HOW MUCH should i pay for my headshots in los angeles?

Searching for a headshot photographer in Los Angeles can be a little daunting, there are so many, which one will be within your budget and give you the results you expect? A strong referral from a friend can be helpful, you can definitely add this headshot photographer to your list of options. When you are researching photographers on Google, you will also be able to see their reviews, an indication of their service. Ultimately you do need to see the headshot photographer’s website, in the end you want his/her photography to correspond to what you have in mind. In addition you should definitely have a conversation with the headshot photographer you are thinking of working with so that you are on the same page prior to showing up on the “shoot”.

If you are an actor in Los Angeles, you will find a wide range of photographers’ rates and pricing for headshots, anywhere from $150 to $1,500… (It also depends on how many “Looks/Wardrobe changes” you would like to have from your headshot session), I will talk about this a little later. If you are paying $150 for your headshot session, you are probably settling for less than what you really need to move forward, meaning in the end, in my opinion you are wasting your time and money. And if you are paying $1500 you are overdoing it, some photographers will charge this much, that is an old school marketing strategy to separate themselves from others… It is way exaggerated and you can definitely find a great headshot photographer in Los Angeles for 1/2 that rate. With established and legitimate headshot photographers you should pay somewhere from $275 to $850 depending on your needs… Typically actors like to show some range in their headshots that they will post on their profiles on casting websites such as The Casting Network (L.A. Casting), Actors Access, Central Casting, etc… For example you could have a very “casual/jeans” mainstream type of vibe, a more sophisticated type going out on a date or an event, a business/office attire, an edgier/street type, etc… By the way, I encourage actors to show some range but without exaggeration, meaning 7-8 Looks is starting to look a little desperate and in my opinion, you are overdoing it. If you do 3-4 Looks and spend around $500 to #700, that would be about right… Also if you overdo the amount of “Looks/Wardrobe changes”, it could lead to confusion as to who you really can be as an actor… With too many “Looks”, casting directors will be confused as to what your real essence is and what you can bring to the project… They might not call you just because they can’t really see you in the over-diversified variety of your headshots in your profile page.

If you choose to book a makeup artist, their rate will typically vary from $150 to $300. Regarding booking a makeup artist, I think this should always be left optional to the actor/actress, some actresses and models who have been in the business for some time feel very comfortable doing their own makeup. So make sure the headshot photographer does not impose a makeup artist on you.

When it comes to corporate headshots in Los Angeles, nowadays no matter what field or industry you are in, because of all the social media platforms and websites, chances are you will need a headshot. If you’re looking for a simple headshot for platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, IG, etc, then the 1 Look option normally would be ideal. Personally my rate for this service is $275. It is amazing the disparity in responses I receive when I go over my rate with people for this service, most individuals find it very reasonable and are ready to schedule our photo shoot, they have viewed my corporate headshot photography gallery on my website, and they feel this is well worth their investment. Others would rather save $100 and shoot with someone who doesn’t offer the same quality headshots, I’m talking about lighting, body language, wardrobe style, backgrounds, etc… It’s amazing to me how little some people are willing to invest in their own image…??? Usually a headshot will last you a couple of years at least, your headshot will be viewed by thousands of people over time, and you want to save $100??? To each his/her own but to me, putting the best image of yourself out there is worth its weight in gold… First impressions go a long way and how you represent yourself online says a lot about who you are and your attention to detail, especially when it comes to your person.

Keep in mind your headshot session is an investment, not just an expense without any return…

Please always feel free to call me if you have any questions, I look forward to hearing from you.