about team stability

A five-year-old photo on a team member's profile says two possible things: either the person hasn't changed (unlikely), or nobody took the time to update it. Either way, it raises questions about internal dynamics.

A missing human connection in commercial relationships

Increasingly, decision-makers look for a face to put to a company before getting in touch. A recent, authentic, professional portrait makes that first connection easier. A blurry 2018 photo compromises it.

Why companies don't do it

The scheduling problem

Getting a whole team together for a photo shoot is logistically complex. Diaries don't align. Priorities take over. The project gets pushed back quarter after quarter.

The confidence question

Many people are uncomfortable in front of a camera. Being photographed requires trust — in yourself, and in the person holding the camera. Without a supportive environment, the exercise can quickly become counterproductive.

The absence of a trigger

Without a specific event — a move, a new visual identity, a new academic year — the project stays on the "to do one day" list. Tawkr's move to Euratech in June could have been that trigger. But between the installation, the boxes and getting back up to speed, there hadn't been time. The September back-to-school period was finally the right moment.

How to do team portraits well

Anchor it to a significant moment

New year, office move, new visual identity, company anniversary: there are many natural moments that justify a photo shoot. Anchoring one in the calendar gives you a reason to actually do it.

Create a trusting environment

The result of a shoot depends as much on the photographer as on the participants' state of mind. A relaxed setting, a conversation before starting, a few "warm-up" shots — all of this contributes to authentic portraits rather than frozen smiles.

At Tawkr, it was Honorine herself — a photographer for several years outside of her professional role — who held the camera. The result: colleagues who want to put their photo "everywhere: LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Teams and even Instagram."

Aim for consistency, not perfection

Team portraits don't need to be perfect. They need to be consistent — same light, same style, same intention. That consistency is what creates a professional overall image, regardless of the number of team members.

Renew regularly

A team portrait has a shelf life. People change, teams evolve, new joiners arrive. Scheduling an annual shoot — at the start of the school year, for example — ensures your employer brand stays current.

Team portraits as a personal branding tool

Beyond overall employer branding, team portraits play a growing role in employees' personal branding.

A LinkedIn profile with a recent professional photo gets more views. A public statement with an authentic portrait is more credible. And a team member who recognises themselves in their photo — who likes it, who wants to share it — naturally becomes a company ambassador.

That's exactly what happened at Tawkr. The team's reactions after the shoot were immediate: "I'm going to put it everywhere." That's the definition of content that works.

FAQ -

How often should you renew team portraits?

Ideally once a year, or at each significant change: new team members, office move, new visual identity. The September back-to-school period is a natural moment — diaries clear and the start-of-year energy makes mobilisation easier.

Do you need a professional photographer?

Not necessarily. What matters is consistency — same style, same light, same intention — and sufficient technical quality for web and LinkedIn use. A passionate photographer on the team can handle this very well, provided they create a supportive environment.

How do you convince reluctant team members to be photographed?

Explain the concrete stakes (employer brand, personal visibility), create a relaxed setting, allow warm-up time before the real shots, and make sure each person approves their photo before it's published.

Where should you use team portraits?

Website (team page, blog articles, case studies), LinkedIn (personal profiles and company page), communication materials (presentations, proposals), and internal communications. A good portrait has a 12–18 month lifespan across all these uses.

Conclusion

Team portraits aren't a detail. They're a signal : about the care you bring to your image, the consistency of your brand, and how you value the people who make up your team.

At Tawkr, we moved to Euratech in June. Between the installation and getting back up to speed, the portraits had to wait. The September back-to-school period was finally the right moment. With Honorine and her camera.

The result?

A team that wants to share their photo. That's exactly what we were after.

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