Your headshot works harder than you think. It sits on LinkedIn, your website, the conference program, or the proposal a prospect opens at 10 p.m. If the photo you have now is a few years old or not as professional as you’d like, you’re in the right place. This guide covers what the best executive headshot sessions include, what it costs in North Fulton, including Alpharetta, and how to pick a photographer you'll be glad you hired.
What a Strong Headshot Does
A client, colleague, or employer sees your photo before they read your bio. In about a second, they decide whether you seem approachable, capable, and easy to work with. A photo that gets those three right helps every introduction go better. A photo that misses (weird smile, harsh light, a background that says night out with friends) sends the wrong message while you’re busy doing great work.
I spent 20 years in digital marketing before becoming a professional portrait photographer. I worked on ads, web pages, brand colors, logos, and copy, so I know how a headshot looks sitting next to a headline on a real page. That shapes how I suggest you dress, how I frame your images, and where they need to work, from a tiny LinkedIn thumbnail to a conference banner. A headshot has one job: to make the right person feel good about hiring you, promoting you, or calling you. Every session I schedule and shoot is planned around that job.
Where Your Headshot Will Live Decides How We Photograph It
A headshot for a law firm’s website needs a different feel than one for a podcast guest page. Before a headshot session, we talk about where your image will live:
LinkedIn and your email signature
The About page on your website
Marketing material for events
Speaker bios and conference programs
Press features, podcasts, and proposals
Tell me who you most want to notice you, and I'll shape the session around that story.
What Executive Headshots Cost in Alpharetta
Prices around Metro Atlanta cover a wide range. Studio starter headshots with one to three images and no extra services run roughly $150 to $400. Sessions that add professional makeup, styling guidance, and retouching generally start in the high hundreds.
My executive headshot session lasts up to 2 hours. It includes a consultation beforehand, hair touch-ups, professional makeup, the guided photo session, immediate image selection, and retouching on two final images delivered in 3-5 business days. Optionally, more photos are available to purchase at the session. The executive headshot session is $690. If you want more variety for your website, speaking, and social media, a full brand session adds more looks, settings, and options.
What Happens at My Studio
Here's how it goes:
A consultation first. Days before your photo session, we talk about your work, the people you want to reach, and how you want them to feel when they see your headshot.
Hair and makeup touch-ups on site. Professional camera-ready makeup keeps you looking your best under studio lights.
Posing guidance the whole time. I make sure that your hair is lying perfectly, that your collar is even. I show you how to turn your chin, relax your shoulders, and where to place your hands, so you never have to guess.
Immediate selection. Together, we’ll go through the photos to select the best headshots for you. Then I’ll edit and deliver them to you by email.
We have the most comfortable and inviting studio in Alpharetta. Even so, some people I photograph start out by telling me some version of "I hate having my picture taken." Challenge accepted! The awkward first ten minutes are my problem to solve, and a few guided posing moves (plus a laugh or two) fixes more than you'd think.
What to Wear (and What to Skip)
Usually, your shoulders and above are what show in a headshot, so necklines and collars matter more than shoes. Solid colors photograph cleanly. A structured jacket adds polish, but busy patterns pull the eye away from your face (you don’t want that!). Bring three or four options and include what you'd choose for the most important meeting of your year. We go through wardrobe together in your consultation. That means you won't be standing at your closet the night before wondering.
Want more help getting ready? My free Headshot Guide covers styling, body language, and how to prepare for your session.
How to Choose an Executive Headshot Photographer in Alpharetta
Photography cost is just one factor. A price far below the market usually means something is missing, like makeup, retouching, experience, or fast delivery. Ask what’s included.
Before you hire, check these five things:
Portfolio: Does the photographer’s work show the kind of image you need, whether that’s for LinkedIn, your website, or for an actor’s call card?
What's included: Makeup, retouching, number of finished images, and usage rights.
A real conversation before booking: Does the photographer communicate the process clearly? Do they ask about you and your business?
Reviews that describe the experience: Check the photographer’s Google reviews.
Turnaround: Does the photographer guarantee a delivery date? Match it to your deadline.
How Far in Advance to Book
Full brand photography sessions take more planning and a deeper look into your business or career. Expect a longer consultation and a longer photo session. Book about a month in advance. Individual headshots fit a shorter timeline, so try to schedule one to two weeks in advance. If you have a date attached, such as a speaking engagement, a launch, or a new role, mention it in your discovery call so we can work backward from it.
Quick Answers Before You Book with Me
Is makeup included? Yes. Your session includes hair touch-ups and professional camera-ready makeup or grooming (for men).
How long does the session take? Up to two hours, depending on outfit changes and makeup. We also talk through your goals and wardrobe in a consultation a few days before.
When will I get my images? Your retouched images are delivered to you in 3-5 business days.
What should I bring? Three or four outfit options. We’ll go through wardrobe together during your consultation.
Can you photograph my whole team? Yes. We offer team and corporate headshot sessions too! Find out about team headshots here.
Ready for a Headshot You'll Be Glad to Send Out?
If you're in Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Cumming, or anywhere else in North Fulton and South Forsyth and want a headshot that does its job remarkably well, schedule a 15-minute discovery call with me. Tell me where your photos will live and who you want to impress, and I'll take it from there.