Photographing Leadership Before the Headlines: Guest Post by Mark Jordan

A few weeks ago, my longtime friend and the former owner of Orange County Headshots, Mark Jordan, sent me a thoughtful piece he’d written about a project we both had the privilege of working on just a few years ago — executive portraits for TAE Technologies.

With TAE now back in the national conversation, Mark’s reflections felt especially timely. I asked if I could share them here, and he graciously agreed. Here’s his post:

Photographing Leadership Before the Headlines by Mark Jordan

When TAE Technologies recently returned to the national conversation, it reminded us of a project our studio had the privilege of working on well before the spotlight arrived.

At the time, there were no headlines to reference — only people doing serious, complex work that required clarity, credibility, and trust. Our role was simple in concept, but demanding in execution: create portraits that reflected leadership accurately, without hype or exaggeration.

Credibility Is Not a Costume Photographing scientists, engineers, and executive leadership presents a unique challenge. These are not performers or influencers by trade. Their authority comes from precision, discipline, and years of focused work.

Our approach avoids visual theatrics. Instead, we focus on:

Context — placing leaders within the environments where real work happens
Scale — showing the relationship between people and the systems they oversee
Restraint — letting confidence register naturally, without overstatement

The goal is not to impress in the moment, but to create images that remain credible over time.

Leadership, Shown in Proportion Strong executive portraits do something subtle but powerful: they place the individual in proportion to their responsibility. Not diminished by it. Not inflated beyond it.

Whether photographing a CEO alongside advanced technology or a team of scientists in a lab setting, we aim for images that communicate:

Focus over flash
Authority without armor
Confidence rooted in competence

These are portraits designed to age well — because they’re grounded in truth, not trend.

Why These Images Still Matter When an organization later enters public awareness, investors, partners, media, and stakeholders often encounter leadership visually before they engage with any narrative. At that point, images aren’t decoration — they’re signals.

Well-crafted executive photography:

Builds trust before a word is read
Supports credibility without explanation
Reinforces seriousness of purpose

That’s why the most effective images don’t shout. They hold their ground.

A Note from Lorin: Mark and I have been friends for almost 25 years, and his philosophy continues to guide everything we do at Orange County Headshots today. If you’re leading a team that’s doing important work — whether it’s in a lab, an office, or a boardroom — let’s create portraits that will stand the test of time, just like these did.

Ready to update your leadership images? Reach out — mention this post and receive a complimentary extra retouched shot.

— Lorin Backe Orange County Headshots

Photographing Leadership Before the Headlines

When looking for an Orange County Headshots Photographer please call 949-713-4050 or complete our online request form.

Lorin Backe
Owner & Photographer
Orange County Headshots
Crafting Professional Headshots Since 2001

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Orange County Headshots Photographer, Lorin Backe, is internationally recognized and serves all of Southern California, including San Diego County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire.

Photographing Leadership Before the Headlines: Guest Post by Mark Jordan

Photographing Leadership Before the Headlines

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