A professional headshot is a head-and-shoulders image that shows you at your best, with an amazing expression, great lighting, and a modern, clean look. Typically it's used on LinkedIn, your company website, email signature, and other social platforms.

Do I need a professional headshot?

Yes. Not only do you need a headshot, but you need a good one. A headshot is your digital calling card, and as more business is done virtually, having a headshot that accurately represents your brand is more important than ever.

What is the process of getting a headshot like?

The process is collaborative, empowering, and fun. Pete Coco shoots tethered to his computer, so you review the images in real time together and find the best angles, poses, and clothing. Full sessions with multiple outfit changes and express sessions are both available.

What's the difference between a headshot and a portrait?

A headshot is a head-and-shoulders image with a simple background, showing you at your best, like a LinkedIn headshot. A portrait can be close up, half length, or full length, and uses more creative lighting and poses.

Are corporate headshots different than acting headshots?

Yes, but there is some overlap. Clothing, styling, expressions, and poses vary for acting and corporate headshots, but more important is hiring a photographer who understands your brand and goals. Each session is tailored to the client's needs.

Do you recommend a makeup artist for a headshot session?

Yes, a makeup artist is recommended for female clients. Pete Coco works with a makeup artist who understands how to apply makeup specifically for headshots. If you choose to do your own makeup, the key is to keep everything simple, not use a lot of foundation, and avoid dark color around the eyes.

Should I have my hair done before my headshot session?

Yes. For women, having your hair done the day of the shoot gives the best results. For men, it's best to get a haircut a day or two before your session so the hair settles and doesn't have spiky edges as can happen with a fresh cut. Special techniques are available for clients without hair as well.

Where is Pete Coco Photography's studio located?

The main studio is located in Garden City on Long Island, with plenty of free street parking and a five minute walk from the LIRR Nassau Blvd train stop. There is also a location in Brooklyn at 20 Grand Ave near the Navy Yard.

How much do professional headshots cost?

Professional headshot prices vary based on the photographer, their expertise, location, and other factors. Pricing is available via the Get Pricing link, and special quotes are available for branding sessions or team headshots at your office.

How long does a headshot session take?

A typical session is under an hour, though full sessions can run up to 2 hours for clients who need multiple images. An express session for one great headshot takes about 20 minutes.

What should I wear to my corporate headshot session?

Blues, neutrals, and form fitted options generally work best. A complete breakdown is available at https://petecocophoto.com/blog/how-to-dress-for-a-headshot

What should I wear to my acting headshot session?

Actors should bring as many outfit options as possible, including neutrals and form fitted shirts for a clean commercial look. A full breakdown is available at https://petecocophoto.com/blog/what-to-wear-acting-headshot-long-island

Do you photograph groups or teams for corporate headshots?

Yes. Pete Coco works with teams of various sizes and travels to client locations for headshots, event photos, and videography, including out-of-state travel when needed.

Do you edit or retouch the photos?

Yes. Any purchased photo is professionally retouched, including cleaning up skin and hair edges and softening lines and shadows, done subtly and realistically so the image looks like you on your best day.

How far in advance should I book my headshot session?

Booking 2-4 weeks in advance is recommended since the schedule tends to fill up quickly, though it's worth reaching out directly to check for earlier availability.

Three Elements of a Good Headshot

Three Elements of a Good Headshot | Pete Coco Photography

The short version

A good headshot looks like the genuinely best version of you, not a stiff or forced pose
Technical quality (exposure, color, cropping, lighting) makes or breaks the final image
Simple backgrounds and subtle editing photograph better than heavy filters or fake sets
Over-editing is one of the fastest ways to make a headshot look fake
The photographer you choose is, in the end, the most important factor of all

Every professional needs a good headshot nowadays. Your face is going to be seen somewhere online, whether through social media, websites, blogs, Zoom meetings, and probably even Google image searches. It's important to make sure that you decide what photos are associated with your online persona. The last thing you want is a photo you don't like, or worse, didn't choose, representing a brand you've worked hard to build.

