Short answer: most photographers who publish their rates charge about $100 to $275 per person for a team headshot day, and $250 to $600 for one executive session. A full on-site day for 20 to 50 people runs about $1,800 to $4,500, or $3,000 to $6,000 in the Bay Area. The price per person drops as the team grows. Where you are, whether the photographer comes to your office, how many retouched images each person gets and what the license covers move the total more than anything else.
I wrote this for the office manager, HR lead, founder or marketing person who has been told to "get headshots done" and has to hire someone. You do not need to know cameras. You need to know what a fair quote looks like, what is usually extra, and what to ask before you book.
About the numbers. ProShoot is not quoting a price list and I did not make up any of these figures. Every price here is what a named photographer or a published pricing guide says, linked in the sources at the bottom. They are advertised rates, not a survey of every invoice. Where sources disagree I show both. Use this to judge quotes, not to replace them.
What is in this guide
The three ways headshots are priced
Photographers quote corporate headshots in one of three ways. Knowing which one you are looking at is half of comparing quotes.
- Per person. A flat rate for each employee, with a set time slot and a set number of retouched images. This is the most common for teams of 5 to 50. Luminous Space, a Bay Area studio, says it is the standard for groups in that range.
- Day rate plus a small per-person fee. Alex Headshots in the DC area charges $500 for the shooting day and $100 per person on top. It is the same idea, just split in two.
- Flat day or half-day rate. Used for big teams. Luminous Space lists $1,500 to $3,500 for a half day and $3,000 to $6,000 for a full day in the Bay Area. One published guide, YourQuoteCraft, says per-person pricing hurts large groups and a flat day rate is better above about 30 people.
Whatever the format, divide the total by the number of people and by the number of finished images. That gives you a number you can compare.
Team headshot days: what photographers publish
These are real, public rates from photographers who list them. They are one person's offer in one market, not an average.
| Photographer and area | Published rate | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Hicks Photography, New York | $100 per person; $80 for teams of 10 to 20 | 2 retouched images each |
| jodaniphoto, Seattle area | From $125 per person, groups of 6 or more | 1 retouched image each, travel in Greater Seattle, 72 hour delivery |
| Jose Lara Photography | $150 per person, minimum 5 people | 1 retouched image each, no travel fee, unlimited professional use |
| Camerawerkz, Bay Area | $175 per person, minimum 10 (from $1,750) | 2 edited images each, mobile studio, no travel fee in the Bay Area |
| Alex Headshots, DC, Virginia and Maryland | $500 day rate plus $100 per person | 1 premium retouched portrait, commercial usage rights |
The pattern is clear. Most published team rates sit between $100 and $175 per person, and most include one or two retouched images and an on-site setup. The cheapest rate on the table is not always the cheapest quote: look at how many images are included and what a third retouched image costs.
Two guides give broader ranges. YourQuoteCraft says solo photographers in 2026 typically charge $125 to $275 per person for team days of 10 or more, with a middle value of $175, and $1,800 to $4,500 for a full on-site corporate day covering 20 to 50 people. Luminous Space lists a sliding scale for the Bay Area:
| Team size | Per person (Bay Area, Luminous Space) |
|---|---|
| 5 to 10 people | $200 to $300 |
| 11 to 25 people | $150 to $225 |
| 26 to 50 people | $125 to $175 |
| 50 or more | $100 to $150, or a day rate |
Alex Headshots publishes its own totals, which are easy to check against the formula: 5 people $1,000, 10 people $1,500, 25 people $3,000, 50 people $5,500. The bigger the team, the lower the cost per head.
A simple example: a team of 30 at $150 per person is $4,500. Luminous Space makes the same point, and notes that a headshot is typically used for two to three years, so $175 per person works out to under $6 a month for each employee.
Executive and individual sessions
A dedicated session for a founder, partner or executive is longer, has more looks and usually more finished images.
- Matthew Hicks lists $350 for an executive session in New York with 20 post-produced images.
- YourQuoteCraft says solo photographers charge $250 to $600 for an individual executive session.
- Photography Shark, which compiled published session prices, puts the national median for a standard studio headshot session at about $250 and says most sessions in mid-priced markets fall between $300 and $550.
