Let’s get straight into one of the first questions I’m asked when considering a photo shoot. How much do you charge?
There will be no dilly dallying or smoke and mirrors here!
My group rate is $160pp + GST when 4 or more people are photographed in one session. A solo headshot is $340 + GST.
If you need imagery for different purposes like podcasts, the speaking circuit, in conversation natural stock style photography, media, or you run a business that needs a number of images to convey a variety of different messages to your target audience, these packages, or experiences as I like to call them, start from $830 + GST for an hour’s shoot up to $3,000 + GST for a full day shoot. These quotes can also be customised according to your needs, but with all of my pricing I am completely transparent upfront before we book in the session. There are no sticker shock experiences such as ‘I wasn’t expecting that invoice amount’, that I so often hear about.
What you’re paying for (it’s not just someone using a good camera)
A headshot portrait price isn’t just about the final photo. It can also include (depending on the package selected);
- Styling tips and preparation. Knowing what to wear, what backdrop suits your industry, whether you need one look or a few.
- Client questionnaires which get you thinking about the type of images you need and how you could use them.
- A mood board which shows a collection of sample images and can help you visualise what you need.
- A variety of locations and props.
- Retouching, if needed, not “erase my entire face” retouching. I like to keep everything subtle and real.
- Travel and set-up. I regularly travel to my clients – on location in an office, café, co-working space or park. And I have a full home studio.
- Hair and makeup is an optional extra, but it does change the outcome more than people expect.
And the big one – experience. By this I mean my experience – technical skill, artistry and being able to direct. Positioning a light that flatters you, composing a scene that is interesting and tells the story of you and your business. And even more importantly your experience – the change of how you feel coming into the shoot to when we take the last photograph. You walk in wanting to be anywhere else and you leave liking what you see on the back of the camera. Maybe for the very first time.
What’s actually included at each price point
A simple individual headshot session covers the essentials. A single look, 5-8 images to choose from, one polished retouched shot in colour and black and white.
A branding experience which ranges from an hour to a full day is a different proposition. Multiple looks, locations, a proper creative brief beforehand, working alongside your website designer and a final gallery that actually gives you options for your website, your LinkedIn, your next pitch deck and your speaker bio. It’s not just one photo trying to do five jobs.
Somewhere in between sits the option most people I work with actually land on: enough time to get a couple of solid looks, without the full day commitment.
How to actually justify it to your business (or yourself)
Professional photography is a luxury but often a necessary one. If you’re in a leadership role, your image is doing PR for you constantly on LinkedIn, in your pitch decks and on your website. As an aside guess what page on your website people visit the most? Yes it’s the About Us page. Not your services or your insights pages, but the one that shows what you and your team look like. This is often where the trust is first established, before people meet you. So if your ‘Who we are’ page greets viewers with a picture of a light bulb, or cupped hands holding a seedling, you are unable to visually establish that trust. This also applies to a 10 year old headshot with dated lighting and an awkward smile that says “please let this be over”. Your current headshot, or lack thereof, could be quietly costing you opportunities you’ll never actually hear about.
Humans also crave variety, so if you’re using the same image for lots of different purposes, it may be worthwhile investing in a suite of images that convey different messages and give someone a broader sense of what it could be like to work with you.
So, what should you budget?
If you need one solid, professional headshot think somewhere in the $160 – $340 + GST range, depending on the number of staff involved.
If you’re a Business Owner, Leader and looking to build out your personal brand you will probably need a suite of images for your website, LinkedIn content, blog posts and media. The investment is closer to $830 – $2,400 + GST. Most clients land around the mid point.
Ideally we would firstly have a brief conversation so I can understand your business and what you are looking to achieve with the photos and how you will use them. This helps inform me exactly how many looks and images you are after and from there I can make a recommendation as to what I think you need. If it’s an updated headshot for your company website or LinkedIn then a single portrait is usually all you need.
If you need something more extensive, I’ve even got a snazzy little client questionnaire to get that thinking cap on as to all the ways you can maximise the use of those images.
As previously mentioned headshot portrait and branding photography is far more than a good picture. You need to be comfortable with the photographer taking your photo, for the best results to be captured, and for you to walk away feeling good about the experience And yourself.
I am regularly asked to re-shoot people’s photos because they were unhappy with the previous results and end up using another even older photo. It might be as a result of a lack of professionalism, a poor experience, unflattering lighting or not spending the time to capture the version of you that you want to put out there in the digital world. So they not only feel bad about the experience but maybe even about themselves personally. And they’ve lost money in the process. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve heard these comments at least 1,000 times. That’s why I can’t emphasise enough – please do your research on photographers and try and have a conversation with them first. There are lots of goodies out there and others that may not be of the quality or style you are looking for.
- Review their portfolio for quality and consistency.
- Do they look professional?
- Read their testimonials on Google. And you’re not just looking for ‘they’re a good photographer.’ You need to read content about why they’re good.
- Do they take the time to understand you and your business?
- Like with so many products and services, price is often a reflection of quality. There could be a reason why they are a lot cheaper.
I am known for providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for people that don’t enjoy having their photo taken and work across multiple industries such as banking, legal, insurance, medical, engineering, government, health and trades. And with my former career in financial services, I have a unique set of skills that let me focus entirely on you – on how to help you stand out in business and connect with your ideal client.
Headshot portrait and branding photography is an investment, so these images need to be working hard for you 24 hours a day. Once you have your suite of images, I want you throwing them around like smarties at a kids party. And like I mentioned earlier I can help you with the strategy around this. With all the digital distractions out there and everyone’s all-round busyness, viewers see your posts and photos far less than you think. I know this from first-hand experience. To this day, I get people messaging me to ask if I am still taking photos.
Ready to stop dreading your next headshot? Get in touch and let’s sort out what you actually need.