Professional headshots: Who needs Them & what to look for

What are Professional Headshots?

Professional headshots cover a broad range of styles and purposes, making them versatile and adaptable. For some, “professional headshots” mean formal corporate portraits for company websites and business cards. For others, it might be more casual photos for social media profiles like LinkedIn. The main goal of these headshots is to enhance your professional image, tailored to fit your industry and personal brand.

Whether you’re an executive, creative, or entrepreneur, a professional headshot is designed to convey competence and confidence. It highlights your unique qualities and career goals, making it a key element of your professional branding.

On this page are a few examples of professional headshots—check out my portfolio for more.

Who Needs Professional Headshots?

Anyone looking to make a strong impression in their professional field needs a custom headshot. It’s a visual representation of your personal brand, showcasing qualities like professionalism, confidence, and reliability.

Whether for LinkedIn, your company’s website, or business cards, a well-tailored headshot sets you apart from the competition and builds trust with potential clients, employers, and peers. When your headshot reflects your personality and professional goals, it not only boosts your visibility but also makes a powerful first impression, opening doors to new opportunities in your career.

What Should I Look For In An Professional Headshot Photographer?

When selecting a photographer for professional headshots, it's crucial to choose someone who has a strong understanding of branding and can tailor their approach to suit your specific professional needs. A good photographer should have a portfolio that showcases a variety of headshot styles, demonstrating their ability to capture the essence of each subject’s personality and profession. Look for someone who excels in using lighting and creativity to create a clean, engaging image that speaks to your industry standards. Communication skills are also vital; your photographer should be able to guide you comfortably through the process, advising on attire and posture to ensure your headshot is both flattering and professionally appropriate. Opt for a photographer who offers a collaborative experience, allowing you to express your vision and expectations for the final product.

Make sure you are getting a completely custom headshot and the photographer understands your brand, personality and the image you want to convey with your professional headshots.

Above all, review the photographer's portfolio. You need a photographer whose work stands out and is superior. Most headshot photographer’s work look the same with a few looks they use on all their clients. You want a photographer who’s portfolio is divers and creative. Skimping on a cheaper photographer isn't wise when your career depends on it.

HOW SHOULD MY Professional HEADSHOTS LOOK?

As a photographer specializing in professional headshots, I know how important it is for your headshot to be both professional and a true reflection of your unique personality and style. Your headshot should capture who you are, making it a powerful tool to communicate your individuality to potential employers, clients, and colleagues.

Your professional headshot should be a distinct expression of your personality and style, uniquely crafted to highlight your creativity and character. It needs to embrace your individuality while maintaining a polished, professional look. Lighting plays a key role in this—it should flatter your features while creatively capturing the essence of who you are. Don’t hesitate to explore creative lighting techniques that can add depth and character to your image. Your attire should be carefully chosen to complement both your personal style and professional goals, striking the right balance between industry expectations and what best represents you. In the end, your headshot should make a strong, personal statement, offering a memorable and genuine reflection of your professional identity.

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 professional 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.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY HEADSHOTS?

For a professional headshot, it’s essential to project an image of competence and confidence, often achieved through classic business attire like suits, blazers, and conservative tops in neutral colors. These elements create a universally respected and professional appearance. However, to ensure your headshot stands out, adding a personal touch is crucial. Consider incorporating an item that reflects your personality, such as a unique tie, a stylish watch, or an elegant piece of jewelry that complements but doesn’t overpower the overall professional look.

To differentiate yourself further and showcase a more relaxed yet still professional demeanor, experimenting with elegant casual combinations can be effective. For example, pairing a well-tailored blazer with a premium, casual shirt can provide a modern twist on traditional corporate wear. This approach not only maintains the professionalism required for a professional setting but also injects a dose of your individual style, making your headshot distinctly memorable and genuinely representative of your personal brand.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE S72?

Custom: My professional 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 a portfolio of thousands in every profession and style, I can achieve equally great results for you.

Quality: You will not find a better photographer for professional 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: For most, having their photo taken is not pleasant, but I make the entire process easy and comfortable from start to finish.

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

You know What You’re Getting: With S72, you’re hiring just me. Unlike other studios with several photographers, you always know whose taking your photos. All the photos on my website are my work, and I’ll personally take your photos.

HOW MUCH SHOULD HEADSHOTS COST?

As with most things, you tend to get what you pay for and professional headshots are no different.

Your professional headshots are often the first impression people will get about you or your company, so you need to make it a good one. The difference in price between a high-end custom professional headshot and cheap ones is pennies a day over the life of the headshot. Your image and brand is surely worth more than that.

Professional Headshots aren’t something you profit on, 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” professional 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 professional 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, your business, or company.

I know that my work excels beyond other headshot photographers. Compare the quality, and you’ll see why. Now’s the perfect time to enhance your professional image. Use the form below to connect with me to discuss your needs, or if you’re ready to book a session, click the “book now” button in the upper right corner.