Headshot Photography FAQ
Most people show up to a headshot session with a list of questions they forgot to ask. This page exists so you don't have to wonder. Below are the most common questions people have before, during, and after a session, answered directly and without the fluff.
Before Your Session
Individual sessions at Pandorica start at $250. There are two options:
The Express Session is designed for busy professionals who need a clean, polished headshot fast. One beautifully retouched image, often delivered the same day.
The Executive Session is a fully tailored experience built around your personal brand, goals, and target audience. Images are priced individually, and every purchased image includes professional retouching.
For corporate and group sessions, flat-rate packages start at $2,000 for a 2-hour session with no per-person fees.
How much does a professional headshot session cost in Las Vegas?
Here’s the thing, honestly that depends entirely on how much your image affects your business. For Executives, Entrepreneurs, Attorneys, Real Estate Professionals, Financial Advisors, and anyone whose credibility is built online. Studies show a strong headshot is one of the highest-return investments you can make.
LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots receive significantly more profile views and connection requests than those without. Recruiters, Clients, and Collaborators make snap judgments based on your photo before they read a single word of your bio. A weak headshot quietly undermines everything else you have built.
Let’s change your perspective for a second and put yourself in the shoes of the onlooker, would you feel more comfortable meeting with someone who is potentially selling you a high ticket item, if they looked well put together or you can tell took their appearance seriously or if while you were researching would you click on the profile or website thumbnail if you could plainly see they just cropped into a group picture at a party and used that as their digital rep? It’s the same principle as wearing your “Power Outfit” that is freshly pressed and free of stains to a meeting with a new client or employer. It’s these first impressions that make all the difference to your bottom line.
Is a professional headshot actually worth the money?
Look at their body of work and look for a consistent look, feel, and coloring. Sounds weird I know, but is one shot more warm than another, is the lighting consistent. And just as important, are the expressions consistent? Do the subjects look posed, or look like they were told to smile, do they look uncomfortable or even worse do they look like the shot was taken in the style that was popular 30+ years ago? ask yourself whether the people in their photos look confident and natural, or stiff and posed. A great headshot photographer pulls expression out of people. A mediocre one just points a camera and clicks.
Beyond the work, you want someone who communicates clearly before the session, gives you specific direction on wardrobe and preparation, and makes you feel comfortable the moment you walk in. If a photographer cannot tell you exactly how they are going to direct you or what the session will look like, that is a red flag.
I get this question a lot from people looking for a photographer and the answer is always the same, Portfolio first! This goes doubly if you’re looking for a Wedding Photographer, if you don’t like their style now, you’re not going to like it 20 years from now. And in the case for Headshots, hiring the wrong photographer will for sure cost you unseen money.
Credentials matter too. Mondo Rojas trained directly under Peter Hurley, the photographer credited with redefining the headshot industry, and holds both Associate Photographer status and the title of Mentor within The Headshot Crew. That training shows up in the results.
How do I choose the right headshot photographer?
A few guidelines that hold across almost every industry:
Solid colors photograph better than patterns. Busy prints, stripes, and logos pull the eye away from your face, which is the subject of the photo.
Jewel tones and deeper colors tend to work well on camera. Neon, all-white, and all-black can create contrast issues depending on the background.
Long sleeves are generally more flattering than short sleeves or sleeveless tops because of how the camera captures arm proximity.
Bring two to three options. Something will always look better on camera than you expect, and something will always surprise you in the wrong direction. Choices give you flexibility.
This is super important, and should not be overlooked. This is a strategic decision as to who you want to market to, is it C-Suite Execs, Founders of a Start Up, or Casting Directors? Each market has a certain feel to it, so your wardrobe should speak and align to that market. I’ve written a full guide on my blog about this very topic HERE. But for a quick guide below are some good pointers.
Before every session, Mondo walks through wardrobe with you specifically so you show up prepared. You will not be guessing.
What should I wear to my headshot session?
Should I get my hair and makeup done professionally before a session?
It makes a real difference, especially for Executive Sessions and anyone who wants to look their absolute best in a photo that will be used for years.
