{"id":7884,"date":"2024-08-29T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pathedits.com\/blogs\/tips\/what-is-headshot-photography-cost-types-and-examples-2024"},"modified":"2025-05-26T05:44:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T04:44:56","slug":"what-is-headshot-photography-cost-types-and-examples-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pathedits.com\/blogs\/tips\/what-is-headshot-photography-cost-types-and-examples-2024","title":{"rendered":"What Is Headshot Photography? Cost, Types, and Examples (2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Headshot photography is a type of photography that specifically focuses on showcasing an individual\u2019s face\u2014though sometimes it includes the upper body or even full body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Headshots are essential for a variety of business and personal uses. Let\u2019s dig in to learning all about headshots and how you can use them for your own needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is headshot photography?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Headshot photography is a specialized type of photography that focuses on capturing a person’s face, typically from the shoulders up. The primary goal is to highlight the subject’s features, personality, and professionalism in a clean and straightforward manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Headshot\n\n\n\n

A headshot is typically used for professional or identification purposes. It\u2019s meant to present the subject in a clear and focused manner, often for business, acting, or modeling profiles. The general goal is to convey professionalism, confidence, and approachability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the difference between a headshot and a portrait?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While many use the terms interchangeably\u2014go for it!\u2014there are some slight differences between headshots and portraits. If you want to get technical, portraits are actually a type of headshot. However, generally speaking, headshots are more professional and portraits are more creative. Both have a place in the business world, as well as non-corporate uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Comparison\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the purpose of a headshot?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Headshots are commonly used in various professional contexts, such as on business websites, social media profiles, acting and modeling portfolios, corporate branding, and even personal branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Outdoor\n\n\n\n

Unlike traditional portraits, which might include more creative elements or a broader view of the subject, headshots are usually more focused and minimalistic, emphasizing clarity and detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some headshots are meant to highlight an individual. There are tons of reasons for this\u2014maybe it\u2019s a founder or C-level executive, a LinkedIn profile photo, or a business owner. These photos could be used for profile pages, about us pages, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Who We Are Project, for example, has an individual headshot of its founder on its \u201cour team\u201d page<\/a>. You can see the photo was clipped and\/or masked, isolating the subject and putting it on a different background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Professional\n\n\n\n

The Women\u2019s Eagles rugby team<\/a> also has individual headshots on its website. In this example, there are many individual headshots to showcase each of the players on the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Headshots\n\n\n\n

Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Team headshots involve multiple people. In some cases, the whole group is on-site to take the photo together. In others, the photos are taken individually and later clipped and composited to be one group photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one sports photographer we work with on clipping paths and retouching takes both team and individual photos of 16 different sports teams for each season<\/a>. That\u2019s a lot of headshots!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corporate and business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Corporate headshot photography is a very common type\u2014think real estate agents, investors, and C-suite executives. They\u2019re often on a simple plain background or with some sort of effect that makes them look impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These headshots typically go on companies\u2019 about us pages, on LinkedIn profile pages, and similar avenues. Here\u2019s how marketing agency Salted Stone<\/a> uses business headshots to showcase its team:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Business\n\n\n\n

Actors and models<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Actors and models also need headshots. These headshots vary a bit from the other types of headshots because you often want to see more personality and creativity here. Think about it this way: If someone is a comedian and they\u2019re trying to land \u201cfunny\u201d acting roles, their headshots are likely to showcase a more casual, smiley, and even goofy personality. Whereas professional corporate headshots tend to be more streamlined and straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, models going after beauty brands or fashion gigs will go for a headshot that casts them in that light, like in this example below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Headshot\n\n\n\n

Beauty and glamor shots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot of overlap between beauty and glamor shots and actor or modeling headshots, but there are some slight differences. For example, beauty and glamor shots aren\u2019t always necessarily to land an acting or modeling gig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beauty and glamor shots could be used by people for personal reasons\u2014first day of school, graduation, dance recitals, etc. These are often for personal reasons rather than business purposes (though there are always exceptions!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating profiles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dating profiles are emerging as a key niche in the headshot industry as more people warm up to the idea of meeting a potential partner online. This means people are also putting more energy into what their dating profiles say and how they represent themselves. One great way to upgrade a dating profile is with a professionally shot and edited headshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of headshots + examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We covered the different reasons for headshots, now let\u2019s look at four core types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Close-up headshot<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Half-body headshot<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Three-quarter headshot<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Full-body headshot<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Close-up shot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The close-up shot is arguably the most traditional type of headshot, and is likely the first type of photo that comes to mind when you think of headshots. It\u2019s tightly framed, focusing on the subject\u2019s face, often from the shoulders up. The background is usually simple or blurred to keep the attention on the subject\u2019s features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here\u2019s an example of a close-up headshot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Close-up\n\n\n\n

    Half-body headshot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The half body headshot typically starts somewhere around the waist and covers everything from the waist up. You might see these in more casual headshots or photos that show context in the background, like in this half-body headshot example below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Half-body\n\n\n\n

    Three-quarter headshot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A three-quarter headshot will start somewhere around the thigh. These are very common for models and actors in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Smiling\n\n\n\n

    Full-body headshot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The full-body headshot shows everything\u2014from the feet to the top of the head. This is often used when context is important. It\u2019s rare to see a full-body headshot on a plain white or neutral background. Models definitely need all four kinds of headshots, with an emphasis on full-body shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     <\/div>\n\n\n\n\"Full-body\n\n\n\n

    Cost of headshot photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Asking \u201chow much does a headshot cost?\u201d is similar to asking \u201chow much does a car cost?\u201d The prices vary depending on many factors, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n