If you only need one or two people photographed, a studio session is often cheaper than booking a photographer to come to your office. Many photographers also have a minimum, such as 5 or 10 people, for on-site work, so check before you ask for a quote on a team of 3.
Price by city
The same headshot costs very different amounts in different cities. Photography Shark compiled published studio session prices across 16 US metros in 2026. These are low and high ends for an individual session, not team rates:
| Metro | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $450 | $900+ |
| Los Angeles | $350 | $800 |
| San Francisco | $325 | $600 |
| Chicago | $300 | $600 |
| Boston | $300 | $550 |
| Seattle | $275 | $525 |
| Miami | $250 | $500 |
| Denver | $225 | $450 |
| Atlanta | $225 | $425 |
| Houston | $150 | $450 |
| Dallas | $150 | $450 |
| Phoenix | $150 | $400 |
The same source says the gap between the most and least expensive metros is roughly two to three times. Luminous Space says Bay Area pricing runs 10 to 20 percent above national averages. If your office is in a lower-cost city, expect to pay at the lower end of the ranges in this guide, and if you are in New York or Los Angeles, expect the top.
One more thing the city table does not show: team rates are usually well below the single-session price, because the photographer is already set up and shoots many people in a row. That is why Matthew Hicks can list $100 per person for a team and $350 for an executive in the same city.
What costs extra
Add-ons are where a quote that looked cheap becomes expensive. Photography Shark says add-ons often raise the base price by 40 to 60 percent. The usual items:
- Extra retouched images. Luminous Space says extras typically cost $25 to $75 each. Camerawerkz lists $75 per person, and Jose Lara lists $85 per image. One Boston example in the Photography Shark study is a $400 session with one image included and further retouching from $200 each, which can push ten images to $850 to $2,200.
- On-site setup or travel. Luminous Space says $150 to $500 for travel and setup, depending on distance. Many team-day photographers include travel in their area at no charge, as Camerawerkz, jodaniphoto and Jose Lara do.
- Rush delivery. Luminous Space says standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days and rush fees of $150 to $300 are common for 24 to 48 hours. jodaniphoto lists 72 hour delivery as standard.
- Hair and makeup. Not usually included. Luminous Space says $100 to $200 per person, booked separately.
- Usage and license. Internal use on your website, LinkedIn and email signatures is standard. YourQuoteCraft says paid ads, press and similar outside use can add 30 to 100 percent depending on scope. Alex Headshots and Jose Lara both say their team packages include commercial or unlimited professional use. Always ask.
- Extra locations or backgrounds. More than one backdrop, or shooting at two offices, raises the price.
The question that protects you: "What is the total for 30 people, with each person getting two retouched images, delivered in a week, with license to use them on our website and in ads?"
On-site or studio
For a team of 10 or more, on-site almost always wins. The photographer sets up in a conference room, and each person steps away from their desk for 5 to 15 minutes. Published slot lengths: Luminous Space says 5 to 6 minutes per person is an efficient pace, which is 8 to 10 people an hour; Camerawerkz says 5 to 10 minutes; Jose Lara says about 10; jodaniphoto says 12 to 15. Luminous Space estimates a half day covers 25 to 35 people.
A studio shoot means everyone travels. For 20 people who each lose an hour, that is 20 hours of work. The on-site surcharge, where there is one, is often smaller than that cost. Studio makes sense for one or two people, or for an executive who wants more looks and more time.
On-site needs a room of about 10 by 12 feet, per Alex Headshots, and one standard power outlet. Setup takes 30 to 45 minutes, and photographers usually arrive early.
How to plan the day
- Count the people. Include remote staff who can come in, and new hires starting within a few months. Adding people on the day costs more than adding them in the quote.
- Pick one date and book slots. Send each person a time. Photographers like Camerawerkz provide a sign-up link. A gap-free schedule is what makes the day efficient.
- Choose the background once. A plain light grey or white background is the most flexible. Everyone gets the same one so the team page looks consistent.
- Send a short prep note. Solid colors, no busy patterns, clothes that fit, and bring a second option. Tell people how long the slot is and where to go.
- Plan for no-shows. If someone is out on the day, ask the photographer how a makeup slot or a late addition is priced.
- Decide how people choose their image. Some photographers share a private gallery and each person picks their favorite for retouching. Others pick for you. Ask which one.
