Where to Get Professional Headshots

What goes into the cost of a business headshot?

Ask each provider for a total based on the same brief, such as two retouched digital images for LinkedIn and a company profile. Compare these charges before deciding:

• Session or package: Check whether the starting price covers only the appointment or includes finished images.
• Retouching and extra images: Confirm how many edited files are included and the price of each additional file.
• Location and preparation: Ask about studio rental, travel, makeup and extra outfit or background changes.
• Delivery and taxes: Include any rush fee and applicable taxes in the final quote.

Compare the upfront payment with the per-photo rate

For online services, check the minimum purchase, the number of usable results and whether downloads cost extra. At Picomi, each successfully created photo uses $0.99 in credit; downloading a saved result does not add another photo charge. The displayed top-up options start at $5, so $0.99 is the photo rate, not the minimum top-up. Top-ups are not available yet. See the pricing section for the credit breakdown.

The worked quote comparison below uses hypothetical prices to show how session and image fees add up. Those figures are examples, not market averages or quotes from a provider.

A photographer, a studio chain or an online service?

Independent photographers and professional studios

If you feel awkward in front of a camera and want help with your pose and expression, look for a photographer who shoots professional portraits. Ask directly whether they will guide you during the session; do not assume it from the portfolio. If your company specifies a background, crop or outfit, send those requirements before booking.

An independent photographer may not have a permanent studio. Ask whether the session takes place in their own space, a rented studio, your office or outdoors. If a studio needs to be rented, find out who pays for it.

Photography studio chains

For a nearby branch, check photography studio chains. In the US, for example, JCPenney Portraits offers business headshots, and you can look for a studio through its website.

Ask the branch whether it can provide the business headshot you need, how many digital images the package includes and whether you must buy any separately. If you need a file to upload to your company website, say so when asking for a quote.

Online headshot services

If you already have clear photos of yourself, you can explore online headshot services. Read the upload requirements, then look for examples with hair, glasses or outfits similar to yours. Check whether the person still looks like themselves and whether hair, frames and collars have any odd details.

A package that generates dozens of images does not mean you will use all of them. Before paying, check whether you can request another attempt, what the refund conditions are, how long uploaded photos are kept and whether you can delete them.

To explore Picomi, see the pricing section and scene examples. Creating a photo requires sign-in and sufficient credit. Top-ups are not available yet; exploring scenes and sample photos is free.

Where can you find a photographer near you?

Search for the service and your city or ZIP code

Open Google Maps or Google and try one of these searches. Replace the brackets with your city or ZIP code. You do not need to try every variation.

• professional headshots [city]
• business headshots [city]
• corporate headshot photographer [city]
• LinkedIn headshots [ZIP code]
• business headshots near me

To find prices, add pricing or packages. If English searches turn up few options, try the local term for professional portraits, or search a neighboring area.

Open the websites of a few photographers within reach and look for pages called Headshots, Corporate, Business Portraits or Personal Branding. A map listing may show an office or contact address rather than the actual studio. Confirm where the shoot takes place before heading over.

Other places to look

You do not need to search every platform. Start with one that has listings in your area, then compare two or three photographers whose work you like.

• Local business listings: Search for headshot photographers on Yelp and set the location to your city or neighborhood.
• Service platforms: In the US, try Thumbtack’s headshot photography page. In the UK, try Bark’s photography page. Describe the job as “two retouched headshots for LinkedIn and a company profile” rather than just “portrait photography.”
• Photographer directories: In the US, there is PPA’s Find a Photographer. In the UK, see BIPP’s photographer search page. Once you find a name, check their own website for business portrait examples.

Like a colleague’s headshot? Ask who took it

If a colleague’s photo is exactly the style you like, ask where they had it taken. Along with the photographer’s details, ask what they paid, how many retouched images they received and whether someone helped them stand and smile. Then look at the photographer’s other work to see whether different people look equally comfortable.

Look beyond the photo on the homepage

Browse a whole set of business headshots. Compare expressions, backgrounds and retouching across different people. If you want a natural look, check whether skin still has texture and smiles look relaxed. For a formal company profile, look for examples with the crop and background your company requires.

If you wear glasses, look for examples where reflections do not hide the eyes. If you have a beard, curls or long hair, see how similar features have been photographed. If the portfolio only shows weddings or family groups, ask for a few professional headshot examples.

When reading reviews, look for details about the session. Did the photographer guide someone who did not know how to pose? Did they explain how to choose the final images? Were the photos delivered on time? These details tell you more about the process than a general compliment about the photos.

Once you have two or three options, ask about availability and packages. There is no need to keep searching just to fill a list, or to book immediately because one studio is closest to home.

Before booking, ask about finished images and the total price

If the website has a Pricing, Packages or Booking page, read the package details first. If prices are missing or the inclusions are unclear, ask the photographer to confirm them.

Compare quotes for the same number of finished images, then follow up on anything the quote leaves out:

• Session time and outfit changes: Does changing clothes count toward the session time? Can you change backgrounds? If you need makeup, is it available and what does it cost?
• Finished images: How many downloadable, retouched photos are included? What does an extra image cost? The number of photos taken is not the same as the number delivered.
• Retouching: What will be edited? Mention details you want to keep, such as moles or wrinkles, and ask whether you can request changes after delivery.
• Delivery: If you need the photos by a particular day, give that date. Explain where you will use them so the photographer can confirm file dimensions and permitted uses.
• Other charges: Does the quote include studio rental, travel, rush delivery and taxes? What happens if you reschedule or cancel?

Compare prices for the number of images you need

Here is a hypothetical example: one photographer charges $150 for the session, plus $50 per retouched image. Another charges $220 including two retouched images. If you need two, the first option costs $250. That is before any other extras or taxes, but it shows why a lower starting price may not mean a lower total.

If the package already includes the retouched images you need, do not add them again. Include the extras you will actually use, ask the photographer to confirm the total, and budget separately for your travel and parking.

A few more questions before you book

Can the photographer come to your office?

Ask whether they offer on-location or on-site headshots. Send the office address, number of people, preferred date and background requirements. Ask how much space and setup they need, and what they charge to travel. If your company needs a consistent look, include an existing employee headshot as a reference.

What if there are no headshot specialists nearby?

Ask a local portrait photographer whether they have relevant examples. Share a photo you like and ask whether they can create similar lighting, framing and a background. If you cannot find suitable work, look in a neighboring area or consider an online service.

Should you buy clothes before booking?

Ask your company and photographer about clothing requirements first, then check what you already own. Confirm how many outfit changes the session allows before buying anything. Our guide to what to wear for business headshots can help you choose necklines, colors and accessories.