Intro
New York has no shortage of headshot photographers — search "headshot photographer nyc" and you'll get hundreds of names, most with near-identical five-star review pages. The harder question isn't who's good, it's who's right for what you actually need. A corporate executive updating a LinkedIn photo, an actor building a theatrical and commercial set, and a model shooting agency digitals are three different jobs, and the photographer who nails one isn't necessarily the best fit for another.
This guide breaks down real options across price points and specialties — corporate, actor, and modeling — based on what each studio actually offers, not just who paid for placement. Worth knowing upfront: a lot of "best headshot photographer" lists on the internet are published by the photographers themselves, ranking themselves #1. That's not automatically dishonest — but it's worth reading any list like this (including this one) with that in mind, and judging photographers on their actual portfolios and specifics rather than the ranking order.
Quick Comparison
Peter Hurley Photography — Executives, actors wanting the industry benchmark. From $500 (associate) / $1,500 (Peter). Chelsea.
Dorothy Shi Photography — Corporate teams needing consistent, long-term branding. Contact for pricing. Upper West Side.
Joe Jenkins Photography — Budget LinkedIn headshots, corporate & actor headshots. $195 (LinkedIn special) / $400+ (general). Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Hancock Headshots — Actors, especially camera-shy first-timers. $450–$800. Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Coleman Photographix — Actors needing agency-ready submission sets. Contact for pricing. NYC.
Headshots NYC — Corporate, actor, and model comp cards under one roof. Contact for pricing. NYC.
David Genik Photography — Flat-rate sessions across corporate, actor, and model digitals. $250–$500. SoHo.
Corporate & Executive Headshots
Peter Hurley Photography — the best-known name in headshot photography, full stop. Peter Hurley wrote The Headshot, trained a global network of photographers in his method, and has been called "The Headshot King" by Popular Photography Magazine. Sessions start at $500 for his associate photographer Britney Young, or from $1,500 to shoot with Peter directly — pricing is structured as a session fee plus a per-image fee for the shots you keep, rather than a flat package. If budget isn't the deciding factor and you want the photographer other studios are measuring themselves against, this is the benchmark.
Dorothy Shi Photography (CEOportrait) — a Manhattan studio built specifically around corporate and team headshots, with 25+ years of experience and a strong reputation for keeping a consistent look across large teams — useful if you're photographing an entire office and need every headshot to match years apart. Known for transparent, no-hidden-fee pricing and unlimited usage rights included in every package.
Joe Jenkins Photography — a Williamsburg, Brooklyn studio that stands out for its no-frills LinkedIn option: a 10–15 minute in-studio session for $195, aimed squarely at people who just need a clean, current profile photo without a full production. Also offers general corporate sessions from $400 and up, plus event and conference photography for companies that need both headshots and coverage in one relationship.
David Genik Photography — SoHo-based, all-inclusive sessions starting at $250 flat for a 90-minute outdoor session or $500 for a 2-hour studio session, both with unlimited outfit changes and same-day delivery. A strong value option for corporate and executive headshots without the per-image pricing structure some higher-end studios use — you know the full cost upfront.
Actor Headshots
Peter Hurley Photography also shoots actor headshots, built around producing a genuine range — theatrical, commercial, and everything between — rather than 200 frames of the same expression. Same pricing structure as above.
Hancock Headshots — a Brooklyn-based studio that's been shooting actors since 2006, with a specific focus on people who feel anxious or awkward in front of a camera. Packages range from $450 for a 1-hour session with unlimited looks to $800 for a 2-hour session, both including several complimentary retouched images. A well-regarded, honest voice on the AI-headshots question — the studio is explicit that casting directors can tell, and that a mismatch between your headshot and the person who walks into the audition room actively works against you.
Coleman Photographix — offers dedicated actor and corporate sessions with optional hair and makeup add-ons, and packages built around what agents actually submit for (Actors Access, Breakdown Express).
Joe Jenkins Photography — actor headshots leaning toward a more dramatic, editorial feel, suited to either commercial or theatrical submissions depending on how you direct the session.
David Genik Photography — 2-hour studio sessions at $500 cover theatrical, commercial, and TV/film looks in one sitting, with unlimited outfit changes and same-day delivery so new looks are ready to submit the same day you shoot. A strong option if you want your full range covered in a single appointment rather than booking separate sessions for separate look types.
Model Digitals & Comp Cards
Model digitals are a different product from headshots — natural light, minimal or no retouching, and specific agency formatting requirements (multiple angles, plain background, no styling). Not every headshot photographer offers this correctly, so it's worth confirming a studio understands the format before booking.
Headshots NYC — offers dedicated comp card and digitals packages alongside corporate and actor work, with professional makeup available as an add-on.
David Genik Photography — offers a dedicated 1-hour Model Digitals/Comp Card package at $250, shot in natural light with no retouching or filters (per agency requirements), plus a 2-hour Model Digitals/Portfolio package at $500 for a full styled comp card.
What Actually Determines Cost
Across the market, expect a wide range: sessions with skilled, experienced NYC photographers generally run from around $600 to well over $1,500 at the higher end, while more accessible studios price sessions in the $195–$500 range. What drives the difference is usually some combination of: the photographer's reputation and demand, whether pricing is a flat package or a session fee plus per-image charges, how much retouching is included, and how many outfit or look changes you get. Flat, all-inclusive pricing tends to be easier to budget for than a la carte structures where each retouched image, extra look, or usage right adds to the final bill.
A Word on AI Headshots
If you're comparing real photographers against a $29 AI headshot app, several studios in this space — including Hancock Headshots — are direct about the same conclusion: AI-generated images tend to look uncannily smooth, don't hold up next to who actually walks into the room, and casting directors and hiring managers increasingly notice. Worth factoring into the "cheapest option" math before you decide.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Regardless of which photographer you choose, a few questions tend to surface what's actually included versus what costs extra:
Is pricing flat, or session fee plus per-image charges?
How many outfit or look changes are included?
How much retouching is included, and what does additional retouching cost?
What's the turnaround time for final files?
Do you get full usage rights, or is commercial use licensed separately?
Is the location a private studio, on-location, or outdoors — and does that match what you need?
FAQ
How much do headshots cost in NYC? Anywhere from about $195 for a bare-bones LinkedIn session up to $1,500+ for top-tier photographers, with most solid mid-range options landing between $250 and $800 depending on session length, looks included, and retouching.
How do I know if a photographer is right for actor headshots specifically? Look for a portfolio that includes actual theatrical and commercial submission-style shots, not just polished portraits — and check whether the studio understands what casting platforms like Actors Access require in terms of formatting.
Do I need different photographers for corporate and actor headshots? Not necessarily. Several studios on this list, including David Genik Photography, Peter Hurley Photography, and Joe Jenkins Photography, shoot both — worth asking directly if one studio can cover both needs in a single relationship.
Are model digitals the same as headshots? No. Digitals are typically natural light with no retouching, shot to strict agency formatting requirements — a different product from a styled, retouched headshot session, even if the same photographer offers both.
Should I avoid AI-generated headshots? For actor and casting purposes, most working photographers and industry voices agree: avoid them. Casting directors can generally tell, and a mismatch between your photo and how you actually look in person works against you.
No single photographer on this list is the right fit for everyone — that's the honest answer, even in a post about "the best" ones.