Pricing Guide
Headshot Photography Pricing
Transparent pricing for individuals, teams, and enterprise programs. No hidden fees. No surprise invoices. You know exactly what you are paying before we pick up the camera.
What Affects Headshot Pricing
There is no universal answer to "how much do headshots cost?" because the price depends on several factors specific to your situation. Understanding these factors helps you compare quotes accurately and avoid photographers who bury costs in fine print.
Team Size
This is the single biggest factor. Per-person pricing drops significantly as team size increases. A solo session costs more per image than a 50-person team shoot because the setup, equipment, and travel costs are distributed across more people. Most photographers offer tiered pricing at 10, 25, 50, and 100+ person thresholds. For a team of 100, you might pay 40-60% less per person than an individual session.
Location
Studio sessions and local on-location shoots typically cost the same base rate. Travel beyond the local metro area adds costs for the photographer's time, transportation, and potentially lodging. In major metro areas like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, headshot pricing runs 20-40% higher than the national average due to higher operating costs. We include St. Louis metro travel at no extra charge and provide flat-rate quotes for national travel.
Session Type
A quick 10-minute LinkedIn headshot costs less than a full executive portrait session with multiple outfits, locations, and creative direction. Standard corporate headshots prioritize speed and consistency. Executive sessions prioritize creative variety and personal branding. The time difference translates directly to cost: a standard headshot takes 5-10 minutes while an executive session runs 30-60 minutes.
Retouching Level
Basic retouching (skin smoothing, blemish removal, color correction) is included in most professional headshot sessions. Advanced retouching (teeth whitening, stray hair removal, clothing adjustments, background replacement) costs more per image. For team sessions, retouching is standardized for consistency. For individual executive portraits, retouching is tailored to each person's preferences. The difference between basic and premium retouching adds $25-75 per image.
Other factors include turnaround time (rush delivery costs more than standard delivery), how many images you select from your proofing gallery (our individual pricing is à la carte. Session fee plus per-image), and whether you need additional deliverables like group shots, environmental portraits, or behind-the-scenes content. The most accurate way to get your price is to request a custom quote.
Session Options
Three ways to work with us, from a single headshot to an ongoing enterprise program.
Individual Session
Session fee + images
For professionals who need a polished headshot for LinkedIn, company websites, or speaking engagements. You get in, get the shot, review in real time, and pick the images you want retouched.
- 15-30 minute session
- Expression coaching and posing direction
- Real-time review on tethered monitor
- À la carte retouched images. Pick what you want
- High-resolution files for print and web
- Multiple background options
- 2 outfit changes included
- Fast proofing gallery turnaround
Best for: Executives, job seekers, speakers, real estate agents, attorneys
Get StartedTeam Sessions
Custom quote
For teams of 5-49 people who need consistent, on-brand headshots. We come to your office and photograph your entire team in a single day with minimal disruption to your workday.
- 5-10 minutes per person
- On-location at your office or our studio
- Consistent lighting and backdrop for brand cohesion
- Expression coaching for every team member
- Per-person retouched image included
- Real-time selection before each person leaves
- Dedicated online gallery for HR
- 5-business-day delivery
Best for: Marketing teams, law firms, financial advisors, healthcare practices
Get StartedEnterprise Programs
Custom quote
For organizations with 50+ people, multiple offices, or ongoing headshot needs. We build a program around your brand standards and handle everything from scheduling to delivery.
- Dedicated project manager
- Multi-location coordination
- Custom backdrop matching brand guidelines
- Online scheduling portal for team members
- Bulk retouching with consistent style
- API delivery to your DAM or website
- Annual or quarterly session options
- Priority booking and dedicated support
Best for: Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, universities, multi-office firms
Request Custom QuoteEstimate Your Investment
Use the calculator to get a ballpark figure for your session. For an exact quote, send us the details and we will respond within 24 hours.
How many people need headshots?
Select the range that best fits your team.
Running Estimate
$4,300 – $7,500
What Your Investment Covers
A headshot session is more than someone pointing a camera at you. Here is everything that goes into producing a professional image that represents your brand accurately.
Pre-Session Planning
Before the camera comes out, there is a consultation to understand your goals, brand guidelines, and intended use for the images. For team sessions, this includes coordinating with your HR or marketing team on scheduling, outfit guidelines, and backdrop selection. For individuals, we discuss your industry, target audience, and how the headshot fits into your personal brand. This planning is what separates a professional headshot from a snapshot.
Professional Equipment and Setup
Professional-grade lighting, backdrops, and camera equipment are transported, assembled, calibrated, and tested before a single frame is captured. For on-location sessions at your office, this setup transforms a conference room or empty office into a temporary portrait studio. The equipment investment behind a professional headshot operation runs $30,000-$50,000, and that gear is maintained, updated, and insured to deliver consistent results across every session.
Expression Coaching
The biggest differentiator between a mediocre headshot and a great one is the expression. Most people freeze or look uncomfortable in front of a camera. A skilled headshot photographer coaches you through natural expressions, demonstrates poses, and creates an environment where you relax and look like yourself. This skill takes years to develop and is the primary reason professional headshots look fundamentally different from DIY or AI-generated alternatives.