The studio provides a full vanity station available for your use, including a curling iron, flat iron, blow dryer, lip gloss, chapstick, hairspray, and oil blotting papers. It is there so you can touch up when you arrive and between looks.
For a full professional makeup application, the recommendation is to hire a makeup artist independently and schedule them before your session. If you want a referral to trusted MUA artists in Las Vegas, just ask.
One important note: avoid dramatic changes to your hair or makeup right before a session. A new haircut the week before, a style you have never worn, or makeup that does not reflect how you normally look will show up in the photos and create a disconnect when people meet you in person.
How far in advance should I book a session?
For individual sessions, one to two weeks in advance is usually sufficient, though popular time slots fill up faster than most people expect. That being said if you need an update right away give us a call and we’ll get you in as soon as possible.
For corporate and group sessions, four to eight weeks is recommended, especially if your event falls during peak Las Vegas convention season. The earlier you lock in a date, the more flexibility you have on scheduling.
If you have a hard deadline, a conference, a product launch, a speaking engagement, reach out immediately HERE regardless of timeline and availability will be confirmed as quickly as possible.
Do I need to prepare anything before I show up?
- Hydration: Stay well-hydrated in the days leading up to the shoot. It is very hot here in Vegas, and drinking plenty of water will clear up your skin and ensure you look your best.
- Rest: Please get a full night's sleep before our session. Fatigue is most visible in the eyes and is difficult to correct in post-production.
- Grooming: Avoid any drastic changes to your overall look right before the shoot. This is not the time to experiment with new haircuts or colors.
- Tanning: If you plan to use a tanning bed or a spray tan, do so at least a week or so prior to your shoot date. This allows the color to settle naturally. (I’ve got some horror stories)
- Wardrobe: While we have a steamer on-site, please bring your clothes on hangers. This saves time and allows us to move through wardrobe quickly, leaving more time for the actual shoot.
For my Male clients be sure to apply a deep cleaning facial scrub the night before to clear out any clogged pores, and take care of ear and nose hairs. Headshots are close up and tight and we don’t want to show off the Forests of Endore in your photos.
Preparation is key for our upcoming session. After you book, I will call you to discuss wardrobe, grooming, and what to expect during the shoot. In the meantime, here are a few general tips to help you prepare:
During Your Session
What if I am nervous or uncomfortable in front of a camera?
This is the most common thing people say before a session. Roughly 90 percent of clients walk in unsure and uncomfortable. It is completely normal and it is not a problem.
The session does not start with a camera pointed at your face. It starts with a conversation. Mondo spends time getting to know what you need out of the session, talking through your goals, and making sure you feel settled before anything happens. By the time the camera comes up, most people have forgotten they were nervous.
The Facial Expression Coaching that happens throughout the session is specifically designed for people who do not know what to do with their face in photos. You will get specific, real-time direction on expression, posture, and energy. You will also be brought around to the monitor regularly so you can see how things are looking and make adjustments as you go.
Most people who say they hate having their photo taken walk out surprised at not just how much fun they had but also how much they love their new photos.
How long does a headshot session take?
It depends on the package and what you are trying to accomplish. The Express Session is a 30 minute session and includes (1) retouched image. We only book 2-3 Executive Sessions per day giving my clients a lot more flexibility with the time they need during their session.
Some clients are done in 20 minutes with exactly what they came for. Others spend an hour or more working through multiple looks for LinkedIn, a website, speaking engagements, and press.
Session time is flexible by design. You are not watching a clock, and the session does not end because a timer went off. It ends when you have what you need.
I always say it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it but not have it, that being said two to three looks is the sweet spot for most individual sessions. It gives you variety across different uses, LinkedIn versus website versus speaker bio versus press, without eating so much time on wardrobe changes that it cuts into shooting time.
Each look change takes a few minutes, and the session adjusts around it. If you are unsure what to bring, the pre-session wardrobe conversation will help you narrow it down.
I always recommend to bring the outfits that make you feel the most confident, because if you feel confident you are going to look confident.
