Lawyer headshots: Who needs Them & what to look for

What Are Lawyer Headshots?

Lawyer headshots are professional portraits that highlight a lawyer’s integrity and approachability—qualities essential in the legal field. These images are often featured on law firm websites, legal directories, and promotional materials, playing a vital role in shaping a lawyer’s professional identity.

A good lawyer headshot pairs formal business attire with a confident yet approachable expression, signaling the lawyer’s ability to handle sensitive and complex cases. This helps build credibility and trust with clients, colleagues, and the wider legal community.

A well-crafted headshot not only reflects professionalism but also strengthens client relationships by enhancing the lawyer’s reputation. On this page are some examples of lawyer headshots. You can view my full portfolio for more.

Who Needs Lawyer Headshots?

Every lawyer needs a custom lawyer headshot. It’s a key part of your professional identity and helps build your brand. A strong headshot shows you as credible, competent, and approachable—qualities clients and peers value in the legal field.

In a competitive industry, a unique headshot sets you apart. It enhances your profile on law firm websites, social media, and promotional materials. When your headshot reflects your professionalism and expertise, it communicates that you’re ready to handle legal matters with precision and integrity. This builds trust and confidence with clients and colleagues.

What Should I Look For In An Lawyer Headshot Photographer?

When choosing a photographer for your lawyer headshot, experience in capturing the dignified and trustworthy look required in the legal field is crucial. Review their portfolio to see if they consistently produce refined, authoritative images that meet the professional standards of the legal industry.

Key qualities to look for include attention to detail, expertise in lighting and backdrop selection, and the ability to guide you on wardrobe choices that reflect your competence and professionalism. The photographer should also create a calm, directed session, helping you appear confident and approachable—traits that attract and reassure clients.

Make sure your headshot is fully customized to reflect your brand, personality, and the message you want to convey.

Above all, focus on the quality of the photographer’s work. Choose someone whose work stands out and is clearly better. Saving money on a cheaper photographer isn’t worth it when your career is on the line.

HOW SHOULD MY Lawyer HEADSHOTS LOOK?

Having photographed many lawyers, I am aware of the importance of a headshot that not only maintains a professional appearance but also captures your unique personality and style. It’s crucial that your headshot truly reflects who you are, serving as a powerful tool for communicating your individuality to potential law firms, employers, clients, and colleagues.

Your lawyer headshot should exude professionalism and confidence, carefully crafted to reflect your expertise and reliability in the legal field. It's essential that this portrait not only portrays you as authoritative and knowledgeable but also as approachable and trustworthy, qualities that clients value highly in their legal representatives. Lighting should be clean and flattering, highlighting your features in a way that underscores your sharp intellect and attentive demeanor. Creative lighting techniques can also be employed to add a layer of sophistication or to emphasize certain aspects of your personality. Overall, your lawyer headshot should be a polished and compelling representation, designed to build confidence and trust among clients, colleagues, and the courts.

I take the time to get to know you, your personal brand, and what you want to communicate through your image. Together, we will determine the best look that suits your personality and style, creating custom lawyer headshots tailored to meet your specific needs. My goal is to ensure that your headshot is not just a photograph, but an authentic representation of you.

I've photographed many lawyers and law firms and would love to help you create a custom headshot that makes you stand out.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY HEADSHOTS?

Lawyer headshots require a balance of professionalism and accessibility, projecting both competence and approachability. Traditional attire often includes conservative, tailored suits in dark colors like navy or charcoal, which convey seriousness and formality. However, personalizing your look can differentiate you in a field where many may appear similar. Consider adding a touch of individual style with a unique tie, an elegant brooch, or a subtly patterned blouse or shirt that hints at your personal aesthetic without detracting from the overall professionalism.

For those looking to modernize their image, incorporating elements of smart-casual attire can be effective. A well-fitted blazer over a high-quality, stylish dress shirt or blouse, perhaps in a softer color, can break the mold while still respecting the decorum of the legal profession. This approach not only maintains the required professional demeanor but also showcases your personality, making your headshot stand out and fostering a more personable connection with potential clients and colleagues.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE S72?

Custom: My lawyer headshots are completely customized to your personality. There are no pre-set lighting/studio setups like most photographers use with their clients. The look and style is completely up to you or we can work together to find a look that works best for you.

Experience: With experience photographing thousands across different styles and fields, I can deliver the same great results for you.

Quality: You will not find a better photographer for lawyer headshots in the San Francisco Bay Area (or anywhere in my opinion). The quality of my work speaks for itself. I pay close attention to details and quality throughout the process from lighting all the way to retouching the final images. I have more 5 star reviews than any other headshot photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. More than 500 (at the time of this writing) across Yelp, Google, and Facebook.

Ease: Many people are reluctant to have their picture taken, but I make the process smooth and easy from beginning to end.

No Risk: Booking is risk free with my 100% money back guarantee on individual sessions.

You know What You’re Getting: When you choose S72, you're hiring only me. Other studios have multiple photographers, so you don’t know who will be taking your photos. Every image on my site was captured by me, and I’ll be the one taking your photos.

HOW MUCH SHOULD HEADSHOTS COST?

As with anything you tend to get what you pay for and lawyer headshots are no different.

Your lawyer headshots are often the first impression people will get about you or your firm so you need to make it a good one. The difference in price between higher end custom lawyer headshots and cheap ones is pennies a day over the life of the headshot. Something you’ll easily make back with a new job or new clients.

Lawyer headshots aren’t something you directly make or earn money with so it may be hard to put a dollar value on them. For some, this makes it easy to think they should just get the cheapest “decent” lawyer headshot they can find. Most people underestimate what a quality headshot costs so they don’t budget appropriately when looking for a photographer. A lower priced lawyer headshot photographer is typically lower priced for a reason.

In the San Francisco Bay area you will find a wide range of prices for headshots and an even wider range of quality. Find the photographer whose work stands out the most, provides you with a custom headshot that fits your style and brand and make the investment in yourself or your law firm.

I stand behind the exceptional quality of my headshots. Compare my work with others, and I think you’ll agree the quality of my work is superior. Now is a great time to update your image. Contact me using the form below to see how I can create a custom headshot for you, or click “book now” in the upper right corner to book your session.