What should I wear for a professional corporate headshot?

Wear solid colors that complement your skin tone. Avoid busy patterns or logos, as they can distract from your face. For men, a well-fitted dress shirt and blazer usually work well. For women, a blouse or jacket with simple jewelry is recommended.

How do I prepare for a company headshot session?

Get a haircut a few days before the session to avoid a freshly cut look. Make sure your hair and skin are clean and well-groomed. Minimal, natural makeup works best for everyone.

What are the best backgrounds for corporate headshots?

Neutral colors like white, gray, or soft blues are popular because they don’t distract from the subject. A simple office or outdoor setting with blurred backgrounds can also work to keep a professional tone.

How often should a corporate headshot be updated?

We recommend updating your headshot every 1-3 years or when your appearance changes significantly. Keeping your portrait current helps maintain a professional and fresh image.

Can corporate headshot sessions be organized for an entire team?

Yes, sessions can be scheduled for groups or whole teams. Organizing company-wide sessions helps keep all headshots consistent, supporting the company’s brand image.

What is the average cost for professional corporate headshot photography?

The cost typically ranges from $100 to $500 per person, depending on photographer experience, location, and session length. Packages for groups may offer discounts or fixed pricing options.

Company Headshots Guide For Teams

A consistent set of professional headshots does more than make your people look good. It shapes how clients, candidates and partners judge your company in the first few seconds.

On platforms like LinkedIn, profiles with professional photos can receive up to 21 times more and many times more messages from recruiters compared to profiles without photos, according to data shared from LinkedIn studies (Source: Onrec). That same visual first impression carries over to your website, proposals and sales collateral.

This guide walks through what company headshots are, how to prepare your employees, what they cost in the United States and how to choose between a traditional photographer and modern options like BetterPic.

Key Takeaways

Professional, consistent headshots increase trust, credibility and perceived quality
Most U.S. businesses pay roughly $125–$300 per person for traditional corporate headshots, with national averages near $250
AI and virtual platforms can reduce cost per person to roughly $20–$60 at scale while still delivering studio quality results (Source: BetterPic, Headyshot)
Good preparation and clear guidelines for employees matter as much as the photography method
For large or remote teams, automated platforms like BetterPic offer better scalability, consistent branding and easier scheduling

What Are Company Headshots

Company headshots are professional photos of your employees used anywhere your brand meets customers, partners or candidates.

You will usually see them on:

Website About or Team pages
LinkedIn profiles and company pages
Sales decks, proposals and case studies
Press releases, speaking bios and media kits
Email signatures and internal directories

Their job is simple: put a human face to your brand while staying consistent with your visual identity.

Common Types Of Company Headshots

Individual corporate headshots - One person framed from head to shoulders on a clean background
Team group photos - Departments or leadership teams photographed together
Environmental portraits - Individuals photographed in context of an office or work setting
Formal vs casual styles - Suits and classic studio lighting vs relaxed clothing and more modern backgrounds

Why Get Professional Company Headshots

Build Trust And Credibility

People trust what looks consistent and well presented. A sharp, well lit headshot signals that your company cares about detail and professionalism.

Studies of LinkedIn behavior show that profiles with professional looking photos receive many more and messages from recruiters than profiles without photos, which translates into greater visibility and opportunity for your team members and brand.

Strengthen Brand Consistency

When every headshot follows the same visual guidelines - similar crops, lighting, backgrounds and expressions - your team looks unified rather than patched together from random selfies.

That consistency:

Makes your website and proposals look more polished
Helps prospects recognize your brand across channels
Reduces internal debate about “good enough” photos

Improve Hiring And Employer Brand

Candidates judge your company culture quickly. A careers page with inconsistent, outdated photos sends a different message than one where every person looks approachable, confident and current.

Professional headshots support:

Stronger first impressions with candidates
Better representation of diversity and inclusion when everyone is shown clearly and consistently
Internal pride in how the team is presented

Support Sales, Marketing And PR

Your sales, marketing and leadership teams are constantly asked for photos for:

Webinars and conferences
Guest articles and podcasts
Customer case studies
Media features

Having a central library of consistent, high resolution headshots makes it fast to respond to these requests without last minute scrambling.

Where To Use Company Headshots

Strategically placed headshots humanize your company and increase engagement.

LinkedIn - A professional headshot increases profile , connection requests and recruiter outreach, which supports both sales prospecting and hiring
Website - Team and leadership pages with consistent images build trust and help visitors feel they are dealing with real people
Email signatures - Adding a clean headshot makes outreach more memorable
Sales and investor decks - Including headshots on “Team” slides adds confidence and clarity
Press, speaking and podcasts - Media outlets nearly always ask for a headshot to go alongside a quote or appearance

How To Prepare Employees For A Headshot Session

Good preparation improves both the experience and the final images. Use the checklist below whether you are working with a photographer, running virtual sessions or using BetterPic.

