A professional headshot session in the US costs about $300 on average, with most people paying $200 to $430. Quick studio or mini sessions start around $100–$200, actor and executive sessions run $500–$2,000, and on-site team headshots cost about $80–$275 per person. AI headshots cost $9–$99 for a whole set.
Average cost of a professional headshot
Thumbtack's cost guide, based on prices from photographers on its platform, puts the US average for a headshot session at about $304, with a typical range of $216 to $427. Studio price lists from individual photographers tell the same story: a short 15–30 minute session with one or two retouched photos usually costs $200–$300 in a big city, and premium sessions run $500–$900.
The price also depends on what the headshot is for. Thumbtack's averages by type are close together, because most of them are the same short session sold to different people:
| Headshot type | Average price (US) |
|---|---|
| Passport-style | $175 |
| Acting | $203 |
| Social media | $206 |
| Professional / business | $207 |
| Modeling | $220 |
| Glamour | $236 |
Source: Thumbtack headshot cost guide, checked October 2026. Averages for a basic session; add-ons are extra.
Headshot prices by type
Averages hide a wide spread. These are the ranges you'll actually see on photographers' price lists in 2026:
| Type of session | Typical price | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| Mini or express session | $100–$200 | 10–20 minutes, one look, 1–2 retouched photos |
| Standard studio / LinkedIn | $200–$450 | 30–60 minutes, 1–2 looks, 2–5 retouched photos |
| Outdoor or on location | $200–$550 | Natural light at a park or office, travel included nearby |
| Actor headshots | $250–$1,500 | Several looks (commercial and theatrical), coaching, more retouched photos |
| Executive or luxury | $600–$2,000+ | Longer session, hair and makeup, multiple setups, full usage rights |
| Corporate team, on site | $80–$275 per person | 5–15 minutes each, matching backdrop, 1 retouched photo, plus a setup fee |
| AI headshot generator | $9–$99 per set | 10–400 photos from a selfie, many outfits and backgrounds, in minutes to hours |
Ranges compiled from published photographer price lists and cost guides (see sources at the end), October 2026.
What's included, and what costs extra
The session fee is rarely the final bill. These are the add-ons that most often double it:
- Extra retouched photos: usually $25–$150 each. Most packages include only 1–3 finished images; you pick the rest from proofs and pay per photo.
- Hair and makeup: about $75–$225 per person, often more for women than for men.
- Extra looks or backgrounds: another outfit or a second setup adds time, and many photographers price by the look.
- Travel and setup: on-location shoots often add a flat fee, from about $100 to several hundred dollars, plus travel outside the photographer's area.
- Usage rights: personal use (LinkedIn, résumé) is normally included; ads, book covers or packaging may need a commercial license.
- Rush delivery: retouched files usually arrive in a few days to two weeks. Same-day delivery often costs extra.
Why prices change by city
A photographer in Manhattan or San Francisco pays far more for studio space and insurance than one in a small town, and charges for it. One San Francisco studio sorts cities into rough tiers:
Experience matters as much as location. Photographers who are just starting out may charge $25–$75 to build a portfolio, while established headshot specialists with a recognizable style charge several hundred dollars and up.
How much team headshots cost
For companies, photographers usually charge per person with a minimum, plus a setup or travel fee for coming to your office. Published rates in 2026 range from about $80 to $275 per person, falling as headcount rises. One San Diego studio, for example, lists $135 per person for 5–6 people, $115 for 7–14 and $90 for 15 or more, each with one outfit and one retouched photo.
Here is what a typical 10-person shoot adds up to with those numbers:
| 10 people × $115 | $1,150 |
|---|---|
| Hair and makeup, 10 × $150 (optional) | $1,500 |
| 1 extra retouched photo each, 10 × $40 | $400 |
| Total, before travel or setup fees | About $3,050 |
The hidden cost is scheduling: getting everyone into the office on the same day, and re-booking for new hires and people who were out. Remote teams make it harder still. That's the main reason companies switch to AI team headshots, which cost $15–$25 per person and let each employee upload a selfie whenever they join.
AI headshots vs a photographer: the cost
AI headshot generators work from your own selfie and return a set of studio-style photos with different outfits and backgrounds. Prices are one-time and much lower:
| Option | Price | Photos | Cost per photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| US photographer, average session | About $304 | 2–5 retouched | $60–$150 |
| Photographer with add-ons (example above) | $675 | 5 | $135 |
| HeyAIHeadshot | $9–$99 | 10–400 | $0.25–$0.90 |
| HeadshotPro | $29–$59 | 30–70 | $0.78–$0.97 |
| Aragon AI | $35–$75 | 40–100 | $0.75–$0.88 |
AI prices from each company's pricing page, October 2026. See our AI headshot generator comparison, the HeadshotPro review and the Aragon AI review for details.
Cost per photo flatters AI a little, because you won't use 100 headshots. The fairer comparison is what it costs to get the one or two photos you'll actually use. With a photographer that's the session fee; with AI it's the smallest pack that gives you a result you like. With HeyAIHeadshot you can check that for free first: every new account gets 3 HD previews of themselves before paying. See the free previews.
Are AI headshots worth it?
For most everyday uses, yes. For a few, a photographer is still worth the money. The honest split looks like this:
AI is enough for
- LinkedIn and job sites
- Resume and CV photos
- Slack, Teams, Zoom and email signatures
- Company team pages and staff directories
- Conference bios and speaker pages
- Updating an old photo quickly or cheaply
Book a photographer for
- Actor and model headshots: casting directors expect a real, unretouched-looking photo
- Print campaigns, billboards and book covers
- A specific location, prop or creative concept
- Large, consistent brand shoots with art direction
- Anyone who wants coaching on posing and expression
The biggest risk with AI is likeness: a photo that looks polished but not quite like you. You avoid that with a good selfie and by choosing the most natural result. Our guide to making AI headshots look realistic covers the details.
How to pay less for professional headshots
- Book a mini session. If you only need a LinkedIn photo, a 15-minute slot with one retouched image is often half the price of a full session.
- Decide how many photos you need first. Extra retouched images are where bills grow. One great photo usually covers LinkedIn, your résumé and your company page.
- Share a group booking. Many photographers discount when several colleagues or friends book the same day.
- Do your own hair and makeup. It saves $75–$225 if you're comfortable with your everyday look.
- Check usage rights up front. Make sure personal and professional use is included so you aren't charged later.
- Try AI first. Preview a few AI headshots of yourself for free. If one works, you may not need a session at all.
Questions to ask before you book a photographer
- How many retouched photos are included, and what does each extra one cost?
- How long is the session, and how many outfits or backgrounds can I do?
- Is hair and makeup included or available, and at what price?
- When will I get the final files, and in what size and format?
- Can I use the photos on LinkedIn, my website and in print without extra fees?
- Is there a travel or setup fee for coming to my office?
Not sure what to wear or how to stand? Read what to wear for headshots and our headshot poses guide before the session.
Sources: Thumbtack headshot cost guide; 415Headshots 2026 pricing guide (studio, actor, luxury and city tiers, retouching); Unveiled Photography (on-location per-person tiers, hair and makeup); James Maher Photography (NYC team rates); BetterPic company headshot pricing. All checked October 2026; photographers set their own prices, so get local quotes.
