Business portrait
What is a headshot and how it differs from an ordinary photo
A headshot is a business portrait built around one job: to make a person recognisable and worth trusting. This is the photograph that goes on LinkedIn, on the team page of a company website, into a résumé and next to a comment in the press.
A headshot in plain words
The word comes from English: a headshot is a portrait framed from the chest or shoulders up. Russian has no single word for it, so in practice people say business portrait, corporate portrait or a photo for LinkedIn — all of them describe the same thing.
Its defining feature is restraint. Nothing in the frame competes with the face: a plain background, soft light, calm clothing. The composition is built so that attention lands on the eyes — they are what creates contact with whoever opens your profile.
That is the whole difference from a beautiful photograph in general. A headshot is not decoration, it is a working tool. It is looked at for two or three seconds, and in those seconds a person decides whether to write to you, invite you or scroll on.
Thousands of photos — and not one portrait
Sound familiar?
You almost certainly have thousands of photographs of yourself — and not one portrait you would happily put next to your job title.
A headshot is exactly one photograph, taken for a purpose. It is not an ID photo — that one follows a rigid standard, flat light and a neutral face. It is not an ordinary photo session either, where the mood and the scenery matter most. Here something else matters: that the person on the other end sees you and wants to deal with you.
And such a frame does not go stale. It works in LinkedIn, on the company website, in a résumé, on a speaker card and next to a comment in the press — for years, until you decide to update it yourself.
Who needs a business portrait
Executives and owners
The portrait on the company website and in the annual report is often the first thing a partner, an investor or a candidate sees.
Experts and consultants
When you sell your knowledge, people buy you first. A business portrait does half the introduction before you say a word.
Doctors, lawyers, financiers
In professions built on trust a casual photo costs clients. A calm, precise portrait works the other way round.
IT and product teams
One set of portraits in a single style makes a distributed team look like a team, on the website and in presentations.
Speakers and lecturers
Conference organisers ask for a photo in advance, and it ends up on the poster, the website and the slides.
Job seekers
A résumé with a professional photo is opened more often than the same résumé without one — especially for senior roles.
Where the photograph is used
One shoot covers all of these: the frames are taken with a margin around the figure, so the same portrait fits a square avatar, a website banner and a vertical speaker card.
How the shoot goes
Before the shoot
We discuss where the photo will live: LinkedIn, the company website, the press. The task defines the background, the clothing and how tight the framing is.
Light and background
I set up soft modelling light and one of three backgrounds — white, grey or black. It takes a few minutes and you see the result right away.
Shooting, 30–45 minutes
I guide your posture, your chin, your gaze. The frames appear on the monitor immediately, so you see what is happening and we correct it together.
Selection and retouching
The same day you get a link to every frame. You pick your favourites, I retouch them and send the files the next day.
Examples of work
Click a portrait to open it full size
More portraits are in the gallery on the main page, and a few words about me are here.
How to prepare
Four simple things that decide half the result
Clothing
Dress for the task: a suit for business and résumé, casual for social media. Plain, calm, neutral colours — white, grey, black, light blue. Shirts, jackets, sweaters and turtlenecks all work. Avoid loud prints: they pull attention away from your face.
Makeup
For women I strongly recommend light, natural, fresh professional makeup. It evens out the skin tone, hides small imperfections and makes the face look cared for in the frame. Men need no makeup.
Jewellery
Keep details to a minimum. Neat stud earrings or a simple watch are fine. Any massive accessory steals attention from the main subject of the shoot — you.
The day before
Sleep well, it shows in the frame immediately. Clean hair, natural styling. Do not book aggressive cosmetic procedures right before the shoot.
How much a headshot costs
An individual session or a project for the whole team
Headshot
15 000 ₽
- Shooting of 30–45 minutes
- Two backgrounds: white, grey, black
- Professional retouching of 5 photographs
- Every frame you like in colour grading
- Files ready the next day
Corporate
By project
- For groups of 10 people and up
- From 5 minutes of shooting per person
- One style and background for the team
- Up to 3 retouched photos per person
- Files within 7 days
Retouching of each extra photograph costs 1 000 ₽. The information on this page is for reference only and is not a public offer; the final price and terms are agreed individually.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a headshot and an ID photo?
An ID photo has to meet a formal standard: fixed framing, flat light, a neutral expression. A headshot has a different job — to make you recognisable and worth trusting. Hence soft modelling light, a background chosen for you and a live, open expression.
How long does the shoot take?
The headshot package takes 30 to 45 minutes. That is enough for two backgrounds and several variations of posture and expression without rushing.
How many photographs do I get?
Every frame you like, in professional colour grading. Detailed retouching of five selected shots is included in the package; each extra retouched photo costs 1 000 ₽.
When will the photos be ready?
On the day of the shoot I send a link where you can look through everything again and make the final choice. The retouched files arrive the next day.
What should I wear?
Plain clothing in calm, neutral colours, chosen for where the photo will be used. Shirts, jackets, sweaters and turtlenecks all work well. Bring a spare option — we can shoot both.
I always look bad in photos. What do I do?
Almost everyone says that. I help you find your angle, we work on the gaze and the expression together, and the frames appear on the monitor as we shoot, so you see the result and we adjust it on the spot.
Can you photograph the whole team?
Yes. For groups of ten people and up there is a corporate format: one style and one background for everyone, from five minutes of shooting per person, up to three retouched photographs each, files within seven days.
Where do the photo sessions take place?
In Moscow. For corporate shoots I can bring the light and the background to your office — the setup takes a few minutes.
Shall we shoot your portrait?
Write to me in Telegram: we will discuss the task, pick a date and spend 40 minutes on a photograph you will be using for years.
Book a session