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.
How band press photos are staged so five people read as one act — spacing, height, wardrobe palette, who anchors the frame — plus what a Boston band should book and bring to get group frames and individual portraits in one session.
What a cheer or gymnastics headshot is actually for — college recruiting profiles, all-star tryout packets, and team rosters — plus what to wear, what crops to ask for, and how it differs from a senior portrait.
What images belong in a musician's electronic press kit, why resolution and crop variety matter more than one perfect hero shot, and how to package a press folder a venue or journalist can use without emailing you back.
What photo a hockey recruiting profile actually needs, how it differs from rink action shots and senior pictures, what to wear, and when to book it around the Massachusetts season.
What an MBA application photo is for, the specifications programmes publish, the mistakes that show up most often, and how to time the session around Round 1 and Round 2 deadlines.
Ballet headshot conventions for company auditions, summer intensives, and school applications — hair, neckline, the accompanying photos, and how classical expectations differ from commercial dance.
Commercial and contemporary dance headshots — how they differ from classical, what dance agencies submit, wardrobe and expression, and the type question that decides the whole image.
What to submit for a dance audition headshot — file specs, print vs digital, how it gets paired with your resume and dance photos, and what the panel is using it for.
Annotated dance headshot examples — four working frames analyzed element by element, plus the failure patterns that make an otherwise good photo unusable at an audition.
A practical guide to professional headshots if you wear glasses — how photographers kill lens glare, which frames photograph best, whether to use anti-reflective lenses or empty frames, and how to prep for your session.
A straight comparison of JCPenney portrait studio pricing versus booking an independent Boston photographer — what each actually costs, when the chain makes sense, and when it doesn't.
A practical guide to the LinkedIn cover photo (the banner behind your profile) — sizing, design ideas, when to use a quote, and how it should pair with your headshot to build a coherent professional brand.
Everything to do before your pageant headshot session — wardrobe, hair and makeup, format requirements, expression, and a day-before checklist — so your competition photo scores its best.
Your website About page needs more than a headshot. A guide to the personal brand photos that actually convert visitors — the shot mix, settings, wardrobe, and how to plan a session that gives your whole site a coherent look.
How to find the right studio photographer near you on the South Shore or in greater Boston — what a real studio gives you over an in-home setup, drive times, parking, and how to vet a local studio before you book.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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Studio headshots from $395. Actor, LinkedIn, executive, and corporate sessions. Studio in Rockland, 35 min south of Boston — or on-location throughout the city.