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Corporate Headshot Photography: Pricing Suggestions


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<p>I've learned throughout the years that it's all about your portfolio and being just a wee bit different than everyone else out there. You don't have to reinvent the wheel but doing the same as others may not land you the clientele that understands the difference between a PRO vs. GWC (Guy With Camera). I've been a wedding photographer for YEARS and will be tapping into the Corporate realm in 2012 so I've been doing TONS of research. The best part is reading what other photogs are sharing and finally, tweaking what I'm planning on doing. <br /><br />For one, I'm realizing that you can't just feature straight forward headshots and think that you can separate yourself and justify higher fees. I'm actually building my portfolio now and shooting business owners as if it were for an upcoming article. During the shoot, I'll take a bunch of headshots because who doesn't like a good headshot but I don't focus on them. Anyone can take a corporate headshot but it takes so much more to be creative and THAT'S what you have to sell. It's what I do in my wedding photography business. Anyone can shoot a wedding but posing, directing and using my elinchrom quadras creatively with westcott modifiers is taking things to a slightly different level of the game and THAT'S what I feature. Like I mentioned, I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel but if brides hire me because of the creative images I produce then I'll bet if you focus on being creative with images, that many corporations would hire you regardless of the price you charge. People just trust their friends so build relationships and it'll be fine.<br /><br />The rest has more to do with selling yourself which you HAVE to be great at. If you can't sell yourself then who cares what your photos look like. :) Good luck to everyone, this new venture is going to be fun! :) Check out the business name I'll be using. :) I'll be focusing on small to medium sized law firms to start since they clearly have the budget. I'm in New York and sometimes it seems as though every other person I meet is an attorney so attorneys it is. :)<br /><br /></p>
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  • 3 years later...
<p>East coast (kind of) response to this old thread. Not much has changed. Except maybe things are worse. <br /><br />I can't decide if Instagram is raising the portrait bar, or Facebook is dumbing down portrait standards (or both, simultaneously). <br /><br />I know the filter catalog of most cell phone apps are making the issue of "quality" an extremely hard one to pin down. The crappiest photo ever can be run through some insane preset filter in Awesome Camera app and people will be be all over the "Like" button on Facebook... <br /><br />On the other hand, there are a lot of great portraits on Instagram. One thing is sure: It's hard enough to bid $450 to drag $10K worth of camera/lens/lighting halfway across the county, and then hear they found someone who will do it for $200... t</p>
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  • 2 months later...

<p>I see pricing all across the board here.<br>

While it may be hard to compete with the CEO's brother in law, CEO's in the know know the difference between quality professional work and amateur semi pro work.<br>

In business, only the finest will do for the finest. Facebook is not where most CEO's get their image traction. It is on brochures, business cards, company web sites, LinkedIn and the like. In business impressions are vitally important.<br>

Most of my work is currently in studio.<br>

Headshots typically run $450 edited with about half clientele taking advantage of this service level. </p>

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  • 5 months later...

<p>Hey there. This thread is quite helpful but I have a question, and apologies if I missed it in the thread, but are you expected to provide your own hair and makeup person for a corporate headshot gig?<br>

Thank you for any help you can provide.<br>

Cheers!<br>

- Omar</p>

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<p>Totally disagree with Charles. Craigslister photographers can be a disaster. I guess their will always be people/companies that go with the cheap, unprofessional option. Fact is, if you want to guarantee quality and consistency, you'll only get that with a specialist. Sure, just like golf, the amateur can hit a sweet shot off the tee. But it's consistency that separates the wheat for the chaff.<br>

I've often had folks come back to me</a> after taking the cheap option. And they've given me great reviews!</a></p>

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