Supershot
Supershot

How to Keep All Employee Photos in One Place and Up to Date

Overview

This guide explains how HR, marketing, employer branding, and IT teams can centralize, standardize, and keep employee photos current across all platforms. It covers setup, automation, privacy, and maintenance best practices.

1

Why Centralizing Employee Photos Matters

Scattered and outdated photos hurt consistency and employer branding.

A unified photo system helps you:

  • Maintain brand alignment across internal and external tools
  • Streamline onboarding and offboarding
  • Reduce manual updates
  • Ensure privacy compliance
2

Map Where Photos Live Today

List every platform that stores or displays staff images.

Typical sources:

  • Internal tools: Slack, Teams, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365
  • External: website, LinkedIn, sales decks, press kits
  • Access systems: ID cards, internal directories

Record who manages each one and how updates happen.

3

Assign Ownership

Define roles for each team to avoid confusion.

Role Responsibility
HR / People Ops Keeps records accurate and complete
Employer Branding Sets visual style and approves usage
IT / Admin Manages integrations and security
Employees May update their own photo if permitted
4

Create a Consistent Photo Style Guide

A clear standard keeps the company image cohesive.

Recommended:

  • Framing: head and shoulder
  • Background: neutral or brand color
  • Lighting: soft and even
  • Format: JPG
  • Size: at least 1000x1000 px
  • File name: firstname_lastname.jpg

Include this in onboarding materials.

5

Choose a Central Source

Pick one primary storage location for all employee photos.

Options:

  • Shared drive (Google Drive, OneDrive) – simple but manual
  • HRIS directory – convenient if export/sync is supported
  • Dedicated photo management tool – best for automation and scale

Use it as the single authoritative source.

6

Consolidate and Clean Your Library

  • Collect photos from all existing locations
  • Remove duplicates and outdated files
  • Match each image with the correct employee
  • Fill gaps by organizing a quick photoshoot or using AI headshots that follow your style
7

Connect Systems and Tools

Link your photo directory with HR and communication platforms.

  • Use native integrations or APIs
  • Ensure the flow goes from source to destination (one way)
  • Document ownership and sync frequency
8

Automate Updates

Automate common triggers to reduce manual effort:

  • Add photo during onboarding
  • Remove photo during offboarding
  • Run quarterly audits for missing or outdated images
  • Allow self-service refresh requests
9

Ensure Privacy and Security

Treat photos as personal data and comply with regulations.

  • Limit access to admins
  • Use encrypted storage and transfers
  • Record photo processing in your ROPA
  • Delete photos promptly upon request
10

Maintain Quality and Consistency

Regularly review your photo library:

  • Check framing, lighting, and style alignment
  • Refresh outdated photos
  • Update visuals after a rebrand
11

Measure and Improve

Track these metrics:

  • Coverage: employees with valid photos
  • Freshness: average photo age
  • Sync health: last successful update per system

Review them quarterly.

Example Workflow

  • Choose or connect a central directory
  • Import employee data
  • Upload or generate consistent photos
  • Sync with HR and communication platforms
  • Automate onboarding/offboarding updates
  • Audit and refresh quarterly

Checklist

  • Central storage selected
  • Style guide defined
  • Permissions configured
  • Integrations connected
  • Automations active
  • Privacy compliance confirmed
  • Regular review scheduled

Optional Implementation Note

You can follow this guide with any preferred platform or internal setup.

If you want to automate the entire process, consider using a dedicated photo management tool that connects your HR system, communication tools, and website.

For example, Supershot centralizes employee headshots, syncs them automatically across systems, and keeps every profile photo up to date without manual uploads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to keep employee photos up to date?

Use one central directory connected to your HR and communication tools. Automate onboarding and offboarding updates.

How often should we refresh employee photos?

Review quarterly and update at least every 12–18 months or after major visual changes.

Are employee photos considered personal data?

Yes. Handle them according to privacy regulations such as GDPR and limit access to authorized users only.

Can automation handle all updates?

Most systems can automate photo syncs and reminders, but periodic manual review ensures quality and accuracy.