What Is a Headshot?

Traditionally, a headshot is essentially a head and shoulders photo taken with a portrait length lens, cropped at about the jacket lapel or third button. For LinkedIN and other social media profiles it is cropped in tighter as a square and is truly a head shot in a box.  Actor headshots are a subspecialty of headshots and historically are cropped at an 8×10 glossy ratio in homage to the days when actors had to distribute 8×10 glossies of their headshots.

We create bespoke business and personal portrait headshots either on location or with photo studio backgrounds to match current company website or LinkedIN photos  using a marketing firm or PR lighting and posing spec sheet, using green screen for compositing, and/or specific office or architectural backgrounds to match specific Pantone colors.  We also offer tiered volume headshot pricing for business teams of three or more and discounts for military personnel, nonprofits, and students.  All professional headshot sessions receive multiple high resolution files, in depth retouching, and a style guide and posing videos and a branding discovery form to help you look and feel your best.  For brand makeovers or image assets for a brand new website it is often helpful to consider a branding photographer or branding image collection to tell your brand story with the most authenticity and alignment. 

Can’t I Use a Free AI Headshot Generator?

You could, but even though they are getting better, they have a way of looking sort of like a cartoon character, superhero, or vaguely reptilian.  To my eye and the eyes of any casting directors, HR managers or recruiters, admissions staff and or any other savvy photo professionals, you look like someone trying to cut corners or rig the system. There really is no substitute for the human to human connection and interaction and final tangible product of a real live headshot shoot, complete with the slight nervousness, witty banter, exploration of your best side and angles, giggly outtakes, and high end equipment and flexibility with editing and retouching in a way that won’t make you look plastic.

How Much Do Headshots Cost?

Business headshots and branding photos in Santa Barbara generally range from $40 for AI on the low-end at JC Penney portraits and other discount photo studios or Craigslist photographers all the way up into five and six figures for high-end commercial celebrity and fine art photographers.
Actor headshot pricing and business headshot pricing is based on the time involved and the number of “looks” or outfits/scenarios you would like to depict. Junior level headshot photographers within Santa Barbara charge between $300-$450 for a session. Higher-end more experienced photographers charge more, both because their experience saves you time and the aggravation of being practiced on and unpleasantly surprised by the process. Higher-end photographers also generally have better equipment, assistants, stylists and other staff and more subtle retouching techniques.

My two look business headshot session starts at $495, including an online gallery of approximately 75 selects and retouching of your top three favorites. This is the professional headshot scheduling link to schedule your one look session and I also offer a free zoom consult link to chat things through. Additional looks/outfits are $100 and I also have a professional hair and makeup person available on set as well.

I offer discounts to students, both academic students and acting students, as well as  a $75 discount for bringing a friend, discounts for military personnel, and volume discounts for teams and groups of three or more.