1. Clarify Goals And Style

Decide upfront:

Where the photos will be used most
How formal or casual the look should be
Whether you want studio, office or environmental backgrounds
Which brand colors, if any, should appear in clothing or backgrounds

Create a simple 1 page style guide with reference examples.

2. Communicate Early And Clearly

Send one clear email or message that covers:

Why you are doing headshots and how they will be used
What employees should wear
Grooming tips and do / do nots
Logistics for the session or upload deadline

When using BetterPic, you can invite employees directly from your team dashboard so everyone sees the same instructions and deadline

3. Give Attire Guidance

Share simple rules instead of long lists.

Recommended

Solid colors in mid tones or brand colors
Simple, clean necklines
Jackets or blazers for more formal industries
Subtle jewelry and accessories

Avoid

Busy patterns, large logos or heavy stripes
Pure white tops if you have a pale background
Extremely trendy styles that may date quickly

If you use BetterPic, the AI can generate professional outfits that match your guidelines, which reduces stress around wardrobe choices

Haircuts 2–5 days before, not the day of
Light, natural makeup that matches how you look at work
Avoid trying new skincare or tanning treatments right before the shoot
Glasses cleaned, no transition lenses if possible
Encourage good sleep and hydration

5. Explain What Will Happen

Anxiety drops when people know the steps.

For a traditional shoot, explain:

Where and when to show up
How long each session will take
Whether there will be time for outfit changes
How they will choose and receive final images

For BetterPic:

Employees upload 8–15 clear photos from their phone or laptop
AI checks photo quality and gives feedback before training
Studio quality headshots are generated in under an hour
Team members pick favorites, then you approve centrally

6. Provide A Simple Employee Checklist

You can copy and adapt this list into an email or intranet post:

Pick an outfit that fits our company guidelines
Check that it is clean, ironed and lint free
Plan your hair and grooming 2–5 days before
Bring glasses if you wear them daily
Arrive 10 minutes early or upload photos before the deadline
Relax, smile and aim for a confident, approachable expression

Elements Of A High Quality Company Headshot

Whether taken in a studio or generated with AI, good headshots share the same foundations.

Lighting - Soft, even light on the face with no harsh shadows
Composition - Framed from mid chest or shoulders up, with enough space around the head
Expression - Relaxed jaw, genuine slight smile, open eyes
Background - Clean, simple and not distracting; can match brand colors
Sharpness - Eyes are crisp, no motion blur or pixelation
Consistency - Similar crops, angles and color grading across the whole team

BetterPic generates 4K resolution images with studio style lighting and backgrounds that can be customized for your brand, then refined with AI or human edits where needed.

Corporate Headshot Cost Per Person In The United States

Budget is usually the first question for company headshots.

Typical U.S. Price Ranges

Industry data and BetterPic’s 2025 pricing show these common ranges for traditional photography in the United States (all amounts in USD).

Option	Typical cost per person	Notes
Newer photographer or basic package	$25–$125	Limited time per person, minimal retouching, fewer final images
Standard corporate headshot session	$125–$300	Most common range in U.S. cities, basic editing included
Premium studio in major metro	$300–$700+	More time per person, advanced retouching, art direction
Executive portraits	$300–$1,200	Multiple outfits, location options, heavy retouching

Across the U.S., many companies end up paying around $200–$300 per employee for traditional corporate headshots once travel, setup and editing are included.

Total Budget Examples

Using the common $200–$300 per person range:

10 employees - roughly $2,000–$3,000
50 employees - roughly $10,000–$15,000
200 employees - roughly $40,000–$60,000

Costs can be lower if you negotiate day rates for large groups, but you also need to factor in time away from work and the logistics of scheduling everyone.

How AI Changes Cost Per Person

Modern AI headshot platforms for companies typically charge $20–$60 per employee at volume, with pilots sometimes landing in the $30–$80 range.

BetterPic's team plan start around $34 per seat and include 60 headshots per person in multiple styles, plus human touch ups and full commercial usage rights. That brings the total for a 50 person team closer to the low thousands instead of tens of thousands.

In Studio Vs On Site Vs Virtual Headshots

You can commission headshots in several ways. Each has trade offs in cost, quality and flexibility.

Method	Pros	Cons	Best for
In studio photographer	Controlled lighting, classic look, individual attention	Travel time, strict scheduling, higher cost per person	Small local teams, executive portraits
On site photographer at your office	Convenient for staff, consistent background, can shoot many people per day	Requires space, more planning, day rates add up	Larger single location teams
Virtual photographer sessions	Employees join via webcam with real time direction	Requires good webcams and internet, scheduling across time zones	Remote teams that still want live direction
AI or automated platforms	Very low cost per person, fast , works for any location, simple reshoots	Less real time posing guidance, outcome depends on quality of source images	Distributed or fast growing teams, frequent updates

BetterPic fits into the last category, combining AI generation with optional human edits and an admin dashboard so you can manage many employees at once.

Photographer Vs Automated Headshot Platform Pros And Cons

If you are choosing between booking a photographer or using an automated platform like BetterPic, compare them across the attributes that matter most to your company.

