If you've been asked to "get a quote for team headshots," you've probably noticed that photographers either hide their prices or list a number that makes no sense until you know what's in it. Here's how company headshot pricing actually works in New Jersey, what drives the number up or down, and what to ask so you can compare quotes without a spreadsheet and a headache.
The short answer
For on-site team headshots in New Jersey and the NYC area, most companies land somewhere between about $75 and $275 per person, depending on headcount, retouching and how much setup the day needs. Industry guides put small on-site groups of 10 to 25 people at roughly $2,000 to $5,000 total. The per-person cost drops as the group gets bigger, because the setup, travel and planning are the same whether I photograph 12 people or 60.
That range is wide on purpose. A 10-person accounting firm and a 90-person hospital department are not the same day, and any photographer who quotes you before asking a few questions is guessing.
What I charge
On-site team headshots start with a $275 sitting fee, which covers setup, lighting and art direction. Then each person is added on: $150 each for the first 4 people, and $100 each for people 5 to 15. The lower rate only applies from the 5th person on, so the total always goes up as you add people. Here's how that works out:
1 person: $425
4 people: $875
8 people: $1,275, or about $159 a person
15 people: $1,975, or about $132 a person
Every person gets one fully retouched headshot. Extra retouched images are $30 each, so people can pick a second favorite without you paying for it across the board. For 16 people or more, I send a custom quote.
A 50% deposit holds your date and goes toward the total. Travel is free within 30 miles of North Plainfield, which covers most of Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Essex and Morris counties. Further out is a flat $100 for 30 to 60 miles and $200 for 60 to 90 miles.
Running a conference or public event? Headshot stations are $250 an hour with a two-hour minimum, and there's more on the event headshot station page.
What actually changes the price
Headcount
This is the biggest one. Most of the cost of a headshot day is getting a full lighting setup into your building and running it smoothly, so every extra person spreads that cost a little thinner.
On-site or in a studio
I don’t have my own studio, so I come to you, and that’s usually the cheaper way to do it. There’s no studio rental on your quote, and nobody loses a morning driving to a shoot. If you’d rather use a studio, I can book one and add the rental to your quote.
Retouching
Basic retouching (skin, stray hairs, lint on a jacket) is usually included. Heavier work, like swapping backgrounds or fixing glasses glare after the fact, adds time. A good setup avoids most of it in the first place.
How many images each person gets
One final image per person is standard for team pages. If people want a second pose or a casual option for LinkedIn, that's usually an add-on per person, and it's often worth letting them buy extras from their own gallery rather than paying for it across the board.
Travel and timing
Distance, parking, early starts and multiple office locations all affect the quote. I'm based in North Plainfield and work across New Jersey and NYC, and travel is free within 30 miles.
What should be included
When you compare quotes, check that each one covers the same things. For a typical company headshot day with me, that means:
A portrait studio set up in your conference room, lobby or office space
A private booking link, so each person picks their own slot and nobody waits in a hallway
A live preview screen, so everyone sees their photo before they sit back down
A private gallery where each person picks their favorite
Finished, retouched portraits in 5 business days
The same lighting and setup on file, so next year's new hires match this year's team
That last one matters more than people expect. A team page where every photo matches makes a company look established, and it falls apart the first time a new hire sends in a selfie.
What about AI headshots?
AI headshot apps are cheaper per person, and for a solo LinkedIn refresh they can be fine. For a whole team, they tend to run into the same problems: people don't quite look like themselves, the results don't match from person to person, and you can't control the background, lighting or crop to fit your brand. Your team page is often the first place a client or candidate looks, and "almost looks like Dave" is not the impression most companies are going for.
A real headshot day also does something an app can't, which is get the people who hate having their picture taken through it in about ten minutes without a fight.
Questions to ask before you book
Is pricing per person, per hour, or a flat day rate?
How many final images does each person get, and what do extras cost?
What retouching is included?
Do you come to our office, and are there travel or setup fees?
How long until we have final images?
Can you match these photos when we hire new people later?
Getting a quote for your team
I quote company headshots by headcount and location, so the fastest way to a real number is to tell me roughly how many people, where your office is, and when you'd like to shoot. You can see how a headshot day works on my company headshots page, or send me those three details through the contact page and I'll come back with a setup and a quote.
Local to me? See corporate headshots in Somerset County and headshots in Newark. Planning a conference or member night instead? Here's how an event headshot station works.
