Which ATX Headshots Session Is Right for You?
Which ATX Headshots session is right for you depends on three things: how you plan to use the images, how much variety you need across different platforms, and how much time you have. With 21 years of experience photographing professionals across North America, Ryan Dunbar at ATX Headshots has worked with thousands of clients at every level — and the right ATX Headshots session for a solo attorney updating their LinkedIn photo is very different from the right one for an executive building a personal brand.
Here is an honest breakdown of all three session options and exactly who each one is designed for.
The Express Session — $225
The Express session is a focused 20-minute session producing one polished professional headshot. One outfit, one background, one final look.
This session is right for you if any of these apply. You have a current headshot that is close to what you need but slightly outdated — you are not rebuilding your professional image from scratch, you just need it refreshed. You need a clean headshot quickly and your schedule does not allow for a longer session. You use your headshot primarily in one context — LinkedIn, a company directory, or a firm website — and do not need multiple options for different platforms. You are comfortable in front of a camera and do not need extended time to relax into the session.
The Express session is not right for you if you need images across multiple contexts, if you want options with different outfits or backgrounds, or if you tend to need more time to feel comfortable in front of a camera. Rushing a headshot session produces stiff images — if that sounds like you, the Professional session is a better fit.
What you get: one retouched final image included in the session fee. Additional images available at $125 each. In-session image review on screen.
The Professional Session — $325
The Professional session is the most popular option at ATX Headshots and the right choice for most working professionals. Up to one hour in the studio with multiple outfit changes and background options, active posing and expression coaching throughout, and enough time to produce a genuine variety of strong images.
This session is right for you if you are a professional who uses LinkedIn actively for career development, client development, or business development and wants a headshot that genuinely works rather than just being acceptable. You need images that work across multiple platforms — LinkedIn, your company website, a speaking profile, and a press release all at the same time. You want options — different crops, different expressions, different outfit and background combinations — so you are not locked into one image for every use. You benefit from extended coaching and time to settle into the session before the best images emerge.
Most Professional session clients leave with three to four strong proof images and purchase two to three retouched finals. Total spend for most Professional session clients is $450 to $575.
This session is the right choice for attorneys, real estate agents, financial advisors, consultants, healthcare professionals, executives, and most other client-facing professionals who need a headshot that works hard across multiple contexts. The Austin headshot photographer page has full session details and booking.
The Executive Session — $525
The Executive session is a two-hour private studio session designed for senior professionals, executives, and anyone building a personal brand who needs a comprehensive set of images across multiple formats and contexts.
This session is right for you if your professional image is a significant asset in your business or career — you are a C-suite executive, a public-facing leader, a consultant or advisor with a significant personal brand, or a professional who needs images that work not just for a LinkedIn profile but for speaking engagements, media appearances, published articles, and marketing materials simultaneously. You need more than headshots — you need seated portraits, environmental shots, and full-length images that give you a complete professional image library. You want unlimited wardrobe changes and the time to explore different looks without feeling rushed. You understand that the images from this session will represent you across every professional context for the next two to three years and want to get it right comprehensively.
The Executive session includes unlimited wardrobe changes, headshots plus seated portraits plus full-length images, advanced expression and posing coaching, and in-session image review on screen. Most Executive session clients purchase five to seven retouched images. Total spend for most Executive clients is $1,150 to $1,400.
Comparing All Three Sessions
The Express session at $225 is the right entry point when you need one clean headshot quickly. The Professional session at $325 is the right choice for most working professionals who need images that work across multiple platforms. The Executive session at $525 is the right investment for professionals whose personal brand is a significant business asset.
If you are unsure which session is right for your situation, the Professional session is almost always the correct default. It gives you enough time to produce genuinely strong images without the commitment of a two-hour session, and the variety of options it produces covers the full range of typical professional use cases.
What All Sessions Include
Every session at ATX Headshots includes expert posing and expression coaching — this is not optional, it is the core of what produces the difference between a stiff, uncertain headshot and one that reads as natural and confident. In-session image review are standard across all sessions. Retouched final images are delivered within three to five business days of image selection.
No deposit is required for any individual session. You can review options and book directly on the Austin headshot photographer page.
Preparing for Your Session
Whichever session you book, preparation makes a measurable difference in the final images. The complete guide is covered in this post on how to prepare for a headshot session — wardrobe, grooming, and what to expect on the day. For wardrobe specifically, this post on what to wear for a LinkedIn headshot covers the choices that work best on camera.
FAQ
Which headshot session is right for most professionals?
The Professional session is the right choice for most working professionals. It provides enough time to produce genuinely strong images across multiple outfit and background options, includes active coaching throughout, and covers the full range of typical professional use cases — LinkedIn, firm website, speaking profiles, and press materials.
Is the Express session good enough for LinkedIn?
Yes, if you have a specific look in mind and are comfortable in front of a camera. The Express session produces one polished headshot in 20 minutes. If you tend to need time to relax into a session or want multiple options to choose from, the Professional session is a better fit.
Who is the Executive session for?
Senior executives, C-suite professionals, consultants and advisors with significant personal brands, and anyone who needs a comprehensive image library across multiple formats — headshots, seated portraits, environmental images, and full-length shots — for use across media, speaking, and marketing contexts.
Can I upgrade my session on the day?
Session upgrades are subject to availability. If you book an Express session and decide on the day that you want more time, contact ATX Headshots in advance to check whether the longer session is available at your scheduled time.
How many images will I get from each session?
The Express session typically produces one to two strong proof images. The Professional session typically produces eight to fifteen proof images with three to four strong final candidates. The Executive session produces a larger set of images to review in session across multiple looks, outfits, and formats. retouched final images are purchased separately after the session at $125 each.
Is there a deposit required to book?
No deposit is required for any individual session at ATX Headshots. You can book directly online and pay after your session when you select your final images.