From Disjointed to Distinguished: Clark Schaefer Hackett’s Journey to a More Connected Brand
Clark Schaefer Hackett is a regional powerhouse CPA and business advisory firm with a growing presence across the Midwest. Known for their deep expertise and trusted client relationships, their team has expanded rapidly through several strategic acquisitions.
The Challenge
After a period of rapid growth (including multiple acquisitions), Clark Schaefer Hackett found themselves navigating the pains of expansion. Their team had doubled in size almost overnight, but their visual identity hadn’t kept pace.
A patchwork of headshots from different photographers (and sometimes iPhones) was being used across proposals, directories, and client-facing materials—creating an inconsistent, ad-hoc look that didn’t match their reputation for excellence.
At the same time, their leadership recognized an opportunity: to elevate their new hire onboarding experience and position themselves as a leader in employee experience and brand cohesion. Without a consistent approach to team photography, they risked confusion across offices, lost efficiency, and a diminished sense of cultural unity.
The Moment
As the firm prepared to launch a new website to reflect their significant growth, Clark Schaefer Hackett turned to WorkLife Studios to bring visual alignment to their expanding team.
They needed more than new headshots—they needed:
- A consistent, scalable photography system that could grow with them.
- A unified look across multiple offices to strengthen cultural connection.
- A seamless, stress-free process that integrated with onboarding.
WorkLife Studios offered exactly that: a human-centered, strategy-driven approach that brings photography and systems thinking together to create consistency without losing the individuality of the people behind the firm.
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The Process
Phase 1: The Headshot Road Tour
We hit the road (literally).
Over the course of two months, our team visited seven different office locations, capturing 130 employees using an identical lighting and backdrop setup to ensure consistent results across the firm.
We also implemented on-site proofing and selection, allowing each person to choose their preferred image instantly. This simple process saved the marketing team hours of back-and-forth while giving employees confidence and ownership of their image.
Challenges Overcome:
- Consistency across diverse office environments
- Eliminating administrative bottlenecks in image review and selection
- Ensuring every employee—at every level—had an image they felt proud of
Phase 2: The Photo Subscription
To make the transformation sustainable and as stress-free as possible, we created an ongoing photo subscription for Clark Schaefer Hackett. Twice a month, we visited their Cincinnati headquarters to capture headshots for new hires as part of their onboarding.
This rhythm provided:
- A polished, welcoming experience that told each new hire: “We’re glad you’re here.”
- Predictable billing and scheduling for easy budgeting
- Consistent representation for new hires from satellite offices in Michigan, Columbus, Ohio, and beyond
The Transformation
The headshots were a small detail that had come to represent a much bigger disconnect: Clark Schaefer Hackett had grown, but the way its people showed up visually hadn't kept pace.
By creating one consistent experience across offices, roles, and new hires, individual portraits became part of something larger — a visual reflection of a connected firm.
The consistent portraits not only strengthened external credibility but also transformed the internal experience:
- New hires felt valued and welcomed from day one.
- Internal communications gained polish with cohesive visuals.
- The marketing team gained efficiency and consistency in every proposal and announcement.
The Results
- A collection of 300 headshots, each one both personal and professional
- Streamlined onboarding with a warm, professional welcome experience
- Consistent visual branding across every office and team
- Reduced administrative load thanks to on-site proofing and subscription scheduling
- Improved internal morale and employee confidence in representing the firm
Client Voice
For the past two years, our firm has had the pleasure of working with Sarah, who visited our downtown Cincinnati office twice a month to take headshots for new hires and other staff. From the very beginning, Sarah was an absolute joy to work with. She brought professionalism, warmth, and consistency to every session.
Thanks to Sarah, we were able to provide each new hire with a high-quality, professional headshot while maintaining a cohesive visual brand across our firm. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence truly elevated our internal and external image.
The Takeaway
Clark Schaefer Hackett went from disjointed to distinguished, creating a visual identity that better reflected the professionalism, warmth, and connection already present within the firm.
A headshot may be a small moment in an employee's experience with a company. But repeated across hundreds of people, offices, and new hires, those moments communicate something bigger: You belong here. We're glad you're here.
That's the difference between simply making people look professional and helping them feel known.
Schedule a Connection Conversation to discuss your firm’s needs and vision.
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