October 26, 2026
How long does a headshot session take?
For one person, a headshot session usually runs from around half an hour to a couple of hours, depending on how many looks you want. Teams work differently: everyone gets a short slot, so the day is built around headcount. Actors and personal branding clients sit somewhere in between. Below we go through what eats up the time, how to plan for each type of shoot, and how to avoid turning up for ten minutes of photos after an hour of faff.
If you just want the quick version, here it is.
The quick answer, by type of session
These are planning ranges, not promises. Exact timings depend on the package, the number of outfits and the location, so check the details on the page for the session you pick before you book.
| Type of session | Roughly how long to plan for | What drives the time |
|---|---|---|
| Single corporate or LinkedIn headshot | 30 to 60 minutes | One or two outfits, a couple of backgrounds |
| Actor headshots | 1 to 2 hours | Several looks, different expressions, a casting-ready spread |
| Team headshots at your office | A short slot per person, so the day scales with headcount | Number of people, space, how quickly people turn up |
| Personal branding session | 1 to 3 hours or more | Outfit changes, locations, props, lifestyle shots |
| Environmental portrait | 1 to 3 hours | Moving between spots, lighting setups, story you want to tell |
Notice what is not in the table: how long the photographer takes to press the button. The camera is rarely the slow bit.
What actually fills the time
A session is more than clicking. Here is where the minutes go.
Arriving and settling in
The first five to ten minutes are about you, not the camera. You put your bag down, have a quick chat about what the photos are for, and get used to the room. This matters more than people think. A relaxed face in minute fifteen beats a stiff one in minute two.
Getting the light and the background right
A photographer will set up lighting and check it with a few test frames. In a studio this is quick because the kit is already there. On location it takes a bit longer, because we have to work with whatever room, window and ceiling you’ve got.
The shooting itself
This is the main chunk, and it’s directed. You’re not left to figure out what to do with your hands. Posing, chin, shoulders, expression: all guided frame by frame. Most people need a few minutes to warm up, and the best frames tend to come once you’ve stopped thinking about the camera.
Changing outfits and looks
This is the biggest hidden time cost. Every outfit change means a few minutes for changing, then a quick check of collar, hair and any creases, then a few test shots again. Two outfits is easy. Five is a different session.
Reviewing and choosing
Some people like to look at the back of the camera between looks, which is helpful for confidence and for catching small things like a crooked tie. It adds minutes, but it often saves reshoots. Choosing your final images after the session happens separately and doesn’t have to eat into your shoot time.
Single headshots: how long for one person?
If you need one strong photo for LinkedIn, your company website or an email signature, you don’t need long. One outfit, one background and a handful of expressions can be done comfortably in the shorter end of the range.
That said, a rushed session often gives you a rushed face. Most people take a few frames to loosen up, and plenty of nervous clients tell us the photo they end up choosing came from the second half of the session. If you hate being photographed, give yourself a bit of breathing room rather than squeezing it in between meetings.
Our single headshot packages start with Single at £99 and Professional at £165, with an on-location option too. If you want to see which suits you, the page lays out what each includes.
Is more time always better?
No. There’s a point where you get tired, your smile gets stiff and the frames start looking the same. For one person with one purpose, the sweet spot is long enough to warm up and try a couple of variations, then stop.
A useful rule: add time for every extra purpose, not every extra photo. A LinkedIn photo and a speaker bio shot can share a look. A relaxed website image and a formal board profile usually want a change of outfit.
Actor headshots: why they take longer
Actors need range. A casting director flicking through a hundred thumbnails wants to see a face that looks like you, with a couple of clearly different types of character. That means different expressions, sometimes a different top or two, and a bit more patience from everyone.
So plan more time than a corporate shoot, and think ahead about which looks you’re going to need. Our actor headshot packages include Essential at £75 and Casting at £135, plus a Full Portfolio option with no published price. Think about what you need for your spotlight page and showreel thumbnails, not just one good picture.
If you’re deciding how many looks to bring, our piece on headshots in your actor portfolio is worth a read first.
Team headshots: it’s a day, not a session
This is where the keyword gets a different answer. With a team, the question isn’t “how long is the session?” but “how long per person, and how many people?”
The arithmetic is simple. If each person gets a short slot of around ten minutes, thirty people is five hours of shooting, plus time for setting up, a break and the inevitable late arrival. A team of six can be done in a morning. A team of sixty is a full day, or two days, or two photographers.
Our team headshot packages (Starter, Standard and Full Day) are priced at £50 to £80 per person. The right one depends on how many people you have and how long you can free up a room.
Tips for keeping a team shoot on time
- Book a quiet room close to where people work, so nobody disappears for half an hour.
- Send a schedule with a name against every slot, and tell people the order.
- Tell everyone what to wear in advance. Our guide on how to prepare for a corporate headshot session is easy to forward round the team.
