Affiliate Program
Actual Headshots.com customers
When potential clients search for a therapist, they often make quick decisions based on first impressions.
Your practice’s headshots can be the deciding factor that encourages them to reach out. Quality, professional photos show potential clients they’re in capable, caring hands before they ever schedule a session.
At Headshots.com, we’ve helped over 100,000 people get studio-quality headshots without leaving their home or office. And over the years, we’ve learned what separates a great one from something that’s just average.
When to Update Your Professional Headshot
Your headshot forms the first connection between you and potential clients searching for a therapist. While a great photo can build instant trust, an outdated one might create unnecessary barriers. Understanding when to refresh your professional image helps maintain that crucial first impression.
A few signs that your headshots are due for an update:
- Current clients frequently mention that you look different from your photo
- Your hair, glasses, or other key features have changed
- The photo quality looks noticeably dated compared to your colleagues
- You feel hesitant about sharing your current headshot
- Your photos aren’t consistent across different professional platforms
Client Comments as a Signal
When clients mention differences between your photo and in-person appearance, take note. These comments often start subtly – “Oh, your hair is different now!” or “I almost didn’t recognize you!”
While small changes are natural, frequent comments suggest it’s time for new photos. This feedback matters because clients form their first impression of you through your online presence, and any significant mismatch can affect their initial comfort level.
Physical Appearance Changes
Even small changes add up over time. New glasses frames, a different hairstyle, or changes in facial features can make your headshot feel outdated. Rather than waiting for a major change, consider updating your photos when you notice these shifts. This keeps your professional image current and authentic, helping clients feel confident they’re meeting the same person they saw online.
Quality Standards in Professional Photos
Photo quality standards change rapidly with improving technology. Think about the picture quality you got from an iPhone 5+ years ago compared to what you see on the latest phones.
A headshot that looked crisp and professional three years ago might appear grainy or poorly lit compared to current standards. Check your photos against other therapists in your area, particularly on platforms like Psychology Today or professional directories. If your images lack the clarity, lighting, or resolution of your colleagues’ photos, it’s time for an update.
Professional Confidence Matters
Your headshot should make you feel confident and proud. If you find yourself hesitating to share your photo, or if you’re choosing older photos over more recent ones, pay attention to that instinct. A photo you feel good about projects that confidence to potential clients, making them more likely to reach out.
Platform Consistency Builds Trust
Different platforms where you use your headshot – your practice website, professional directories, social media profiles – should show a consistent image. When clients research you across multiple sites, seeing different photos can create confusion or doubt.
Take inventory of everywhere your headshot appears and ensure you’re presenting a unified professional image.
Planning a Headshot Session for Therapists
Here are two standard methods therapists typically take to get their headshots:
The Traditional Way [The Standard Yet Challenging Route]
Traditional headshot sessions typically follow this path:
1. Initial Setup (2-4 weeks)
- Survey your therapy team’s availability (if getting headshots for multiple people at your practice)
- Match schedules with local photographers
- Compare portfolios and pricing packages
- Plan wardrobe and backdrop details
2. Session Day (Half day minimum)
- Travel to studio or chosen location
- Manage individual session times
- Address wardrobe and comfort levels
- Navigate group dynamics and individual needs
3. Finishing Process (1-2 weeks)
- Review initial photo selections
- Request revisions for lighting and retouching
- Pay additional fees for extra editing requests
Most practices find this process takes 3-4 weeks from start to finish, with significant schedule disruption.
Headshots.com [The Modern, Efficient Path]
Headshots.com has a solution to help you save time and money without sacrificing the quality of your headshots:
1. Personal Sessions (30 minutes)
- Take photos with your phone or camera
- Follow our therapy-specific photo tips
- Choose from our professional backgrounds
- Submit through our simple platform
2. Professional Editing (3 days)
- Professional retouching by hand (we don’t use AI)
- Custom backdrop integration
- Consistency across your practice
- Unlimited revisions until it’s perfect
3. Implementation (Instant delivery)
- Download web-optimized files
- Access print-ready versions
- Multiple formats included
Your entire practice can complete this process within one week, maintaining full client schedules. Plus ever purchase is backed by our Happiness Guarantee.
What You Should Wear
To make a great impression, start with a curated wardrobe. Here are some general guidelines to ensure a successful shoot day.
Women’s Headshots
A great headshot starts with a dazzling smile! For women’s headshots, pair your confidence with dark, solid-colored shirts. Aim for a simple neckline and optional layer pieces like a cardigan or solid jacket that won’t distract from the photo’s focus.
