# Professional Headshot Cost and What Packages Include

Professional headshot cost depends on how the images are made and what the price includes. Compare the total price for the finished files you need, including session fees, image purchases and optional extras.

Resource. Published 2026-11-06, updated 2026-11-06. 6 min read.

![An illustrated camera with two landscape prints, a receipt and stacks of coins on cream paper.](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/assets/guides/covers/professional-headshot-cost.webp)

> **Price sources and publisher disclosure:** All prices below are in US dollars. Photographer offers were checked on **November 6, 2026** and are published examples from named studios, rather than a national average. Smart Headshots AI publishes this guide and sells the AI packages described here. Our prices use the current plan amounts; confirm the total at checkout.

A phone photo can cost nothing with equipment you own. Smart Headshots AI's current individual plans cost $19, $29 or $39 before tax. Photographer packages vary: some include finished images, while others charge a session fee plus each photograph you select.

A $300 session with no images included is a different purchase from a $300 package with two retouched photographs. Compare the total price for the files you actually need.

## Published photographer prices

Published offers checked November 6, 2026. Examples before optional extras; confirm taxes, styling, travel and licensing with the studio.

| Photographer and location | Published price structure | Example cost before optional extras |
| --- | --- | --- |
| City Headshots, New York | Classic: $299, 20-40 minutes, up to two outfits and two retouched photos | $299 for the package |
| HeadShots Inc, San Jose | $290 session plus $295 per selected image | $585 for one image; $880 for two |
| Britney Young at Peter Hurley Photography, New York | $500 session plus $150 per selected image | $650 for one image; $800 for two |
| Peter Hurley, New York or Los Angeles | $1,500 session plus $300 per selected image | $1,800 for one image; $2,100 for two |

Sources: [City Headshots packages](https://www.cityheadshots.com/all-headshot-pricing.html), [HeadShots Inc's San Jose rate card](https://headshots-inc.com/locations/san-jose-headshot-photographers/schedule/) and [Peter Hurley Photography's rates](https://peterhurley.com/rates).

These examples demonstrate two billing structures. City Headshots includes retouched images in the package. The other rate cards add image purchases to the session fee. The cheapest advertised session is not necessarily the cheapest finished headshot. Ask for a written total with the number of retouched downloads specified.

## AI headshot prices and what each tier includes

Smart Headshots AI sells one pack per individual order. The pack determines the wardrobe and backgrounds; the tier determines image count, resolution, estimated turnaround and rerun eligibility. Every tier can use any of the 10 packs.

## Current individual AI plans

One-time prices in USD before tax. Delivery estimates start after you submit the accepted photos.

| Individual tier | Current price before tax | Generated headshots | Download resolution | Estimated delivery |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Starter | $19 | 40 | Standard | About 2 hours |
| Professional | $29 | 60 | High resolution | About 1 hour |
| Executive | $39 | 100 | 4K downloads through upscaling | About 30-45 minutes |

The individual plans are on a temporary sale as of November 6, 2026. Confirm the current amount on the [professional headshots pricing section](/professional-headshots#pricing) and at checkout. Applicable tax is added through hosted checkout. Delivery times are estimates, rather than a guarantee for a particular appointment or deadline.

The gallery contains generated variations, which you should review for likeness and artifacts. 40 generated images are a selection pool; they should not be treated as 40 human-retouched photographs or a promise that every frame will be your preferred result.

Generation is paid. The free [Photo Checker](/tools/headshot-photo-checker), [cropper](/tools/profile-photo-cropper) and [background tools](/tools/headshot-background-changer) help prepare or edit an existing photograph; they are separate from headshot generation.

## What changes the final photographer quote

**Finished image count.** Ask how many retouched images are included and how much additional selections cost. Proofs are images for choosing from, and may not be finished deliverables.

**Session scope.** A tight headshot on one backdrop is different from a branding session with wider portraits, several locations or product imagery. Decide where the files will appear before requesting quotes.

**Styling and location.** Hair and makeup, travel, permits and an on-site setup can be separate line items. Ask which are optional.

**Usage rights.** A profile photograph, paid advertising and a book cover may have different licensing requirements. Read the provider's actual license. Buying a file does not automatically transfer its copyright.