Quality headshots have become imperative for business people, real estate agents, doctors, lawyers, corporations both large and small, college professors, teachers, actors, theatrical performers, students, and clergy. In short: everyone needs a good headshot in today's digital world.

With that in mind, here are three elements of a good headshot, and some tips to help you choose a great photographer.

Element 01

The Best Version of You

First, and most importantly, a good headshot should look like the best version of you possible. This sounds obvious, but it's easier said than done. A professional photographer knows how to coach expressions, place you in the most flattering lighting, and will even help you choose clothing and accessories to make your headshot stellar. A photographer worth their salt will instantly recognize what features to accentuate, and knows how to coach what I call "micro-expressions," a key component of a great headshot. Your headshot must reflect the best version of you possible.

Element 02

Technical Excellence

Second, a good headshot needs to be technically excellent. Technical elements include correct exposure and focus, correct color balance, good cropping, excellent lighting (there are many different lighting styles, and some are not great for headshots), camera and lens choices and settings, camera height, and much more. Technical details will make or break the photo, and a professional photographer understands and pays attention to these important elements. The last thing you want is a poorly lit, unclear, unflattering photo representing your brand. It screams amateur to your potential business connections.

Element 03

Proper Composition & Editing

Third, a good headshot must be composed and edited properly. The last thing you want is what I like to call the "1980s Glamor Shot" look, complete with soft focus filter and fake bookcase background. A photo like this will do your brand more harm than good.

A modern, clean headshot has a simple background, and the editing is done to make you look your best, not to look like an Instagram filter gone awry. In fact, nothing is worse than an over-edited photo, since it's clearly fake to anyone who sees it. Keeping things this simple also makes your face much more engaging in the headshot, and minimizes distractions.

Some Final Thoughts

I hope this has been helpful to you. In truth, there are a host of issues, both large and small, that we headshot photographers think about with each client. In the end, it's up to us to know what to do to make the session amazing, since no two faces are the same. So you could say that the most important element of the headshot is the photographer you choose to take it.

Key Takeaways

Genuine expression wins. A good headshot reflects the real, best version of you, not a forced or stiff pose.
Technical quality is non-negotiable. Exposure, focus, color, and lighting make or break the final image.
Simplicity beats over-editing. Clean backgrounds and subtle retouching photograph better than heavy filters or fake sets.
No two sessions are the same. A skilled photographer adapts to your face, not the other way around.

Common Questions

What's the biggest difference between a good headshot and a bad one?

It usually comes down to whether the photo looks like a genuine, natural version of you. A bad headshot often has a stiff or forced expression, poor lighting, or heavy-handed editing that ends up looking fake. A good one reflects a real, relaxed expression captured with technical skill.

Why do some headshots look outdated or overly edited?

Usually it's a soft-focus filter, an artificial-looking background, or heavy retouching that removes too much natural texture. Modern headshots use clean, simple backgrounds and subtle, realistic retouching, rather than trying to disguise the photo as something it isn't.

What background is best for a professional headshot?

A simple, uncluttered background works best, since it keeps attention on your face rather than the surroundings. White and grey are the two most versatile and widely used options for professional headshots.

Can a photographer really help with my expression, or is that up to me?

A skilled photographer plays a big role here. Coaching subtle, natural expressions, often called micro-expressions, is a core part of a professional headshot session, not something you're expected to figure out alone.

Does everyone really need a professional headshot?

In today's digital world, yes. Anyone with an online presence, whether on LinkedIn, a company website, social media, or even Zoom, benefits from a photo they intentionally chose rather than one that was simply taken, or worse, an old casual photo repurposed for a professional context.

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Sessions available in studio on Long Island and in New York City. Reach out to talk through what you need.

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HeadshotsPeter CocoJuly 11, 2026headshot, head shot, photography, photo, portrait, portrature