Headshots

Everything you actually need to know about professional headshots — from what to wear and how to prepare for a session, to choosing the right photographer, to understanding what separates a headshot that books work from one that just looks nice. Every article on this page is written from the studio floor by Chris McCarthy, who shoots headshots every week out of the Photography Shark studio in Rockland, MA. You will find practical guides on wardrobe (what colors hold up under studio lighting and which ones wash out), expression (why a smile that is held too long reads as tight rather than friendly), industry-specific advice for actors, LinkedIn profiles, executives, lawyers, doctors, and real estate agents, and honest breakdowns of pricing, turnaround, and what gets retouched (and what does not). The perspective here is practical — if a recommendation sounds like generic SEO filler, it is not going to be on this page. If you are researching a Boston or South Shore headshot session and want to understand the job before booking, start here. Articles get updated as the market shifts — casting conventions change, LinkedIn thumbnail sizes get redesigned, AI headshot tools come and go — so the advice stays current.

109 articles in this category.

Dance Headshots: What Dancers Need for Auditions and Companies — Photography Shark

Dance Headshots: What Dancers Need for Auditions and Companies

What a dance headshot is, how it differs from an acting headshot, what to wear and how to pose, and what companies and agencies look for — a studio guide for dancers.

May 2026

ERAS Photo Guide: The Residency Application Headshot, Explained — Photography Shark

ERAS Photo Guide: The Residency Application Headshot, Explained

What an ERAS photo is, the AAMC requirements, what to wear (white coat or not), and how to prepare — a residency application headshot guide from a Boston-area studio.

May 2026

Headshot Poses for Women: A Practical Guide — Photography Shark

Headshot Poses for Women: A Practical Guide

Posing guidance for women in professional headshots — body angle, posture and the S-curve, head tilt, neckline and shoulders, hands, hair, and expression by use case.

May 2026

Musician Headshots and Press Photos: A Guide for Artists — Photography Shark

Musician Headshots and Press Photos: A Guide for Artists

What musician headshots and press photos are, where they get used, how genre shapes the look, what to wear, and how solo and band sessions work — a studio guide for performing artists.

May 2026

Average Professional Headshot Cost by City: 2026 Data Study — Photography Shark

Average Professional Headshot Cost by City: 2026 Data Study

What does a professional headshot cost in 2026? We compiled published session prices across 16 U.S. metros. Ranges run from $150 in Sun Belt cities to $900+ in New York — a 2–3x spread. Full city-by-city table and what drives the difference.

May 2026

Headshot Mini Sessions vs. Full Sessions: Why I Don't Cut It Short — Photography Shark

Headshot Mini Sessions vs. Full Sessions: Why I Don't Cut It Short

Mini headshot sessions promise a professional photo in 10 minutes for a lower price. Here's what you actually get — and why I only offer full individual sessions for headshots that have a job to do.

May 2026

Professional Headshots vs. Phone Selfies: Why the Difference Shows — Photography Shark

Professional Headshots vs. Phone Selfies: Why the Difference Shows

A modern phone takes a sharp photo — so why does a selfie still read as a selfie on LinkedIn? The real differences between a professional headshot and a phone selfie: lens distortion, lighting, expression, and where each one is good enough.

May 2026

Job Application Photo: Complete Guide for 2026 — Photography Shark

Job Application Photo: Complete Guide for 2026

Everything you need to know about job application photos — dimensions, dress code, background, expression, where to get one, and when a professional headshot makes the difference between getting called and getting skipped.

May 2026

LinkedIn Profile Photo Guide: How to Get It Right in 2026 — Photography Shark

LinkedIn Profile Photo Guide: How to Get It Right in 2026

The complete guide to LinkedIn profile photos — dimensions, background, expression, wardrobe, and what actually drives more profile views and connection acceptances in 2026.

