Barr Gazetas
Transforming a visual identity: A case study in business branding, lifestyle headshots and group shot photography
Client | Barr Gazetas
Transforming visual branding for a leading architecture firm
Barr Gazetas, a dynamic London-based architecture firm, approached JC Headshots with a clear mission: to elevate their visual identity to reflect their vibrant culture, innovative spirit, and expanding team. While their architectural designs spoke volumes, their imagery wasn’t telling the full story of who they were. We worked closely with them to craft a comprehensive visual overhaul that not only strengthened their brand, but also created lasting assets that set them apart in the industry.
1. Breathing Life Into Their Headquarters
The Challenge:
Barr Gazetas had recently moved into a new office space, a beautiful, thoughtfully designed environment that embodied their creative ethos and collaborative spirit. Yet, they lacked any photography to showcase it. Their website, social platforms, and client presentations were missing powerful visuals that reflected their unique environment and company culture. Without imagery to bring their headquarters to life, they were missing out on a key opportunity to highlight what makes them different.
The Solution:
We crafted a tailored photography session, capturing dynamic images that highlight the features, collaborative workspaces, and vibrant culture that defines their company. The result moves away from generic stock images and is a visually compelling portfolio that authentically represents the firm’s brand and ethos, now being used across their website and marketing materials.
The captivating collection of original environment and culture images, captures the team in their natural element as they work and thrive in their new premises. These visuals offer a genuine glimpse into their studio life, providing an authentic portrayal of their dynamic and vibrant culture.
Through this visual journey, their audience will gain insight into their working life, witness the pride and enthusiasm of their staff, and truly understand the essence of their company that sets them apart from the rest.
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The new premises serve as a backdrop for creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Through carefully curated images, we conveyed the energy, passion, and dedication that infuse their daily activities. From individuals that ignite inspiration to team collaborations that foster camaraderie, each photograph tells a compelling story of their studio life, reflecting the unique spirit that sets Barr Gazetas apart. You can witness the real faces behind the company - their enthusiasm, expertise, and commitment to excellence will shine through, providing an intimate connection with their audience. These images will showcase the diverse talents, backgrounds, and personalities that make their culture thrive.
Capturing the essence of their studio life goes beyond showcasing their physical space; it's about encapsulating the intangible elements that define Barr Gazetas. From spontaneous moments of laughter to focused determination during project execution, the images will unveil the multifaceted nature of their culture. Prepare to witness the synergy between passion, creativity, and collaboration that fuels their success.
Join Barr Gazetas as they embrace original content, providing a genuine and captivating portrayal of their culture that distinguishes them from their competition.
2. Capturing the People Behind the Projects
The Challenge:
Barr Gazetas prides itself on its people-centric approach to architecture, yet their team’s online presence told a different story. Half the staff didn’t have professional headshots, while the existing ones were inconsistent - different backgrounds, varying lighting, and a lack of cohesion. More importantly, the photographs didn’t reflect the company’s vibrant, fun, and open culture. They needed headshots that felt approachable and authentic, showing that Barr Gazetas is as much about its people as its projects.
The Solution:
We designed a headshot session that went beyond the standard corporate portrait. Our goal was to create a set of lifestyle headshots that captured each team member’s personality while maintaining a cohesive look. Using advanced lighting techniques, relaxed poses, and an environmental backdrop within their own space, we struck the perfect balance between professionalism and approachability.
The result? A set of high-quality, consistent headshots that celebrate the individuality of each team member while reinforcing the collective identity of Barr Gazetas. These images now sit proudly across their website, client proposals, and social platforms; conveying a team that’s creative, approachable, and passionate about what they do.
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These lifestyle headshots serve as the visual introduction to their team, representing the faces behind the organisation. By replacing the existing images, Barr Gazetas presents a unified and polished front that resonates with their audience. The high-quality headshots not only showcase professionalism and approachability but also instill confidence and trust in their brand.
The focus was on capturing the genuine happiness and positivity that radiates from the team. Through meticulous attention to lighting, composition, and expression, a set of authentic images was created, conveying warmth, enthusiasm, and a sense of belonging. These lifestyle headshots go beyond mere representation, offering a glimpse into the vibrant culture and values that define Barr Gazetas.
Consistency plays a vital role in portraying a strong and unified brand presence. By adhering to a standardised style, and composition, the new collection of lifestyle headshots showcases the cohesion and professionalism that permeates the organisation. This consistent visual identity enables viewers to recognise and connect with team members, fostering familiarity and building stronger relationships
Barr Gazetas understands that investing in high-quality, consistent headshots is an investment in their brand's reputation and long-term success. By creating a visually appealing and cohesive collection, they not only showcase the happiness and professionalism of their staff but also reinforce their core messaging and brand identity.
3. Creating Consistency for Professional Platforms
The Challenge:
Beyond lifestyle headshots, Barr Gazetas also needed a clean, standardised set of professional portraits for more formal uses. Think pitch documents, Outlook & Teams avatars, and company profiles. The key here was consistency: same background, lighting, and composition across the board, ensuring a unified look that still felt warm and approachable. The existing mix of styles made the brand feel fragmented, especially in client-facing documents.
The Solution:
We executed a second round of headshots focused purely on consistency and professionalism. Using a simple, neutral backdrop and carefully controlled lighting, we created a set of polished headshots that were uniform in style, but still allowed each team member’s personality to shine through.
These versatile portraits now provide Barr Gazetas with a cohesive visual identity across all platforms - from formal proposals to internal communications. Thus strengthening their brand image and reinforcing the message that they are a connected, collaborative team.
4. A Bold, Unified Group Shot Reflecting Their Growth
The Challenge:
With Barr Gazetas doubling in size, their existing group photo no longer reflected the reality of their expanding team. The outdated image was flat, one-dimensional, and lacked the energy, diversity, and sense of connection that define the company’s culture. It failed to capture the dynamic, collaborative spirit that makes Barr Gazetas unique, leaving them with a visual asset that didn’t do justice to their growth or their vibrant team dynamic.
A group photo isn’t just about having everyone in the frame, it’s about telling a story of unity, identity, and the collective force behind the brand. Barr Gazetas needed a powerful visual that celebrated their people and marked this exciting chapter of expansion.
The Solution:
We set out to create a group shot that was anything but static. Our goal was to craft an image that felt alive, full of personality, energy, and the unmistakable camaraderie that fuels Barr Gazetas.
We carefully planned the composition to ensure the image was both visually engaging and reflective of the team’s collaborative nature. Using a mix of natural, relaxed posing and subtle layering, we avoided the typical stiff “line-up” feel, instead creating depth and movement within the frame. The setting, lighting, and arrangement were all chosen to amplify the firm’s approachable and creative ethos.
The result? A fresh, bold group shot that perfectly encapsulates the team’s dynamic energy and togetherness. It’s a true representation of Barr Gazetas’ growth and evolving identity. An image that now stands proudly on their website, pitch materials, and social platforms as a statement of who they are today.
No filters, no forced smiles - just the authentic spirit of a team that’s passionate, united, and moving forward together.
We've been working with JC to capture our staff photos for years, and when we moved into our new studio last year, we knew we had to bring him back. He brings out the best in each person, truly capturing their personality and very best side.
We love how passionate and fun JC is to work with and how comfortable he makes us feel in front of the camera.
JC has beautifully captured the essence and vibrancy of our practice and culture. The results of the headshots, lifestyle and culture shots are a true testament to the amazing work Jon does and we are delighted to have him on board.
Maria Gosende
Barr Gazettas
Senior Marketing Manager
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