A professional headshot costs $75 to $1,000 per session in 2026
A professional headshot costs $75 to $1,000 in 2026. Fash lists a standard headshot at $75 to $250 and a professional package at $300 to $700. The Magic Studio Academy puts the national median at $250. The price depends on the photographer, your city, and how many edited photos you get. A quick session with one or two photos costs the least. A long session with many looks costs the most. Add-ons can raise the bill by 40 to 60 percent.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| ThePricer | ThePricer lists individual photographer rates of $150 to $450, beginners at $25 to $75, intermediate at $75 to $200, and established professionals at $250 to $800 per 1 to 2 hour session. |
| Fash | Fash lists a standard headshot at $75 to $250+, a professional package at $300 to $700+, and personal branding at $500 to $1,500+, with extra retouched images at $50 to $100+ each. |
| Backstage | Backstage lists a single look headshot at $250+, extra looks at $100+, and retouching at $10 to $50 per photo, with a two hour Los Angeles session near $578. |
| The Magic Studio Academy | The Magic Studio Academy lists a national median of $250 and a studio session range of $100 to $1,000, with New York at $450 to $924 and Phoenix at $150 to $400. |
Headshot price by package and source
| Package or tier | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard headshot, 1 to 2 retouched images | $75 to $250+ | Fash |
| Professional package, 3 to 5 images | $300 to $700+ | Fash |
| Personal branding, 10 to 20+ images | $500 to $1,500+ | Fash |
| Budget studio session | $100 to $300 | The Magic Studio Academy |
| Standard studio session | $300 to $1,000 | The Magic Studio Academy |
| Single look session | $250+ | Backstage |
| Two hour multi-look session in Los Angeles | About $578 | Backstage |
| Established professional photographer | $250 to $800 | ThePricer |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Photographer level | Fash lists beginners at $50 to $200 a session, mid-level pros at $350 to $1,000, and high-end names at $800 to $2,500 or more. |
| City | Magic Studio lists New York at $450 to $924 and Phoenix at $150 to $400 for a standard session. Big cities usually cost more than smaller ones. |
| Number of looks | Backstage says a single look starts near $250, and each extra outfit change adds $100 or more. More looks mean more time and more edits. |
| Retouching | Fash lists extra retouched images at $50 to $100 or more each. Backstage lists $10 to $50 per photo. Ask how many edits come in the base price. |
| Hair, makeup, and rights | Fash lists hair and makeup at $150 to $300 or more. Magic Studio lists commercial usage rights at $100 to $500 or more. |
What the price includes
Most headshot prices cover your session time, the photographer, and a set number of retouched images. Fash lists 1 to 2 retouched images in a standard package and 3 to 5 in a professional package. Extra images, more looks, hair and makeup, setup charges of $200 to $500, and commercial usage rights usually cost extra. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
Headshots come from independent photographers, studios, and companies that shoot whole teams at an office. Most bill a flat fee for a session that includes a set number of edited images. Group shoots can be billed per person or per day. Fash lists corporate headshots at $50 to $250 or more per person, or $1,500 to $5,000 or more as a daily rate. Setup charges of $200 to $500 and usage rights of $100 to $500 or more can show up as separate lines on the quote. Ask for the full price in writing before the shoot.
When you need this
You may need a headshot for a LinkedIn profile, a company website, a job search, or acting and modeling work. Actors often need several looks, which raises the price. Update your photo when you change jobs or when it no longer looks like you. A fresh, clear photo helps people trust your profile before they meet you.
How to judge your quote
- Ask how many retouched images are in the price.
- Ask the cost of each extra look and each extra image.
- Ask if hair, makeup, setup, or usage rights cost extra.
- Compare the quote to $250, the national median at Magic Studio.
- Compare the total with the range above: $75 to $1,000 per session for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Book a short mini session. Fash lists a quick 15 minute standard headshot at $75 to $250 with 1 to 2 retouched images, which is plenty for a profile photo.
- Ask what is in the base price before you book. Extra retouched images cost $50 to $100 or more each, so pick your favorites and skip the rest.
- Look at newer photographers. Fash lists amateur rates of $50 to $200 per session, and ThePricer lists beginners at $25 to $75. Check their portfolios first.
- Do your own hair and makeup. Fash lists hair and makeup services at $150 to $300 or more, so arriving ready can cut a big part of the bill.
- Think about an AI headshot for casual profiles. Magic Studio lists AI tools at $29 to $79 one time. Use a real photographer when you need a polished look.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from ThePricer, Fash, Backstage and The Magic Studio Academy. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a headshot cost?
Most sessions cost $75 to $1,000 in 2026. The Magic Studio Academy lists a national median of $250. ThePricer lists $150 to $450 for most individual photographers.
How much does a business headshot cost?
Fash lists business headshots at $150 to $500 on average. Corporate headshots run $50 to $250 or more per person when a company books a group.
How much do actor headshots cost?
Backstage says a single look starts at $250 or more, and extra looks add $100 or more. Fash lists modeling headshots at $500 to $1,500 or more.
Does the city change the price?
Yes. Magic Studio lists New York at $450 to $924 and Chicago at $300 to $600 for a standard session. Phoenix runs $150 to $400.
Are AI headshots cheaper?
Yes. Fash lists AI headshots at $20 to $50 for 50 or more images. Magic Studio lists AI tools at $29 to $79 one time. They are not the same as a photo session.