How many outfits should I bring?
What backgrounds are available and how do I choose?
The studio offers a range of background options including white, light gray, dark gray, charcoal, and dark backdrops as well as fun bright colors. The right choice depends on your industry, your wardrobe, and what the image needs to communicate.
A financial advisor or attorney typically wants something clean and neutral that signals credibility. A creative professional or entrepreneur might want something with a bit more contrast, color or depth. A real estate agent photographing for a specific brokerage brand might have specific requirements.
Mondo will walk through the options with you based on your goals. You do not need to come in with this figured out.
Will I be able to see the photos during the session?
Yes. You will be brought over to the monitor throughout the session so you can see how things are looking in real time. This serves two purposes: it lets you make informed choices about expression and wardrobe, and it takes the mystery out of the process so you are not anxious about whether the photos are working.
Showing my clients how they are looking is my number one coaching tool as it’s a way for my clients to see what is working and what we need to fix which actually relaxes them!
What if I blink or pull a weird face in every photo?
That is exactly what the direction is for. The Facial Expression Coaching addresses the most common camera problems, the awkward smile, the stiff jaw, the eyes that go flat, and gives you specific real-time techniques to fix them in the moment.
No photographer can guarantee that every frame will be perfect, but a well-directed session produces a significant volume of usable shots so there are genuine options to choose from. You will not be left hoping one of three photos happens to work.
Plus the delete button is just a click away for the images that don’t work
After Your Session
For individual sessions, you select the images you want from your gallery.
For Executive Sessions, each image is sold a la carte and chosen at the end of the session. For the Express Session, one retouched image is included with the option to purchase more images if you so choose.
For both session types, all purchased images are fully retouched with no additional fees.
For corporate sessions, every team member receives their best 2 to 3 edited images in a personal private gallery, and the company receives the full team gallery for immediate use.
How many photos will I receive?
How quickly will I get my photos?
Same-day delivery is available for both individual and corporate sessions. I always promise a 48hr turnaround time but most clients receive their edited images before they go to bed on the day of their session.
For larger corporate galleries or sessions with more extensive retouching, delivery timelines are confirmed at the time of booking.
What does retouching include and how much is done?
Every purchased image includes professional retouching. Standard retouching covers skin smoothing, blemish removal, stray hair cleanup, teeth whitening and any clothing or background distractions that can be easily corrected.
What retouching does not do is dramatically alter your appearance. The goal is to make you look like the best version of yourself on your best day, not a version of yourself that surprises people when they meet you in person. Over-retouched headshots create a disconnect that undermines the entire point of the photo.
If you have specific concerns about retouching, bring them up during the session and the approach can be adjusted based on your preferences.
What does retouching include and how much is done?
Every purchased image includes professional retouching. Standard retouching covers skin smoothing, blemish removal, stray hair cleanup, teeth whitening and any clothing or background distractions that can be easily corrected.
What retouching does not do is dramatically alter your appearance. The goal is to make you look like the best version of yourself on your best day, not a version of yourself that surprises people when they meet you in person. Over-retouched headshots create a disconnect that undermines the entire point of the photo.
If you have specific concerns about retouching, bring them up during the session and the approach can be adjusted based on your preferences.
Can I use my headshots on LinkedIn, my website, and printed materials?
Yes. You receive General Use Rights to use your images across all personal and professional platforms including LinkedIn, your website, social media, printed materials, press kits, and speaker profiles. There are no licensing fees or usage restrictions.
Unless otherwise agreed upon, images are not to be resold ie. book covers, product packaging
When should I update my headshot?
Every two to three years is a good general guideline, or any time there is a meaningful change in your appearance, a new hairstyle, significant weight change, or a shift in how you present professionally.
Beyond appearance, update your headshot whenever your role or target audience changes significantly. The headshot that worked when you were a mid-level manager may not serve you as a C-suite executive. The image that fit your old brokerage may feel off at your new one.
If someone who knows you would look at your current headshot and say that does not really look like you anymore, it is time for a new one.
