A Glimpse Behind the Lens: My First CEO Photo Session with William Esrey
In the 1990s, I had one of my first major assignments: photographing William Esrey, the CEO of Sprint at the time, for a magazine cover. Sprint was based in Kansas City, Missouri, and at the time, this was easily the most well-known individual I had photographed to date. As a corporate photographer, this was a significant milestone in my career.
We arrived at the location 90 minutes early to prepare for what was scheduled to be a 10-minute portrait session. However, William Esrey was ready an hour early. Suddenly, our carefully planned schedule turned into a race against time. In moments like these, experience, flexibility, and the ability to handle unexpected stress are key. My assistant and I quickly adapted and set up in the hallway of the C-suite, an unexpected yet fitting choice for this corporate portrait.
Back then, I was shooting slide film using a medium format Hasselblad, which has a distinctive square format. This was the camera that made me fall in love with environmental portraiture, and its unique 6x6 format was perfect for capturing dynamic images of corporate leaders in their natural settings. To light the scene, I used a single flash unit with a softbox, while balancing on a ladder and mixing in the ambient lights in the hallway. The real challenge? I was shooting at 1/8 of a second—a slow shutter speed that demands stability, especially with a medium-format camera. But, sometimes, pushing technical boundaries leads to the most memorable results.
After about 8 minutes, I felt we had captured the perfect shot, and the art director agreed. However, I still had 2 minutes left with Esrey. Whenever I have extra time, I enjoy shooting for myself, capturing something that may be more creative and personal. During those last two minutes, I took my favorite photograph of the entire session. These 2 minutes set my career-long pattern of allowing time to take a risk on a photo session after capturing what is needed. This activity has no promise of success but has a significant impact when it is successful. I would also add that this last segment of taking a risk cannot be unsuccessful, as I’m being creative and trying something new in the moment. Even if these images are never seen again, it fills my heart and creative spirit in the moment of capturing them.
Over time, I’ve noticed that many of the images I hold most dear and display in my portfolio aren’t necessarily the ones that get published. The creative moments captured after the client’s requests often fill my creative satisfaction even more and have the largest impact on me. For me, corporate photography is not just about delivering what’s expected—it’s about finding those moments of authenticity and creativity.
Sessions like these, working with high-profile executives, have honed my ability to adapt quickly and deliver under pressure. If you’re looking for a photographer who understands the unique demands of corporate portraiture and can capture authentic, dynamic images of your leadership team, feel free to reach out. I’d love to help tell your company’s story.