Behind-the-scenes look at a photo shoot for Inc. Mag. shows how much is staged to “capture” reality. Look, it can’t be easy. Most executives sit at a desk, typing on their computer or talking on the phone — hardly an image that will help illustrate a story, especially a profile of an executive. In fact, most of what executives’ days would be rather boring from a photo perspective.

What’s interesting is the process by which photo editors have to stagecraft reality — I won’t say manipulate, but, um, enhance reality — to make it suitable to accompany an article.

In this case, showing Markus Frind and his girlfriend playing a board game in bed — which apparently they do — while she hits him with a pillow, spreading feathers all over the place. Apparently, that’s not something they do — hold pillow fights — esp. because Frind is allergic to feathers. All in all, probably harmless stagecraft (feather allergies notwithstanding), but worth appreciating/understanding. We have a client about to engage a professional photographer to take photos of top executives, and it’s probably worth keeping in mind to have some light-hearted photos, not just “business executive at work” photos.