Professional headshots cost between $150 and $500 for most people in 2026, with a national median around $250. Prices vary significantly by city, ranging from under $200 in states like Indiana and Nebraska to over $900 in New York. Once you factor in extras like hair and makeup, retouching, and outfit changes, the real cost often lands between $400 and $800.
Below, we break down exactly what drives those numbers: by city and by profession, plus the hidden costs most pricing guides leave out.
How much do AI headshots cost?
AI headshots typically cost between $10 and $50 for most platforms, compared to $150 to $500+ for a professional photographer session. Narkis.ai starts at $27 for a complete package of 200 professional headshots across multiple styles and backgrounds.
Traditional photographer sessions include hidden costs like hair and makeup ($100-$300), additional retouched images ($25-$100 each), and rush delivery fees ($50-$150). AI headshots include unlimited variations with no extra fees. The total difference means AI headshots cost about 90% less than hiring a photographer for comparable results.
Are AI headshots cheaper than a photographer?
Yes, AI headshots are typically 80-90% cheaper than hiring a photographer. A basic photographer session runs $150-$500, but the real total reaches $400-$800 once you add styling, retouching, travel time, and extra images. AI headshots cost $10-$50 and include everything with no hidden fees.
The price gap is even wider for teams or frequent updates. Getting headshots for 20 employees through a photographer costs $3,000-$10,000. The same team using AI headshots pays $200-$500 total. People who update their headshots annually save hundreds each year by using AI instead of rebooking photographer sessions.
What Goes Into the Price
A headshot session is more than someone pointing a camera at your face. The price reflects several things happening behind the scenes:
Studio overhead. A photographer renting space in Manhattan pays $3,000-$5,000/month for a small studio. The same square footage in Indianapolis might run $800. That gap shows up directly in session pricing.
Equipment. Professional lighting setups, backdrops, camera bodies, and lenses run $10,000-$30,000 for a working studio. Studios spread that cost across every session.
Retouching. A skilled retoucher spends 30-60 minutes per final image: evening skin tone, cleaning up stray hairs, adjusting lighting. This is skilled labor, not a one-click filter.
Directing ability. The difference between a $150 headshot and a $500 headshot is often the photographer's ability to coach you through expressions, posture, and angles. Someone who shoots 500 headshots a year knows how to make you look confident in 20 minutes. Someone still building their portfolio might take an hour and still miss it.
Business costs. Insurance, website, booking software, marketing, accounting. A legitimate studio has the same overhead as any small business.
None of this means expensive always equals better. But it explains why the floor exists where it does.
Headshot Prices by City
Location is the single biggest factor in what you'll pay. Here's what the market looks like across the ten most-searched cities.
New York City
Typical range: $300-$900+
NYC is the most expensive market in the country. The average session runs around $925 when you include the premium end of the market. At the accessible end, studios like Camera 1 offer corporate headshots in the $300-$700 range. GORNPHOTO, run by photographer Lev Gorn, starts at $425 for corporate sessions. Celebrity and executive photographers push well past $1,500.
The sweet spot for a solid, professional headshot in NYC is $300-$700. Below $300, you're likely getting unretouched files and a photographer still learning their craft.
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Los Angeles
Typical range: $180-$500
LA is surprisingly competitive given its reputation. The actor headshot market keeps prices in check because the volume is so high. You can find decent sessions starting around $180, with most working professionals paying $250-$450. Actor-specific headshots skew higher at $300-$600 because casting directors have specific expectations around format and style.
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San Francisco
Typical range: $295-$600
The Bay Area's tech and corporate density pushes prices up. Studios like 415Headshots charge $295-$450 for standard sessions, making them representative of the local market. Executive and personal branding sessions climb to $600-$900. The tech industry's demand for polished LinkedIn photos has created a steady, premium market.
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Chicago
Typical range: $99-$400
Chicago offers some of the best value among major cities. Studio RedLeaf runs all-inclusive sessions at $99, making them one of the most affordable options in any top-10 market. Mid-range studios like Bravo4Studio start at $200. Alan Luntz Photography offers all-inclusive packages at $195. The average across the state of Illinois sits around $350.
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Houston
Typical range: $150-$400
Houston follows Texas's broader pricing pattern: lower than the coasts, higher than the Midwest. The state average is around $330. Corporate headshots for oil and gas professionals tend to run on the higher end, while general LinkedIn headshots land in the $150-$300 range.
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Dallas
Typical range: $175-$450
Similar to Houston, with slightly higher prices driven by the corporate market in Uptown and the Design District. Executive headshots push toward $400-$600. Standard professional headshots sit comfortably in the $200-$350 range.
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Washington DC
Typical range: $250-$500
DC's market is shaped by government, lobbying, and law. Attorney and lobbyist headshots tend to run higher because the expectations are specific: conservative styling on neutral backgrounds with precise retouching. The Maryland state average is $331, which tracks closely with the DC metro area. Bethesda Headshots, a well-known local studio, prices standard sessions around $250 for a single look and $475 for two looks.
