Got a photography commission. need advice!

[Rooster]

A friend who owns a small company has asked me to photograph him, his staff and their office for the website and local newspaper adverts. Although I have a few years of photography experience it's all landscapes and buildings, I've never photographed people before.

So what do I do? Ok, stock, boring shots of people sitting at their desks, looking busy, happy etc but also some more unusual shots would be good and if they don't work then we go with the boring ones. So any ideas or advice? I have several lenses, including the Canon 24-105 f/4 L and 24-70 f/2.8 L and two flashes, an off-camera cord and diffusers. I know a little of the theory of using natural light with fill flash etc but never put it into effect.

 

[Simon photo]

What field of work are they in? How do you want depict them? Do they want to be portrayed in any way? You say office, are they dynamic? Charitable? I think the final images need a coherence with the field of work they specialize in. It won't be much good going for powerful and punchy images for perhaps charity organization, or say something very edgy and techie for a heritage group.
Just throwing it out there!

 

[Rooster]

What field of work are they in? How do you want depict them? Do they want to be portrayed in any way? You say office, are they dynamic? Charitable? I think the final images need a coherence with the field of work they specialize in. It won't be much good going for powerful and punchy images for perhaps charity organization, or say something very edgy and techie for a heritage group.
Just throwing it out there!

It's a web design company, so edgy and dynamic and thrusting is what they are after.

 

[Simon photo]

Lol thrusting! Yeah can see it now.
Well i envisage slightly low key images punchy lighting, perhaps some lighting gels on backgrounds group shots, perhaps having the staff in a V formation shot with a wide angle from above or below?