- Have one person in charge of rounding people up. It makes a bigger difference than you’d expect.
- Build in a buffer. People overrun, and the last slot of the day shouldn’t be the one that gets squeezed.
Also worth knowing: bigger teams need booking earlier. We’ve written about how far ahead to book headshots, and the short version is that single sessions need weeks and teams need a couple of months.
Personal branding and environmental portraits
These are the longest sessions, because they’re doing more. You’re not just getting a face on a plain background. You might want a desk shot, a walking shot, one with your tools or your studio, and a few close-ups for your website.
That means moving around, changing the light and sometimes changing clothes. Our personal branding sessions include The Refresh at £120 and The Executive at £450, with The Personal Brand available without a published price. For environmental portraits, Portrait is £200 and Extended is £450, and the Team & Events option has no published price.
If you’re not sure what a branding shoot involves, what personal branding photography is explains it in plain terms.
In the studio or on location: does it change the length?
Yes, a bit. In the studio, everything’s set up and the lighting is already tuned, so you spend more of your time actually being photographed. On location, we bring the kit to you, which is great if you’re busy, but it adds setup and pack-down time on either side.
On location also makes sense when you want your actual workplace in the frame, or when you’ve got a team and don’t want people leaving the building. We cover Fulham and West London and work across London. If you’re curious about the studio route, there’s more on our studio sessions, and for the other option have a look at on-location photography in London.
Our view: more time doesn’t mean better photos
We’ve done over 500 sessions now, and one thing keeps coming up. People ask how long they need to book, when what they’re really asking is “how long until I stop feeling awkward?”
The honest answer is: not long, if the session is directed properly. Our job is to tell you what to do, frame by frame, so you don’t have to guess. That’s why we keep sessions tailored to each person rather than running everyone through the same routine. Some people relax in five minutes. Some take twenty. Neither is a problem, and we plan for both.
We’d rather you spent your time on a few looks done properly than six looks done in a rush. We also keep retouching honest, so you still look like you on a good day, and we turn images around quickly, usually the same week, so you’re not left waiting.
If you’re short on time, tell us up front. A tightly planned half-hour session beats a vague hour every time.
— Emmet
How to make your session shorter (without rushing)
Preparation saves more minutes than any trick on the day.
- Decide what the photos are for. LinkedIn, a website, a casting profile or a press kit each want slightly different things. Know your answer before you arrive.
- Choose outfits the night before. Bring two or three, ironed. Our guide to how to dress for a professional headshot covers colours and fits.
- Sort the small stuff. Hair, glasses, collar, jewellery. Fixing these in advance means fewer pauses.
- Arrive a few minutes early, not late. A calm start gives you more usable time.
- Tell your photographer what worries you. Hate your left side? Say so. It saves test frames.
Our complete guide to a professional headshot session goes through the whole process, and the headshot session preparation guide covers the week before.
What about image size and how many photos you get?
Two questions often come up alongside timing. First, size. For online profiles a square crop is the usual standard: LinkedIn, for example, recommends at least 400 x 400 pixels for the profile photo, so any properly delivered headshot will be well above that. Your photographer should deliver files large enough to crop for web, print and press.
Second, how many final photos come out of a session. That depends on the package, not the clock. A longer session gives you more variety to choose from, but the number of retouched finals is set by what you book. Check the package page before you pay, and ask if you’re unsure.
Ready to book?
If you know roughly what you need, pick the page that matches and we’ll take it from there. Individuals can start with our headshot sessions, and if you’re booking for a team, the team headshots page shows the per-person pricing. Not sure which suits you? Get in touch through our site and tell us what the photos are for. We’ll suggest a length that fits.
FAQ
How long does a headshot session take for one person?
Plan for roughly half an hour to an hour for a single corporate headshot, a little more if you want a second outfit. Arrive a few minutes early so you’re relaxed when we start. The exact time depends on your package, so check the details before booking.
Can I get a headshot done in my lunch break?
Yes, if you keep it simple: one outfit, one background, and a clear idea of what you need. Tell us your time limit when you book so we can plan around it. Add travel time on top if you’re coming to the studio.
How long do team headshots take?
It depends on the headcount, because each person has a short slot. As a planning rule, around ten minutes per person, plus setup and a buffer. A small team fits into a morning, and a large one needs a full day. Our team headshot options are built around that.
Do actors need longer sessions than corporate clients?
Usually, yes. Actors need a range of looks and expressions so casting directors can see different types, which means more frames and often an outfit change. Our actors headshots page shows the packages.
Will a longer session give me better photos?
Not automatically. A directed session of the right length beats a long, unfocused one. Good preparation and a clear brief matter more than extra minutes on the clock.
Sources
Recommended
Need photos of your own?
Headshots, team portraits and personal branding, shot in Fulham or on location across London.