Bartko Law Photography Assignment
If you're looking for corporate headshots in Los Angeles or natural-light executive portraits that feel authentic instead of stiff, this assignment for Bartko/Pavia Law is a good example of how I work. I approach corporate photography with a mix of available light, architectural backgrounds, and simple direction to get portraits that feel real. This project shows how I create business headshots and executive portraits that fit modern brands.
This corporate photography assignment was one of the most enjoyable projects of my career. The law firm Bartko/Pavia — with offices in San Francisco and New York — gave me full creative freedom to produce alternatives to standard corporate headshots. Law firms rarely think outside the box with photography, so this was a rare opportunity.
How This Corporate Photography Assignment Happened
A marketing consultant reached out after seeing my work for another client and tracked me down to shoot in a similar style. They wanted natural-light portraits for a full website rebrand — not the usual gray-background corporate headshot you see on most law firm sites.
They asked me to do a test session of executive portraits, which no client had ever requested from me before. They flew me to San Francisco and told me to explore locations and create something fresh.
Creating Natural-Light Executive Portraits
I walked the space, found picture-window light, and even a rusted metal wall that became the background for the top three images in the gallery. When the architecture, ambient light, and personality of a space come together, natural-light corporate photography becomes effortless.
My biggest fear on corporate photography jobs is getting stuck in a space with flat light or no usable backgrounds. That never happens on industrial shoots, but it sometimes happens in office environments — and then I have to improvise fast. Luckily, everything lined up on this assignment.
The following week, they sent me to their New York office for two days and back to San Francisco for three days. In total, I photographed around 70 attorneys. The people at Bartko were engaging and open, which always leads to stronger executive portraits and real moments.
It was also unusual to be in direct contact with the managing partners throughout the process — a clear sign they cared about the quality of the images and trusted my approach.
This assignment reminded me why I enjoy shooting authentic business portraits in Los Angeles and why natural-light executive portraits have become a big part of my work. I love creating business portraits that feel authentic and human — whether it’s for law firms, corporate teams, or companies across California.
Projects like this keep me motivated. When a client gives me room to work at my best, the results always show it.
