Corporate portraits can be challenging. Everything from tight spaces and limited time, to a mix of personalities and desired goals, the photographer has to become the fixer. Adding to that, telling the story of what someone does in a single photo might be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do.

When it comes to these types of commercial shoots, there are many possible directions you can go. Some people opt for the traditional portrait, the ones against a backdrop. Others try to embrace the story of the subject with an environmental portrait, by placing the subject in a scene designed to help the story. This is where today’s guest excels.

Spokane, WA based Zack Berlat is a commercial and editorial photographer that specializes in creative portraits, combining bold colors, dynamic compositions, and authentic emotion. Looking through his portfolio is like looking at a book full of inspiration. Photo after photo that uses space and the subject’s environment in some of the most wonderfully creative ways.

Zack’s work has taken him everywhere from a 6×12 jail cell to a 14th-century monastery in the Italian countryside, and his approach to portraiture is clear… he brings a refreshing curiosity about what makes his subjects who they are.

With clients ranging from Gonzaga and Regis Universities to Providence Hospitals and the Spokane Symphony, Zack has mastered the art of placing a person in a scene in a way that immediately tells the viewer what they are looking at.

Join commercial and editorial photographer Zack Berlat and me as we take a look at how to create better corporate and environmental portraits, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Personal: zackberlat.com

Steve Korn: stevekornphoto.com