How to hire, step by step
- Write the brief. Number of people, city and office address, preferred date, where the photos will be used (website, LinkedIn, press, ads) and the finished images per person.
- Get at least three quotes. The spread tells you what the market looks like for your city and team size.
- Look at a real team gallery. Ask for a past team shoot, not just a portfolio of single portraits. You want to see consistency across 20 faces.
- Compare totals, not rates. Convert each quote to total cost for your team, including images, travel, rush and license.
- Confirm the process. How long per person, how early they arrive, how files are delivered and how retouching picks are handled.
- Get it in writing before you pay a deposit.
What the quote should say
- Date, time window and location.
- Number of people and what happens if the number changes.
- Finished images per person and the price of extras.
- Delivery date, as a number of days, and the price of rush.
- License. Where you may use the photos, and for how long. If you plan paid ads or press, say so up front.
- Travel and setup fees, or a line that says there are none.
- Retouching level. Light cleanup is standard. Heavy changes to a person's face are not what most companies want.
- Deposit, balance and cancellation or reschedule terms.
- Insurance. Some buildings ask vendors for proof of insurance. Ask early.
Ways to spend less without worse photos
- Bundle the team into one day. Per-person cost falls as headcount rises. Photography on two separate days costs more than one.
- Ask for one retouched image per person, with extras available later if someone wants them.
- Skip rush. Plan the shoot two weeks before you need the photos.
- Look for included travel. Several photographers in the table include it within their area.
- Do not skip the license question. A cheap quote that leaves out ad use can cost more than a fair one that includes it.
- Plan a refresh every two to three years, not every year, so each shoot covers new hires and people who changed look.
Frequently asked questions
Published team rates mostly run $100 to $175 per person, and guides give a wider range of $100 to $300. YourQuoteCraft reports $125 to $275 per person for team days of 10 or more. Rates fall as the team grows, and on-site travel is often included.
One guide says $1,800 to $4,500 for a full on-site day covering 20 to 50 people. Luminous Space lists $1,500 to $3,500 for a half day and $3,000 to $6,000 for a full day in the Bay Area. Alex Headshots charges a $500 day rate plus $100 per person.
Published rates run about $250 to $600 for a dedicated executive session. Matthew Hicks lists $350 in New York with 20 finished images. Studio prices are higher in New York and Los Angeles and lower in Sun Belt cities.
Published slots run from about 5 to 15 minutes per person. A photographer can shoot roughly 8 to 10 people an hour at an efficient pace, so a half day covers about 25 to 35 people.
For 10 or more people, on-site is usually better because each person only leaves their desk for a few minutes. Studio fits one or two people who want more time and more looks.
Extra retouched images ($25 to $85 each in the sources), travel or setup ($150 to $500 where it is charged), rush delivery ($150 to $300), hair and makeup ($100 to $200 per person) and wider usage rights for ads or press.
Most published team packages include one or two retouched images per person. Executive sessions can include more, such as 20 in Matthew Hicks' New York listing. Ask what a third image costs.
Only if the license says so. Internal use on a website, LinkedIn and email signatures is standard. Some photographers include commercial use, and others charge 30 to 100 percent more for paid ads or press. Get it in writing.
Luminous Space says a headshot typically lasts two to three years. Update sooner for new hires, a rebrand, or when people no longer look like their photos.
No. ProShoot is a place to describe your job and hear from photographers. The ranges here come from published sources named below. Photographers set their own rates.
Need corporate headshots?
Post your job on ProShoot with your city, team size, date, where the photos will be used and how many finished images each person needs. Photographers can respond with their own quotes, and payments are held protected until delivery. Commercial licensing is included.
Sources
Figures in this guide come from the following pages, checked in October 2026. Prices change, and local quotes will differ.
- Matthew Hicks Photography: How Much Do Corporate Headshots Cost in NYC?
- Luminous Space: Corporate Headshots Pricing (Bay Area)
- Camerawerkz: Team Headshot Days
- Alex Headshots: Team Headshot Pricing
- jodaniphoto: On-site Team Headshots
- Jose Lara Photography: Headshot Day
- YourQuoteCraft: Corporate Headshot Pricing 2026
- Photography Shark: Average Professional Headshot Cost by City
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