Professional Retouching
Every delivered image goes through professional retouching. This is not a one-click filter. It is manual, pixel-level work: evening out skin tones, removing temporary blemishes, softening under-eye circles, cleaning up stray hairs, and ensuring the colors are accurate and consistent. For team sessions, retouching also includes matching skin tones and exposure across all team members so your website gallery looks cohesive. This step alone takes 15-30 minutes per image.
File Delivery and Formatting
You receive high-resolution files optimized for every use case: print-ready files for marketing materials, web-optimized files for your website, and social-media-sized crops for LinkedIn, company directories, and email signatures. For enterprise clients, we can deliver files directly to your digital asset management system via API, tagged with each employee's name and department for easy organization.
How Our Pricing Compares
Headshot pricing varies wildly across the industry. Here is a realistic overview of what you will find in the market so you can make an informed decision.
Budget Options ($50-$150)
At this price point, you are typically getting a mini session at a shared studio or a photographer who shoots headshots as a side offering. Sessions are short (5-10 minutes), retouching is minimal or automated, and there is little to no coaching. The images are adequate for basic LinkedIn profiles but lack the polish expected for executive-level professionals or corporate websites. You also rarely get real-time review, meaning you wait days to see your images and may not love any of them.
Mid-Range Options ($200-$500)
This is where most reputable headshot photographers operate for individual sessions. You get dedicated session time, professional lighting, expression coaching, and quality retouching. The photographer specializes in headshots and portraiture, which means they understand how to direct people who are uncomfortable in front of a camera. This range is appropriate for most professionals, and the images typically last 2-3 years before needing an update.
Premium Options ($500-$1,500+)
At the premium level, you are paying for extensive creative direction, multiple looks and locations, wardrobe consultation, and a portfolio of images rather than a single headshot. This range is common for C-suite executives, public figures, and authors who need a variety of professional images for different contexts: book covers, speaking engagements, press kits, and editorial features. The session itself may run 1-2 hours with multiple outfit changes and setups.
AI-Generated Headshots ($20-$50)
AI headshot services generate synthetic images from selfies you upload. The price is low, but so is the result. Common problems include uncanny-valley expressions, inconsistent or impossible lighting, warped jewelry and glasses, and backgrounds that do not exist in real life. More critically, AI headshots cannot capture your genuine expression and energy. People who know you will notice something is off. For a professional context where trust matters, a synthetic image sends the wrong signal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about pricing, payment, and what to expect.
How much does a professional headshot cost?
Our pricing is à la carte: a session fee for the time we spend together plus a per-image fee for each retouched image you select from your proofing gallery. Nothing is pre-bundled, so you only pay for the images you actually love. Team and enterprise programs are custom-quoted based on group size, location, and deliverables. Contact us for current session, image, and team pricing.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, ACH bank transfers, and company checks. For corporate clients, we can invoice your accounts payable department with NET-30 terms after credit approval. Payment plans are available for large team bookings.
Is a deposit required to book a session?
Yes. Individual sessions require a 50% deposit at booking, with the balance due on the day of the session. Team and enterprise bookings require a 25% deposit to secure your date, with the remainder invoiced upon completion. Deposits are applied to your total and are non-refundable within 48 hours of the session.
What is included in the session fee?
The session fee covers pre-session consultation, professional lighting and backdrop setup, expression coaching during the shoot, real-time image review on a tethered monitor, and access to your proofing gallery. Retouched images are priced à la carte. You select the images you want from the gallery and pay a per-image retouching fee for each one. High-resolution files are delivered optimized for both print and web. There are no hidden fees.
Are there travel fees for on-location sessions?
Sessions within the St. Louis metro area include travel at no extra charge. For locations within a 3-hour drive, a flat travel fee applies. National and international sessions include travel costs (airfare, hotel, ground transportation) as a separate line item in your quote. We fly to clients regularly and can provide an estimate within 24 hours.
Is there a minimum team size for corporate headshot sessions?
There is no hard minimum, but the per-person pricing structure kicks in at 5 or more people. For groups under 5, individual session rates apply to each person. The best value starts at 10+ team members, where per-person costs drop substantially. We photograph teams ranging from 5 to 500+ people.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations made more than 7 days before the session receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations within 7 days forfeit the deposit but can be applied as credit toward a rescheduled session within 90 days. Rescheduling is free with at least 48 hours notice. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor sessions are always rescheduled at no cost.
Are professional headshots worth the investment compared to AI-generated headshots?
Professional headshots consistently outperform AI-generated images in trust, engagement, and conversion metrics. A LinkedIn study found profiles with professional photos receive 14x more views. AI headshots often have subtle uncanny-valley artifacts, inconsistent lighting, and cannot capture your genuine expression. Your headshot represents your professional brand to every client, recruiter, and colleague who views your profile. The ROI of a $300-500 investment that lasts 2-3 years is difficult to beat.
Get Your Custom Quote
Every project is different. Tell us about your team size, timeline, and goals, and we will send you a detailed quote within 24 hours. No pressure, no follow-up calls unless you want them.