Here is a question I never hear. “How much does it cost for a headshot in Seattle?”
Of course, I am being sarcastic. In reality, it is the first question most people ask when inquiring about my services. But here is the truth. It can cost as little or as much as you want it to. I know that is a vague answer, but you can find headshot photographers that charge as little as $50.00 or as much as several thousand dollars. Which price point is right for you? Here are some guidelines to make sure you make the right choice.
How do you decide how much to spend on a headshot?
There are three primary points to be considered when making your decision.
- The value you place on a headshot to help you achieve your career, business, or personal goals.
- How you intend to use your new headshot.
- Your budget.
Why Have a Professional Headshot at All?
A headshot serves a single purpose, marketing. Regardless of any other reason you may find for having a headshot created, it boils down to making the best impression possible on others for either personal or business reasons.
So, being a marketing asset, you need to let go of your vanity (yes, we all have it to a certain degree!) and realize that the purpose of your headshot isn’t necessarily to make you look beautiful. The purpose of a headshot is to connect with your target audience as a confident, approachable, and professional expert in your role. Of course, both you and (hopefully) your photographer want you to look great in your new headshots. But if your headshot is not created in a way that supports the progress of your personal or professional goals, it is just another pretty picture that will do very little in moving you forward toward your goals and intentions.
Comparing Headshot Price Points
To set some expectations, I’ve broken the down cost of a headshot into the three pricing categories; Economical, Mid-Range, and Higher End. These are all based on the cost of a session and a single image.
Caveat: It is important to note that pricing does not always determine the quality of service and work you will experience. There are some photographers that charge next to nothing that are doing beautiful work with great customer service. On the other end of the spectrum, there are very high-priced photographers who are great marketers but do not have the skills to produce a true professional quality headshot or make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. So, the information I am providing is based on reasonable expectations for each category. Just be aware that there are exceptions to every rule.
One last point before I continue. There is what I call the “ultimate factor” for a successful headshot or, for that matter, any type of image that falls under the portrait category. I will explain that at the end of the article.
Alright. Enough of my babbling. Let’s get to it!
How Much Does It Cost for a Headshot in Seattle?
Option 1: Economical – Under $300
Expectation: A usable headshot with global adjustments and little retouching.
If you’re just looking for a quick headshot with decent lighting on a nice background and don’t particularly care about retouching or coaching in front of the camera, you can find photographers in the area charging less than $100. But realistically, you should expect to invest more towards the $175 to $250 range.
Advantages:
- Minimal cost.
- Very little investment of your time.
- Can be perfectly adequate for people who are not looking for new career opportunities or do not have one-to-one interactions with prospects and clients.
Disadvantages:
- Photographers in this price range tend to be new to the business, inexperienced, or both.
- The level of service you receive may be minimal due to the low price point.
- The photographer may be a generalist as opposed to a headshot specialist.
Option 2: Mid-Range – Between $300 and $600
Expectation: A friendly and supportive experience with a photographer that understands lighting, posing, and has good communication skills. They will provide you with a nicely retouched image for a variety of uses.
This is kind of a tough category to nail down. The differences between a mid-range cost photographer and a higher end photographer don’t always have to with their skills but more with the level of service they feel is best for the type of clients best suits the market they’ve chosen to serve. So, the expectations above should serve as your minimal expectations in this price range.
Advantages:
- Considered affordable in most markets.
- A more supportive and collaborative client experience.
- Very good image retouching and overall image quality.
Disadvantages:
- Your headshot session may be limited by time and/or the number of images created.
- You may not be offered all the “bells and whistles” such as a hair and makeup artist and a variety of image options.
- You may not be working with a photographer with specific headshot training.
Option 3: Higher End – $600 and Above
Expectation: You’ll be working with a photographer that has extensive training and experience in headshot photography, provides a premium client experience that offers pre-session preparation materials and consultation. Using excellent communication skills, your photographer will provide a truly collaborative experience which includes extensive expression and posing coaching, review of images throughout the session, and . After learning about your specific needs, the photographer will create images to serve your specific need(s), work collaboratively, gives useful instructions and feedback, guides you through your image selection, and provides excellence in retouching and image quality.
Much like the mid-range headshot photographer described above, the difference in pricing among higher end headshot photographers can depend on many factors such as their experience, skill level, demand for their time, and how high their level of customer service goes. They should also offer other amenities such as in-studio hair and makeup, the option of having a fine art business or personal portrait during the session, and a variety of image sizes for various platforms. People who select a higher end photographer may select just a single image from their session but often opt for multiple images for different usage scenarios. Those scenarios can include personal branding, business marketing, social media profile photos, websites, professional speaking engagements, and more.
Advantages:
- You will be prepared in advance and coached throughout the entire process.
- You can expect high quality photography and retouching.
- Follow up after you receive your headshot(s) to ensure they are meeting your needs and expectations.
Disadvantages:
- You’ll be investing more to receive headshots with a greater positive impact on your target audience.
- It may take a little longer to receive your final images due to the level of retouching and image preparation.
- Your session may require a larger portion of your time.
Some photographers may offer each of these levels of service. In that case you can count on excellent photography because of their advanced skills. it’s just a matter of the level of service, the type of lighting used, and the level of image preparation you’ll experience.
The “Ultimate Factor”
The ability to connect and communicate with your photographer is, perhaps, the most important factor when selecting your photographer. You could hire the most expensive and well-reviewed photographer in your area but if you don’t feel comfortable working with them, it’s likely that your new headshots will not live up to your expectations. Regardless of price point, be sure you feel comfortable and able to work with the photographer you’ve selected.
Conclusion: How much it cost for a headshot in Seattle
So, how much does it cost for a headshot in Seattle? With all the options available, it’s really up to you. If you use the information I’ve provided as a guide for your search, you should be able to figure out the right price point for your new headshots. Once you have determined that, do your research. Look at websites and read Google reviews. Ask friends and coworkers about their headshot experiences. Set up consultations with the photographers you are considering. When you find someone whose work you like and can easily talk to, chances are you’ve found your photographer!
Charlie Cotugno is the owner of Charles Cotugno Photography and is a Seattle headshot photographer/specialist. His clients range from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. Charlie is also a sought-after speaker on the topic of leveraging photography for career advancement and marketing success, as well as implementing the creative process for innovation in the workplace. To learn about Charlie and the services he offers, visit www.ccHeadshots.com, email charlie@ccHeadshots.com, or call/text 425.501.9725.
Want to learn more about how much it cost for a headshot cost in Seattle?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me today to explore a variety of business portrait and branding image options that best communicate your new look.
Citation
- Charles Cotugno Photography – Business Portraits.