Comparing Headshot Session Types

Finding the Right Session for You

Not every headshot need is the same, and not every session type suits every situation. A startup founder updating their LinkedIn profile has different requirements than a law firm standardizing headshots for 40 attorneys. An actor building a casting portfolio needs a different experience than a conference organizer who needs 200 attendees photographed in a single afternoon.

We offer several session types specifically because one size does not fit all. Here is an honest breakdown of each option, including who it works best for, what you get, and what the trade-offs are.

Pop-Up Snapshot Sessions

Duration: 10 minutes per person
What you get: 1-2 retouched images
Best for: Quick updates, events, large groups on a tight timeline

How It Works

We set up a professional lighting station at your office, event, or conference. Each person steps in for roughly 10 minutes. We shoot, you leave, and your retouched headshot is delivered digitally within a few business days.

Who This Is For

Snapshot sessions are ideal when you need professional-quality headshots without the time investment of a full session. They work exceptionally well for:

• Companies that need standardized headshots for an entire team
• Conferences and events where attendees need headshots on-site
• Professionals who just need one clean, updated headshot
• People who are anxious about long photo sessions -- the brevity can actually be a comfort

Trade-Offs

With 10 minutes, there is less time for warm-up, fewer outfit changes, and a smaller variety of expressions and angles to choose from. Snapshot sessions produce great headshots, but they produce fewer options. If you want to explore different looks, backgrounds, or wardrobe combinations, a longer session is the better choice.

On-Location Professional Sessions

Duration: 30-45 minutes per person
What you get: 3-5 retouched images
Best for: Professionals who want variety and a personalized experience

How It Works

We come to a location of your choosing -- your office, a coworking space, a park, a hotel lobby -- and set up professional lighting. The longer session allows time for warm-up, wardrobe changes, and experimenting with different backgrounds and expressions. We shoot in multiple setups and deliver a curated gallery of retouched images.

Who This Is For

This is our most popular session type for individual professionals. It works well for:

• Executives and business owners who need headshots for multiple platforms (LinkedIn, company website, speaking bios, press)
• Professionals going through a career transition who want a fresh, updated image
• Anyone who wants more time to relax into the process and explore different looks
• People launching a personal brand who need images that reflect their personality

The On-Location Advantage

Shooting at your own workplace or a location you choose gives you a home-field advantage. You are more relaxed in familiar surroundings, and the background can add context that a studio cannot. A tech executive shot in a sleek office tells a different story than the same person on a plain gray backdrop. Both are valid, but the on-location shot adds a layer of narrative.

Trade-Offs

On-location sessions depend on the location cooperating. If your office has poor natural light or a cluttered background, we can work around it with our equipment, but a dedicated studio space offers more control. Weather can also be a factor for outdoor locations.

Executive Portrait Sessions

Duration: 60-90 minutes
What you get: 5-10 retouched images
Best for: C-suite executives, partners, thought leaders, anyone who needs a premium collection

How It Works

This is our most comprehensive individual session. We spend more time on consultation before the shoot, discussing your goals, your brand, and how the images will be used. During the session, we work through multiple setups, wardrobe changes, and lighting styles. The result is a portfolio of images that covers everything from your LinkedIn profile to a keynote speaker page to a magazine feature.

Who This Is For

• Executives who will use their headshots across many high-visibility platforms
• Authors, speakers, and thought leaders who need variety for different publications
• Anyone who wants the most thorough, personalized experience available
• Professionals in image-conscious industries where the quality of your headshot reflects the quality of your work

Trade-Offs

Executive sessions require a larger time commitment and a higher investment. They are not necessary for everyone. If you need one great headshot for LinkedIn, a standard session delivers that at a lower price point. Executive sessions make sense when you need volume, variety, and premium-level attention.

Team and Group Sessions

Duration: Varies based on team size (typically 10-15 minutes per person)
What you get: 1-2 retouched images per person, consistent style across the team
Best for: Companies updating their website, firms onboarding new hires, organizations standardizing their visual brand

How It Works

We set up at your office and photograph your team one by one using a consistent lighting setup, background, and style. Each person gets individual attention during their time slot, and the final images share a cohesive look while allowing each person's personality to come through.

Who This Is For

• Companies redesigning their website who need fresh, consistent headshots for the team page
• Law firms, accounting firms, and consultancies that require standardized partner and associate headshots
• Startups that want professional team photos without the overhead of individual bookings
• Any organization with five or more people who need headshots

The Consistency Advantage

The biggest value of a team session is consistency. When you view a company's about page and every headshot was taken with different lighting, different backgrounds, and different styles, it looks fragmented. When every headshot shares the same visual language -- same lighting quality, same background treatment, same general framing -- the team page looks polished and intentional. That consistency signals organizational quality to clients and recruits alike.

Trade-Offs

Each individual gets less time than they would in a personal session. We mitigate this by running an efficient, well-organized session with quick warm-ups for each person, but it is inherently less personalized than a dedicated one-on-one session.

Choosing the Right Option

Still not sure? Contact us and tell us what you are working with. We will recommend the session type that makes the most sense for your situation, timeline, and budget. There is no wrong answer -- just the right fit for what you need.