**Delivery and changes.** Distinguish the proof-gallery date from the retouched-file date. Confirm expedited fees, cancellation rules and what happens if you need a reshoot.

## Team headshot cost

Smart Headshots AI teams buy prepaid credits. One credit funds one member's session with 60 headshots. The list price is $39 per credit; discounts depend on the team's lifetime credits purchased plus the new order quantity.

## Team credit examples

Current quotes for a team with no previous credit purchases. Each credit pays for one member's session; amounts exclude tax.

| New credits | Volume discount | Price per member before tax | Order subtotal before tax |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 15% | $33.15 | $165.75 |
| 10 | 20% | $31.20 | $312 |
| 50 | 30% | $27.30 | $1,365 |

Team credits have their own pricing. The individual sale price does not replace the team rate. See [team headshots](/team-headshots) for the current offer and styling controls.

For a photographer-led team session, request an event quote rather than multiplying one individual package by your headcount. Ask about attendance minimums, travel, assistants, the number of retouched images per person and how future hires will match the set. Group photographs and candid workplace images are separate deliverables to discuss.

## How to get affordable headshots without losing what matters

For one profile photo, try a [phone headshot at home](/guides/how-to-take-a-headshot-with-your-phone) first. Soft daylight, a stable camera and a clean backdrop may be enough for your use.

Choose AI when you want a selection of individual portraits without booking a shoot, and can provide clear, current source photos. Smart Headshots AI accepts 8 to 15 photos, with generation beginning after you submit at least eight accepted photos. Compare [AI headshot packages and policies](/guides/best-ai-headshot-generators) if you are considering several services.

Choose a photographer when you need live coaching, an exact real location, group photographs or a specific expression captured in person. Compare [headshot examples](/guides/headshot-examples) before writing the brief so you can describe the result you want.

If you are comparing several headcounts or shoot scopes, use the [headshot cost calculator](/tools/headshot-cost-calculator) for an estimate, then replace assumptions with actual provider quotes. A calculator result is a planning figure rather than a studio booking price.

## Check refund and rerun terms before paying

For Smart Headshots AI individual orders, a refund request must normally begin within 7 calendar days after delivery. Starter customers can request a refund directly. For Professional and Executive likeness or quality complaints, the included full-batch rerun is normally the first remedy, followed by a full refund if it does not resolve the issue. Downloads alone do not disqualify a request.

Keep every source photograph while deciding or while a request is open: deleting any source photograph ends the contractual guarantee. If a timely accepted rerun is delivered after the original 7-day window, you may request a refund within 48 hours after rerun delivery. Automatic scheduled deletion does not defeat a timely claim. See the [refund policy](/refund) for full conditions.

Teams use different remedies. Unused credits may be refunded within 30 calendar days of purchase. For a delivered team session, an administrator can return the member's credit within 7 calendar days, subject to the policy, including keeping every source photo. One credit can be returned per member. The individual included-rerun remedy does not apply.

Before choosing any provider, confirm the complete price, finished-file count, usage rights, delivery date and remedy if the result is unsuitable. Those five answers make headshot packages meaningfully comparable.

Prices are in US dollars. Tax is added at checkout.

## Related guides

- [Best AI Headshot Generators Compared by Price and Features](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/best-ai-headshot-generators): The best AI headshot generator for you depends on the portrait you need and the conditions attached to it. Compare profession-specific packs, team workflows, editing allowances and purchase terms.
- [How to Take a Professional Headshot at Home With Your Phone](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/how-to-take-a-headshot-with-your-phone): Face soft window light, put your phone at eye level about five feet away, and use a plain background. Take several photos with small changes in expression, then choose the sharpest frame that looks like you.
- [Professional Headshot Examples by Role and Style](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides/headshot-examples): A good professional headshot shows a recognizable face, sharp eyes, comfortable expression and clothing that suits its destination. Compare outfit, background and crop before choosing your own.

## Related headshot packs

- [Professional Headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/professional-headshots): Clean, corporate-ready portraits for any industry.
- [LinkedIn Headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/linkedin-headshots): The profile photo that gets recruiters to stop scrolling.

## Links

- [All guides](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/guides)
- [Create your headshots](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/start)
- [Home](https://www.smartheadshots.ai/)