Attribute	Traditional photographer	Automated platform like BetterPic
Professionalism and trustworthiness	High when you choose an experienced specialist	High when using a proven platform with photorealistic AI and human
Brand consistency across team images	Can be strong if everyone is shot by the same photographer in a short window	Very strong because styles, backgrounds and crops are generated to match your brand, even as new hires join
Image quality, lighting and sharpness	Excellent with good gear and controlled lighting	4K images trained from multiple uploads with studio style lighting, then refined with edits
Cost per person and total budget	Typically $125–$300 per person, higher for executives	Often $20–$60 per person at scale, with BetterPic team seats starting near $34
Scalability for large or remote teams	Harder across multiple offices or time zones	Designed for hundreds or thousands of employees, all managed from one dashboard
Retouching quality and	Manual retouching can take days or weeks	AI headshots ready in under an hour, with human touch ups usually within hours
Scheduling flexibility and session length	Everyone must attend at a specific time and place	Employees upload whenever it suits them before the deadline
Background and style options	Limited to what can be set up on shoot day	150+ styles, multiple backgrounds and outfits with no reshoot needed
Usage rights and licensing	Varies by photographer, often limited by contract	Full commercial license for company use across digital and print
In studio vs on site vs virtual options	You choose one approach per project	Same platform works whether employees are in office, hybrid or fully remote

For many organizations, the ideal mix is:

Use traditional photographers for a small group of top executives who need bespoke portraits
Use an automated platform for the broader team to keep costs and logistics manageable

Benefits Of Consistent Corporate Headshots

Putting consistent images in place once can pay off for years.

Stronger brand recognition - Prospects see the same professional look on LinkedIn, your website and proposals
Easier onboarding - New hires simply follow the same headshot process
Fairer representation - Everyone is photographed on equal terms, which reduces informal bias based on who happened to have the best selfie
Less design rework - Marketing and design teams spend less time fixing mismatched images
Faster updates - With BetterPic, replacing or refreshing headshots is as simple as generating a new set and updating the files in your dashboard

How BetterPic Makes Company Headshots Easier

BetterPic is built specifically for professionals and teams that want studio quality headshots without the cost and complexity of a traditional photoshoot.

For Individuals

Upload a set of clear photos from your phone or camera
Choose from plans that generate 20–120 4K headshots in multiple styles
Receive your results in 1–2 hours with commercial usage rights included

For Teams And Companies

With BetterPic’s team product, you can:

Invite employees through an admin dashboard
Apply uniform styles and backgrounds to keep branding consistent
Generate 60 studio quality headshots per person with multiple styles
Get AI edits and human touch ups included in the seat price
Store, approve and download everything from one place

Because everything is handled online, it works just as well for fully remote companies as it does for single office teams.

Frequently Asked Questions About Company Headshots

How Often Should Company Headshots Be Updated

Most companies refresh headshots every 1–3 years or whenever someone’s appearance changes significantly. It is also smart to update photos when you rebrand your visual identity so backgrounds and colors still fit.

What Backgrounds Work Best For Corporate Headshots

You rarely go wrong with:

Neutral light gray or off white
Soft gradient backgrounds that match brand colors
Slightly blurred office environments

With BetterPic, you can test different backdrop options in minutes, then roll out the styles that best match your brand guidelines

Decide on your preferred style and level of formality
Estimate your cost per person and total budget using the ranges above
Choose whether you need a traditional photographer, an AI platform like BetterPic or a mix of both
Draft an employee prep email using the guidelines in this guide
Test BetterPic with a smaller group, then roll out to the full team if you like the results

When you are ready, you can explore our company headshots solution for teams, start a team project, or book a quick demo on the BetterPic site to see how the process would work for your company.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear for a professional corporate headshot?: Wear solid colors that complement your skin tone. Avoid busy patterns or logos, as they can distract from your face. For men, a well-fitted dress shirt and blazer usually work well. For women, a blouse or jacket with simple jewelry is recommended.
How do I prepare for a company headshot session?: Get a haircut a few days before the session to avoid a freshly cut look. Make sure your hair and skin are clean and well-groomed. Minimal, natural makeup works best for everyone.
What are the best backgrounds for corporate headshots?: Neutral colors like white, gray, or soft blues are popular because they don’t distract from the subject. A simple office or outdoor setting with blurred backgrounds can also work to keep a professional tone.
How often should a corporate headshot be updated?: We recommend updating your headshot every 1-3 years or when your appearance changes significantly. Keeping your portrait current helps maintain a professional and fresh image.
Can corporate headshot sessions be organized for an entire team?: Yes, sessions can be scheduled for groups or whole teams. Organizing company-wide sessions helps keep all headshots consistent, supporting the company’s brand image.
What is the average cost for professional corporate headshot photography?: The cost typically ranges from $100 to $500 per person, depending on photographer experience, location, and session length. Packages for groups may offer discounts or fixed pricing options.