You can read more about this topic on my blog where I go into a lot more depth covering this topic here.
How do I know which photo to choose from my gallery?
At the end of the session we move into the guided image selection portion. This is where expertise and your goals meet to find the images that are going to work hardest for you.
There are generally three rounds of culling.
The first round goes fast. The goal is separating the Maybes from the definite Nos. The rule here is simple: if it doesn't grab you within a second, it's not going to grab anyone else.
The second round is about comparison. Two images side by side, pick the stronger one, move on. There is almost always a clear winner when you put two photos next to each other. If there isn't, both stay in until round three.
The third round is admittedly the toughest because what's left is the cream of the crop. At that point Mondo usually steps away to refresh your beverage or grab you a snack and gives you space to make your final choices alone, unless you want a second opinion.
There is no high pressure sales approach at Pandorica. That is a short term gain and a long term loss. The goal is to be your go-to photographer, someone you trust and never feel upsold by.
That approach has built lasting relationships with clients who come back and send their colleagues too.
Corporate and Group Sessions
How does a corporate headshot day work?
It starts with a proposal conversation to discuss your team size, location, timeline, and goals. From there you receive a flat-rate proposal with no per-person fees and no surprises.
Before the session, every team member receives wardrobe guidance so everyone shows up prepared and the gallery looks cohesive.
On the day of the session, the full studio setup is either at your Las Vegas office or Mondo's studio just off the 215 East Freeway on Eastern Ave.
Every person gets Facial Expression Coaching individually. No one is rushed. Each team member selects their favorites and receives a personal edited gallery the same day. Your company receives the full team gallery the same day.
Do you come to our office or do we come to the studio?
Both. On-location corporate sessions bring the full studio setup to your office anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley, including Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Paradise, and Downtown Las Vegas. Studio sessions are available at 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste 260, just off the 215 East Freeway. The quality is identical either way because the lighting and equipment are the same.
What if we have remote employees or a multi-city team?
Mondo travels nationally and internationally for corporate clients. If your team is spread across multiple cities or gathering for a conference or annual meeting, that is an ideal time to get everyone updated in a single day. A custom travel proposal is available for any location.
Can you photograph our team at a Las Vegas conference or convention?
Yes. Pandorica has photographed corporate teams at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Resorts World, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Wynn, Caesars Forum, and venues across the Strip and valley. The full studio setup travels to any venue, and the quality and process are identical to a controlled studio environment.
How many team members can you photograph in a single day?
It depends on the package, but a full-day session (8hrs) can accommodate anywhere from 175 to 180 team members. The schedule is built around your team size during the proposal process so nobody feels rushed and everyone walks away with photos they are genuinely happy with.
Actors and Creatives
Are actor headshots different from executive headshots?
Yes, significantly. An executive Headshot is designed to communicate credibility, approachability, and authority to a professional audience. An actor headshot is a casting tool. It needs to communicate type, range, and the specific roles a casting director should consider you for.
The framing, the expression, the wardrobe choices, and the overall feel of an actor headshot are all calibrated differently than a corporate image. Pandorica works with both, and the approach shifts accordingly.
Are actor headshots different from executive headshots?
Yes, significantly. An executive Headshot is designed to communicate credibility, approachability, and authority to a professional audience. An actor headshot is a casting tool. It needs to communicate type, range, and the specific roles a casting director should consider you for.
The framing, the expression, the wardrobe choices, and the overall feel of an actor headshot are all calibrated differently than a corporate image. Pandorica works with both, and the approach shifts accordingly.
What do I need for a good actor headshot?
A clear sense of your type and the roles you are going after. The more specific you can be about who you are marketing yourself as, the more targeted and useful your headshots will be.
Come with two to three wardrobe options that reflect different facets of your casting. A theatrical or dramatic look. A commercial or approachable look. Whatever fits your range.
Leave the heavy styling, dramatic makeup, and elaborate hair for the actual audition. Your headshot should look like you on a regular, great day.
Still have a question that is not answered here? Reach out directly and a response will come within one business day.