How Much Do Professional Headshots Cost?

By Chad Isaiah

Blog graphic with Chad Isaiah asking how much do headshots cost

Okay, so you’re thinking about updating your headshot. The second question you’re probably asking is how much do headshots cost? (The first question is often – Do I even need a new headshot?!) Headshot photography prices have a wide range with a single image ranging from $30 to $3,000. But fret not because we’re going to dive into the world of pricing out professional headshots, and there’s a solution for every person’s budget.

I’ve been in the photography business for years and it’s difficult comparing prices. Different photographers have different pricing models too which makes it even rougher.

Your Headshot Experience will Vary with Your Photographer’s Experience

AI Headshots – $30 for 75 images

Honestly, this isn’t a bad option for someone who has a tight budget. I’d rather see someone with an AI headshot than no headshot at all. However AI headshot generators can only modify what you upload, and it rarely creates something authentic. The most important element of a headshot is the expression and what it conveys, but AI headshots don’t often invite you in to learn more.

An often overlooked downside is that AI headshots tend to whiten skin and slim people down, based on the beauty standards the models used to train it.

Amateur Headshot Photographer – $50 to $200

Photographers who are just starting out with a camera or weekend warriors who have a new hobby fall in this range. Amateur headshots are often taken outside in a nice park or against a brick wall. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with either of those options, you might notice the lack of experience. Inexperienced photographers don’t know how to properly pose someone, find the best lighting, use flash lighting or how to direct a client.

You’ll probably get a few solid images, but headshots aren’t their primary focus. These photographers don’t often specialize in headshots, but rather offer headshots as an extension of family portraits, seniors or wedding photography. There will likely be some editing done to the photos to fix stray hairs, but the images are unlikely to be professionally retouched.

When you look at an amateur photographer’s portfolio, you’ll see some stellar shots and some okay ones.

Joe Keffer in the studio after figuring out how much do headshots cost

Professional Headshot Photographer – $250 to $1000

When you hire a professional headshot photographer, you’re walking into their studio and are 95% confident that you’re going to get amazing headshots. You might be nervous about your ability to look photogenic, but you aren’t questioning the photographer’s skills. These headshot photographers are specialists, focusing their business on headshots.

Most times, you’ll notice that these photographers gravitate towards a signature style. Part of this is their lighting style, but the other part is the expressions they get out of their clients. These headshot photographers know exactly what to say to coach out an authentic expression from anyone.

Celebrity Status Photographer – $1000+

These photographers are celebrities in their own right who command serious money to be in front of their camera. Oftentimes they’re not just photographers, but also educators.

Giving credit where credit is due, they are amazing photographers, but you’re paying for the ability to say “I got my headshot taken by Peter Hurley!”

You likely won’t notice any difference between these headshots and those of professional headshot photographers, but their session experience will likely be different. While it’d be nice to drive a Lamborghini, a high-end BMW will still turn heads. It’s all about the status symbol.

Calculating the Cost of Professional Headshots: A la Carte vs All-Inclusive

A la carte Model

Headshot photographers who use this model will charge a flat session fee, which covers the photographer’s expertise and time for the session. The headshot session fee does not include any retouched images and you are simply paying for the photographer’s creative expertise and time to shoot your session.

The session fee might also include a studio rental or location fee if shooting on location and might also include makeup services. Be sure to ask ahead of time what’s included. Session fees are also used as a deposit to reserve time on the calendar and may or may not include rescheduling fees.

During or after the session, you will select the images you wish to purchase and have retouched. Image fees can range from $100 to $700 per image.

All-Inclusive Model

In this model, you will pay a flat fee for both the session and all deliverables. Sometimes this is advertised as a “2 hour session with 10 images.” This is more commonly offered by newer photographers or professional photographers who shoot lots of genres (weddings AND headshots AND branding AND seniors).

The average cost of headshot packages can range from $50 to $1000 depending on the session duration and number of images delivered. You will likely pay more upfront and might even be pre-paying for images you don’t necessarily want (you paid for 10 images but only liked 4 of them).

Additional Considerations for the True Cost of Headshots

Deposits and Rescheduling Fees

Many photographers will request a non-refundable booking fee or deposit to set up the session. This might be a portion or all of the total fee. This fee guarantees that clients will show up to the session, cover the costs for studio rentals or hair and makeup artists. Often there is a rescheduling fee, especially if a makeup artist has been booked and space rented.

Retouching Fees

Most photographers who utilize the all-inclusive model include basic editing, but don’t include retouching fees. What’s the difference between retouching and editing? Editing is straightening the photo, adjusting the overall color and tone and maybe fixing an errant hair strand. Retouching is much more involved, with fixing skin blemishes, hair flyaways, contouring the face and completing any special requests.

Retouching is often included in the image fee of photographers who use the a la carte model.

Licensing Fees

Under copyright law, the photographer created the image therefore they own the copyright and image. When you purchase images, you are purchasing a license to use the image. Often this includes only a personal license which means you can use the image on your social media, like updating your LinkedIn headshot or printing for personal use. What isn’t included in a personal license is commercial use for things that you might sell: digital ads, books, etc.

Commercial licensing can range from $50 to $300 per image.

Always check with a photographer about your intended uses for your headshots and which type of license is included.

Hair & Makeup Artists

I always recommend my clients get pampered by my hair and makeup artist for their session. Not only does it have you looking your best, but you feel like royalty during the entire process.

So How Much Do Headshots Cost?

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t always searching for the best deal. But I have to balance my desire for a deal with quality. I’m always willing to pay more for quality, especially if I know it will make me more money down the road (your headshots get you a promotion, my camera gear grows my business).

Do your research and figure out why you’re looking to update your headshot. If you’re searching for a new job, think what is that new promotion worth? If you’re looking for a $10,000/year pay raise, then perhaps the cost of quality headshots is worth it.

And if you’re ready to invest in yourself, reach out to me!