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Boston
Typical range: $200-$500
Boston's mix of healthcare and finance creates steady demand. The Massachusetts state average is around $340. Medical professionals and academics tend to need headshots more frequently due to institutional requirements, which keeps the market competitive.
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Seattle
Typical range: $200-$450
Seattle's tech industry drives demand similar to San Francisco, but with lower overhead costs. The Washington state average is $294. Corporate headshots for tech professionals make up the bulk of the market, with most sessions falling in the $250-$400 range.
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Miami
Typical range: $175-$500
Miami's market spans real estate, hospitality, entertainment, and modeling. Real estate agents represent a significant chunk of the headshot market here. The Florida state average is $244, but Miami proper runs higher due to the city's premium positioning. Actor and model headshots push toward the top of the range.
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Other Cities
We track headshot photographers and pricing across 36 cities in the US.
Headshot Prices by Profession
What you do for a living affects what you'll pay, because different industries have different standards for what a headshot needs to look like.
Corporate and business headshots typically run $300-$700 for an individual session. Company team shoots, where a photographer sets up at your office and cycles through employees, cost $500-$1,500 per hour and bring the per-person cost down to $50-$150 each. Read more about corporate headshots
Actor headshots have the widest range: $200-$600 for a solid session, up to $1,500 for photographers whose clients regularly book roles. Casting directors have specific expectations around framing and expression that general portrait photographers may not understand. Read more about actor headshots
Doctor and medical headshots run $250-$500 and often need to meet institutional standards for hospital websites and department pages. Medical students applying through ERAS have additional requirements. Read more about doctor headshots
Lawyer headshots trend toward the higher end at $300-$600, reflecting the profession's conservative aesthetic standards and the importance of the headshot in client acquisition. Read more about lawyer headshots
Real estate agent headshots fall in the $200-$500 range. Agents use their headshots across yard signs, business cards, MLS listings, and social media, so they tend to invest in higher quality since the photo appears everywhere. Read more about real estate headshots
Other professions with specific headshot needs include nurses, teachers, financial advisors, therapists, consultants, and engineers. For a complete overview, see our guide to all types of professional headshots.
Hidden Costs Most Pricing Guides Don't Mention
The session price is rarely the full price. Here's what else you'll likely pay for:
Hair and makeup: $100-$300. Some studios include this, most don't. If you want professional styling before your shoot, budget for it separately. Mobile makeup artists who come to the studio typically charge $150-$250.
Additional retouched images: $25-$100 each. Most packages include 1-3 retouched images. Need more? Each additional retouched photo costs extra. In San Francisco, additional retouched images run $45-$150 per image. In less expensive markets, expect $25-$75.
Outfit changes: $50-$150 per additional look. Want your LinkedIn photo and your company bio photo to look different? That's a second look, and it extends the session. Most studios charge for each additional setup.
Rush delivery: $50-$150. Standard turnaround is 1-2 weeks. Need your photos in 24-48 hours? That costs extra.
On-location surcharge: $100-$300. Having the photographer come to your office instead of visiting their studio adds a travel fee and setup time.
Your wardrobe. Not a photographer fee, but real. If you don't already own the right clothes for your headshot, you might spend $50-$200 on the right shirt, blazer, or accessories.
Your time. Travel to the studio, the session itself, and waiting for delivery adds up to a half-day minimum. For professionals billing $100+/hour, that's $200-$400 in opportunity cost that never shows up on the invoice.
The real total. A headshot session advertised at $250 realistically costs $400-$800 once you add hair and makeup, an extra retouched image or two, and your time. A $500 session can easily push past $1,000.
This is not an argument against hiring a photographer. It's information you should have before you book.
The AI Alternative
AI headshot generators have changed the math on professional photos. You upload a set of selfies and get back studio-quality headshots with professional lighting and realistic backgrounds.
Narkis.ai offers a full set of AI-generated professional headshots for $29. You upload your photos, choose your styles, and receive finished headshots in minutes rather than weeks. Every combination of background, outfit, and style is included.
The tradeoffs are real. There's no in-person session and no photographer coaching your expressions. The results depend on the quality of the photos you upload. AI headshots work best for LinkedIn profiles, company directories, and email signatures. They work less well for actors (casting directors still expect traditional headshots) and executives who want a high-touch personal branding experience.
But for the majority of professionals who need a polished, current headshot without spending $400-$800 and a half-day of their time, AI headshots have made that accessible at a fraction of the cost.
Bottom Line
Traditional professional headshots cost $150-$500 for most people, with the quality sweet spot landing at $300-$700. Once you add hidden costs like styling, extra retouching, and your time, expect $400-$800 for the full experience.
If you want a local photographer, we track verified headshot photographers with pricing in 36 cities across the US. For profession-specific guidance, see our complete guide to all types of professional headshots.
If you want a professional headshot without the traditional cost and time investment, Narkis.ai generates studio-quality AI headshots starting at $29.
