Frequently asked questions

Learn more about our headshots and portraits

General

  • Both! We have a 3,000 square foot awesome photo studio in the West Loop, or we can come to your location. Whatever works best for your shoot.

  • A session outside of the studio often takes up most of the photographer’s day when you add travel and prep time. Our pricing reflects the extra time and effort that goes into making these sessions as awesome as they can be.

  • Yep! There is a parking lot in front of our building, and if it’s full, there is plenty of free street parking around the building. The building and studio is also wheelchair accessible.

  • Yes, we do have some discounts available: see our full pricing and discounts here for in-studio sessions, and contact us for our non-profit rates.

Headshots for me

  • After your headshot session, we will send you an online gallery to view all your photos, typically within 5-7 business days (rush fees apply for a 24-hour turnaround). In the gallery, you’ll be able to sort your images and download the photos you want to keep as high-resolution digital files.

  • When picking clothing to bring to your session, think of classic clothing that doesn’t distract from your face. You should choose clothing that is simple, fits well, and makes you feel confident. Here are Headshot Tips more in-depth tips on what to wear for your headshots.

  • A lot of our clients add a hair and makeup artist to their session – it helps everyone look like themselves, but on their best day. Our makeup artists are trained in makeup for photography and specialize in natural-looking headshots, so make sure you look like a camera-ready version of yourself. If you’re on the fence about whether you need a makeup artist, read about who should get a makeup artist here. If you add a makeup artist, come barefaced (or with cleanser to remove makeup) and with your hair clean, dry, and how you normally style it. You can also add hair styling with heat tools (curling irons/flat irons) and/or a blowout.

  • So many! We have a variety of colors and options for a plain background in our studio, as well as natural light or even outdoors nearby if the weather permits. You’ll talk to the photographer at the beginning of your session about all the options and choose the best one together.

  • As many as it takes. For some people, that’s just a few quick poses and a handful of photos, for others it could be hundreds. We average about 50-100 photos per look/outfit.

  • You can cancel/reschedule a headshot session by following the link in your confirmation email. Please note, if you do this within 48 hours of your session, you will be charged a fee ($50 for sessions without makeup, $100 for sessions with makeup).

  • Headshot

    • Headshots are a type of portrait and are generally used for bio pages, profile photos on social media, and employee intranet photos, for example.

    • Headshots are typically lit more evenly with your face straight forward

    • Headshots serve as a general representation of who you are and what you look like (while still looking awesome of course, because it's not a passport photo).

    Portrait

    • Portraits can get a little more creative or editorial with the photographic style. You can be looking off to the side instead of straight at the camera.

    • Portraits allow for moodier, brighter, or more stylized lighting. The colors can be more intense, and the clothing you choose can be more stylistic.

    • Portraits can be in front of a plain backdrop, in an environment, or in a lifestyle portrait you can be performing a task like sitting at a computer, walking, or holding a prop.

  • We will not rest until you are happy with your photos so we do everything we can during the session to make sure you do. You can watch the photos on a monitor as they are taken, and make adjustments to the lighting, posing, or your hair and clothes as we go. If you still think we screwed up royally we will schedule a reshoot with you for free.

Headshots for my team

  • Yes! If your company has existing headshots or photos taken by another photographer in one of your other national offices, show us the photos or your style guides and we’ll match the backdrop color and lighting.

  • The more open space you have, the better, but we can squeeze into just about any space that’s at least 8-10 feet wide by 15 feet long. Any conference room or other area of the office where we won’t be disturbing anyone (the lights will flash) and we can move the tables/chairs to create an open space will work fine. We’ll need just one power outlet and we'll bring our own extension cords.

  • We want you to be happy with your photos and are committed to providing you with headshots that exceed your expectations. If the photos do not match the standards of our portfolio and are somehow flawed because of photographer error (such as focus, lighting, color), we will correct the mistakes either in post-production if possible, or with a re-shoot if necessary. We always do our best to achieve your vision in the photos, and can show you the photos as we take them, to make sure we’re capturing what you’re looking for. Some rooms can create specific photographic challenges, especially in environmental shots such as in front of a lobby or window, and we will be clear about any and all challenges at the shoot so you can know what to expect and what is possible.

  • Organic Headshots carries full liability coverage for every shoot. Let us know if your building needs a certificate of insurance listing your office or property as an additional insured on the policy before the shoot.

  • Organic Headshots accepts check, credit card, and ACH transfers and will provide an invoice over email after the shoot. We can provide your accounting department with an EIN or W9.

  • Federal Copyright Law states that the copyright of any photographic work created is immediately assigned to the photographer. The process to transfer that copyright is long and intensive, so Organic Headshots instead assigns a simple license to you which grants nearly every right and privilege a copyright would. You have hired us to take your photos so that you can use them, so your license allows you to publish, print, and distribute the photos everywhere without needing to credit us or pay us any additional fees or royalties. There are no hidden fees, commercial usage fees, or licensing fees.