May 2026

Modeling Headshots vs Actor Headshots — What is Actually Different — Photography Shark

Modeling Headshots vs Actor Headshots — What is Actually Different

Modeling and actor headshots look similar but are calibrated for different markets — lighting, expression, wardrobe, and submission specs all differ. How to know which one you actually need.

May 2026

Headshot Sizes & Dimensions: 8x10, LinkedIn & Aspect Ratios — Photography Shark

Headshot Sizes & Dimensions: 8x10, LinkedIn & Aspect Ratios

Headshot size and dimensions reference: 8x10 acting prints, LinkedIn 800x800, casting specs, modeling comp cards, aspect ratios, and the crops that ruin good headshots.

May 2026

Are AI Headshot Generators Worth It for LinkedIn? — Photography Shark

Are AI Headshot Generators Worth It for LinkedIn?

AI headshot generators (Aragon, HeadshotPro, BetterPic) produce passable thumbnails but fail at LinkedIn's specific scale and trust requirements.

May 2026

Tips for Professional Headshots: A Pre-Session Checklist — Photography Shark

Tips for Professional Headshots: A Pre-Session Checklist

Practical pre-session preparation for professional headshots — what to do the week before, the day before, and the morning of your session.

May 2026

Headshot Poses for Men: A Practical Guide — Photography Shark

Headshot Poses for Men: A Practical Guide

Posing guidance for men in professional headshot sessions — body angle, shoulder position, jaw and chin, hand placement, expression.

May 2026

Graduation Headshots: A Studio Photography Guide — Photography Shark

Graduation Headshots: A Studio Photography Guide

Graduation headshots for college and graduate-school students entering the professional job market.

April 2026

What Hiring Managers Notice About Your Photo — Photography Shark

What Hiring Managers Notice About Your Photo

Hiring managers form impressions of candidates from photographs faster than they can articulate.

April 2026

Headshots for Career Changers — Photography Shark

Headshots for Career Changers

Career change is an information problem on top of a job search. The role of the headshot in repositioning, and how to calibrate it for the new field.

April 2026

The Hidden Cost of a Bad LinkedIn Photo — Photography Shark

The Hidden Cost of a Bad LinkedIn Photo

A weak LinkedIn photo costs recruiter outreach, profile views, and connection acceptances. The specific costs and what they add up to over a career.

April 2026

Celebrity Headshots vs Standard Professional Headshots — Photography Shark

Celebrity Headshots vs Standard Professional Headshots

How celebrity headshots are made, who shoots them, and what techniques translate to standard professional photography. From a Boston-area headshot studio.

April 2026

How Your Headshot Affects Your Job Search — Photography Shark

How Your Headshot Affects Your Job Search

Recruiters and hiring managers form impressions from LinkedIn photos in well under a second.

April 2026

Headshots for Teachers: Connection Before Day One — Photography Shark

Headshots for Teachers: Connection Before Day One

Teacher and educator headshots have to do something specific — establish connection with parents and students before any in-person interaction.

April 2026

Actor vs. Corporate Headshots: Why One Size Does Not Fit All — Photography Shark

Actor vs. Corporate Headshots: Why One Size Does Not Fit All

Actor vs. corporate headshots: lighting, expression, framing, and wardrobe diverge for specific reasons. Why one size does not fit all.

April 2026

DIY Headshots vs Professional: An Honest Comparison — Photography Shark

DIY Headshots vs Professional: An Honest Comparison

When DIY headshots actually work, when they fail, and what you give up by shooting your own. Practical comparison from a Boston-area headshot studio.

April 2026

Financial Advisor Headshots: What Your Photo Says — Photography Shark

Financial Advisor Headshots: What Your Photo Says

Financial advisor headshots have to signal stability, discretion, and competence in roughly one second.

April 2026

Ready for Your Headshot Session?

Studio headshots from $395. Actor, LinkedIn, executive, and corporate sessions. Studio in Rockland, 25 min south of Boston — or on-location throughout the city.

Book a Boston Headshot Session