Headshot photography refers to the portrait capture of your face that is commonly used for professional purposes. This type of snapshot is used on ID cards, resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and even in form submissions.
Such photographs should only be captured with the assistance of a professional photographer, as they require an expert eye and post-processing to refine the raw image.
So let’s find out how much capturing a heashot photo would cost and define the gold standard of portrait photos.
What is Professional Headshot Photography?
Professional headshot photography is a kind of portrait photography. It focuses on taking great pictures of a person’s face, usually from the shoulders up. Professionals utilize these images for websites, acting portfolios, LinkedIn profiles, corporate profiles, and resumes.
A professional headshot conveys personality, confidence, and approachability while maintaining a refined, businesslike look. To help the subject look good in a business or branding setting, follow these tips:
- Use good lighting.
- Choose a suitable background.
- Ensure proper posing.
- Edit the final image.
What Influences a Headshot Photo Pricing?
The pricing of a headshot photo greatly depends on the type of service and the charges of the professional behind the lens. Which means if you go with a high-end photographer who works for actors/actresses or special events, they would charge you more.
And for additional services like professional photo editing and photo retouching, the prices might also go higher or might already be included in the package, depending on the photographers. Apart from it, some other major reason that creates disparity in headshot photo pricing are:
- Location: Generally, if a studio is located near an affluent neighborhood, it is quite evident that the prices would be high.
- Studio: A high-end studio will charge you more compared to an ordinary photo lab. In the US, a luxurious photo studio typically charges around $200 – $800 for a headshot photo.
- Session Length: Some photographers charge based on the session; the longer the duration, the higher the charges.
- Number of Prints: Printing is yet another significant factor; if the number of photographs is in bulk, the per-photograph price gets a bit lower compared to prices for a handful of pictures.
Last but the most significant factor that decides the pricing of a headshot photo is the type of shot. There is no one particular type of close-up shot, and let’s talk about it in detail.
Different Types of Headshot Photograph
The tone, facial expression, posture, and positioning changed as per the requirement behind the photograph. And based on the requirement and preference
Here are the types of headshot photographs and the average cost of it.
Professional Headshot
This type of shot is taken with a white backdrop and used for professional purposes like form submission, resume, or ID card preparation. The average cost of this photoshoot is around $50-$100.
Actor and Actress Headshots
It is commonly used by models or aspiring actors to prepare their portfolios. Compared to previous headshots, this one is more casual and candid, where the focus is on appearance and personality. This type of photoshoot costs anywhere from $200 – $600.
Outdoor Headshots
In the above statement, we momentarily mentioned how outdoor photography spikes up the pricing. In this, the model clicks his/her headshot photo at an outdoor setting while keeping the backdrop at a bokeh effect. This would charge you around $500 – $1000.
Corporate Headshots
As the name suggests, this particular type of headshot service is availed by the corporate sector for professional purposes. The entire team is asked to be in formal clothing, and pictures are taken inside the office premises. Some studios might also charge for traveling expenses; otherwise, it easily costs around $1500.
Modeling Headshots
A Modeling headshot is a photograph highlighting a model’s facial features, expressions, and overall appearance. A model uses this type of photo for their portfolio. It is also used to impress modeling agencies, directors, and audiences. It assists a model in receiving more showbiz invitations.
LinkedIn Headshots
A polished LinkedIn headshot is essential in the current competitive job market. It helps you stand out among many competitors. It defines your character, self-worth, and professionalism.One way to maximize LinkedIn’s potential is to build a high-quality profile photo. Choose experienced photographers who specialize in business portraits. This ensures your photo fits your industry or brand.
Group Headshots
Group headshots are a set of professional photos of several people from a company. These images are used on business cards, websites, or social media. They help show the company’s character and strong team. This can help create a good reputation with viewers.
But the main concern lies within the corporate and professional sector is which usually requires photographs quite often for various events or meetups. So it is not feasible for them to go for a regular photoshoot.
In this case, it’s best to avail clipping path service by Visuals Clipping that seamlessly extracts the image from the background, giving you a pixel-perfect cutout that can be used on any form of graphical representation.
There is also an option to avail corporate correction service to fix any kind of distortion and background removal as well, along with tons of other retouching packages to get the pristine condition headshot photo.
Pricing of a Headshot Photo
The pricing of a headshot photo depends on various factors, including the photographer you are using; however, the nominal cost of a headshot or close-up photo ranges from $25 to $1000.
In some countries, prices can go lower than $25. In addition, if you go for a location-specific portrait photoshoot, it can easily cost you $500 to $2000 due to the expenses on professional setup and conveyance charges.
But what we have given you here is an estimated range; it can largely vary depending on various factors. What are those, and how do they greatly influence the pricing of a headshot photo? Let’s find out in the next section.
How Much Do Average Headshots Cost in 2025? Complete Pricing Table
We covered in-depth headshot photography costs in the section below. Here is a table that shows the average price for a professional headshot in 2025.
| Headshot Types | Beginner Price | Mid-level Price | Professional Price |
| Professional Headshot | $50 to $100 | $150 to $300 | $300 to $1,200 |
| Business Headshot | $50 to $100 | $150 to $275 | $300 to $800 |
| Corporate Headshot | $75 to $125 | $175 to $325 | $350 to $1,500 |
| Modeling Headshot | $75 to $150 | $200 to $350 | $450 to $800 |
| Actor/Actress Headshot | $75 to $150 | $200 to $375 | $450 to $800 |
| Author Headshot | $60 to $100 | $150 to $275 | $300 to $600 |
| LinkedIn Headshot | $75 to $125 | $150 to $275 | $300 to $600 |
Conclusion
Here is the clear picture behind the pricing of headshot photographs and the factors that create variance in prices. Moreover, many of the studios and professionals charge extra for retouching and editing of photographs, which is generally higher than the market prices.
In that case, you can go with a trustworthy photo editing company to handle your retouching needs affordably and professionally.
FAQs
What type of retouching does Visuals Clipping do on a headshot photo?
We have a plethora of retouching options, from removing unwanted elements like wrinkles or acne to fixing color tone. We offer a wide range of services.
What size of photo is perfect for an ID card?
It is preferred to print a passport-size headshot for ID cards.
What is a typical session for a headshot photographer?
Normally, a close-up photoshoot takes anywhere between 10 minutes to 45 minutes, or even more than that if the requirement is high.
What is the average cost of a headshot photoshoot in Asia?
In Asia, the average price of a portrait photo shoot is $20 – $200.
