How Much do Professional Headshots Cost?

Headshot photography is the art of capturing the inherent character of the subject within a photograph and is much more than photographing people. Great portrait photos are the result of combining the right techniques with the artist’s expression.

First practiced by artists such as Picasso, portrait paintings have a history full of interesting stories. Taking headshots is the modern form of the same technique.

How Much Do Headshots Cost?

The prices charged by most headshot photographers are anywhere between $150 and $450. However, the overall cost for a professional headshot session may start at around $25 and go up to $2,500, or even more.

There are several factors that affect these rates, such as the number of retouched images or high-res photos you will receive, the number of outfits/looks, and how much time the photographer allots.

Famous photographers charge high prices because they are in high demand. Though, you should not rely only on the price when you choose a photographer. Make some research and choose the one that has good online reviews and you feel comfortable with.

In the following lines we are going to talk about the types of photos you will get for each price category.

One to two hours shoot: $25 to $75

This price range is common among those photographers who are just starting out. Most probably, the photos will look like those made by your friend with a professional camera. Though, a photo at this level will help you more in your career than a snapshot made by your friend. If your corporate headshots look cheap, most people will assume that you don’t take your career seriously.

Ask for samples of their shots and make sure they have a really good portfolio.

One to two hours shoot: $75 to $200

The photographers in this category can take some good headshots. Though, on the low end of this price range you will find photographers who will not be able to direct you into a great expression and don’t know enough about headshots. It is recommended to find a professional photographer because authentic expression plays a key role in getting a memorable photo.

Most photographers who charge these prices will refuse to refund your money in case you don’t like your photos, so look through their portfolio beforehand. Also, keep in mind that they, most probably, will not have a professional studio and the photos will be taken in their home, which may be uncomfortable for some people.

One to two hours shoot: $250 to $800

These are the prices charged by professional, established headshot photographers who do this job for a living and have built a career in this field. In general, they get most of their customers through word of mouth and have a large client base. They will likely get you great photos because they know what they are doing.

You might also like our articles on the cost of becoming a photographer, wedding photos, or senior pictures.

But make sure that they are specialized in headshots and not in something else such as events or weddings. Also, ask if they have a trustworthy guarantee in place if you’re unhappy with your photos.

One to two hour professional headshot session: $800 to $1,400

Usually, these are famous photographers who will bring out the best of you immediately. They have professional equipment that they use to take excellent photos, amazing studios, and hair and makeup artists.

But, in most cases, the headshots you get from the photographers in this category are similar to those you can get for $250 to $800. They charge much more just because they are doing this job for a long time and are very busy, and have to raise their prices to select the requests.

One to two hours of professional headshots: more than $1,400

In general, these people are nothing else than scammers who are trying to take your money. Or they might be decent photographers who don’t want to work too much because they are focusing on something else or retiring. There are a lot of people who believe that $2,000 to $3,000 is a fair price for some excellent headshots, which is false.

For this sum, you are working with a famous photographer or you are just scammed. Before hiring them make sure you see their portfolio. Also, stay away if you can’t find a lot of information about them on the Internet and you haven’t heard about their name before.

Important things when hiring a headshot photographer

There are a few questions you need to get the answers to before choosing a photographer:

Does the photographer have a simple process so you know what you receive and you will not be surprised?

There may be photographers who will suddenly surprise you with hidden fees. For instance, you will have to pay extra to receive high-res photos and you will have access only to low-res photos. Also, some may not offer retouched photos.

Does the photographer have a makeup artist I can hire if I want one?

It is recommended to work with a specialized makeup artist for your headshots. Ask the photographer if they have a makeup artist who can help you.

Will the photographer know what to adjust if I don’t like the way I look?

You may not be advantaged by certain angles and lights, and in case you don’t like something, a photographer without experience will not know how to adjust the angles or light so you like your photos.