Light makeup, jewelry, and accessories are acceptable but should be minimal and look more or less representative of your daily appearance.
Men’s Headshots
Headshots for men follow a similar theme, revolving around tops of dark, solid colors that don’t wash out a subject’s skin tone. Solid sweaters, blazers, or light jackets work too, and you can pair them with a tie or bowtie with or without a pattern.
Keep hair well-combed, and be sure to let your smile do the talking!
With any headshot, good posture and relaxed shoulders give off a sense of approachability.
Examples of How to Pose
Outfits are just half the battle; your therapists should have an appropriate pose or two in mind when capturing headshots. Here are some examples of poses to help spark inspiration on shoot day.
Front and Center
You can’t go wrong with this professional pose. Stage your subject with feet shoulder-width apart and eyes level with the camera. Capture the photo with their confident and credible grin at the center.
At an Angle
Present a confident, collected look with this classic headshot pose. Have your therapists stand shoulder-width apart with one shoulder slightly angled toward the camera. The subject’s eyes should be level with the camera and paired with a warm smile.
Out in the Field
Offer potential clients a more personalized feel with an outdoor or customized backdrop that shares an element of your practice’s persona or specialization. Center the photo’s subject and use even lighting so your background doesn’t detract from the therapist.
A Simple Posing Checklist
We covered quite a few examples in the section above. It can be a little overwhelming to put all that information together, so here’s a quick checklist to make sure you nail posing in your headshot.
Body Language:
- Keep shoulders relaxed and slightly angled
- Lean forward about 10 degrees to appear engaged
- Hold your chin slightly down to avoid looking dominant
- Maintain good posture without appearing stiff
Eye Expression:
- Focus slightly above the camera lens for a natural gaze
- Keep eyes wide but not strained
- Allow smile lines to show naturally
- Avoid rapid blinking by breathing steadily
Hand Placement:
- For cropped shots, keep hands out of frame
- In three-quarter poses, rest one hand lightly on your arm
- Avoid crossed arms, which can appear defensive
- Keep hand gestures subtle and natural
Common Headshot Mistakes to Avoid
Many therapists make similar photo mistakes that can turn potential clients away. Watch out for these specific issues:
- Poor Lighting: Home office lighting often creates unflattering shadows under eyes or across faces. Overhead fluorescent lights cast a greenish tint that makes skin appear sallow. Natural window light is best, but position yourself facing the window rather than having it behind you.
- Cluttered Backgrounds: Book-filled shelves might seem professional, but busy backgrounds pull attention away from your face. Personal items, wall art, or office equipment in the background can distract viewers. Instead, use a plain wall or subtle texture that keeps the focus on you.
- Uncomfortable Expressions: Forced smiles or overly serious expressions can make therapists appear unapproachable. Your expression should match how you typically look when greeting a client. Practice your natural smile in the mirror before your session.
- Inconsistent Team Photos: When each therapist uses a different photographer or backdrop, it creates a disjointed look on your practice website. All team members should follow the same photo guidelines for a unified appearance.
Typical Cost of Headshots for Therapists
The projected costs of a headshot session can impact your options as a therapy practice. Costs add up quickly, and in the case of a traditional photo shoot, you can reasonably expect to pay several hundred dollars for each headshot.
| Traditional Photo Shoot* | Headshots.com |
| $100 to $1,000 per headshot | $25 to $50 per headshot |
*Not including pre-planning or opportunity costs due to the logistics involved with a traditional photo shoot
Some of Our Success Stories
“I loved the step-by-step directions for getting ideal lighting for a picture on my phone, as well as the posing coaching. When I received my final product, I was blown away – it looked like I had gone to a studio!”
-Anna W., Fort Worth, TX
“Using Headshots.com was super easy. They have a quick tutorial to get started which is super efficient. The turnaround time to receive the final result of your picture after the background and touch ups were in good time. Very happy with the outcome, super professional.”
-Michelle J., Alexandra, VA
“When I came across Headshots.com, I was skeptical and wondered how it all would work. Well it was very simple! Thanks to the convenience and affordability of Headshots.com, I was able to obtain and use my headshots – which I absolutely love – on my website and in my marketing materials. I highly recommend this company.”
-Dominique J., CEO of M.A.M.A.
Next Steps: Get Studio-Quality Therapist Headshots with a Fraction of the Effort
If you’re ready to get professional headshots without an in-person photo session, learn more about our 100% virtual headshot services.
You can also check out some of our customer examples to see the quality you can expect from our team.
