When potential clients search for a lawyer, your headshot is often their first impression. A polished, professional photo can be the deciding factor in whether they contact your firm.
At Headshots.com, we’ve helped 100,000+ people get studio-quality headshots without leaving their home or office. Over the years, we’ve learned what separates a great one that stands out from an average one that blends in with everyone else.
This guide will help you get the perfect attorney headshot, whether you choose a traditional photoshoot or a virtual solution.
Why Your Headshots Are So Important
The best way to understand the importance of having polished headshots is to see the results yourself.
Let’s first take a look at these headshots from an actual firm based in New York:
While the photos showcase confident smiles and give clients a good idea of what the lawyers look like, they’re missing a unified flow. The portraits seem disjointed at best when evaluating them within the full context of the team.
Now, let’s examine some headshots from another law firm in New York:
Immediately, you can see that this practice planned every detail of their headshots to present a united front. Each photo has a cohesive backdrop and a centered pose and helps showcase each attorney clearly and confidently.
Investing in professional headshots ensures your practice puts its best foot forward from the very first Google search.
What Attorneys Should Wear
One of the essential steps of executing any headshot session is ensuring that you clearly understand what to wear on shoot day. Here are some general guidelines we recommend.
Women’s Headshot Attire
Professional lawyer headshots follow the basic tenets of women’s headshot best practices, except you can usually count on including a blazer in the outfit. Opt for a light-colored base shirt paired with a blazer’s contrasting, dark fabric.
Jewelry and light makeup are acceptable so long as they aren’t distracting. Accessories should be limited to what you tend to wear daily.
Men’s Headshot Attire
Like traditional men’s headshot attire, attorney headshots rely on a light-colored shirt, contrasting tie, and a blazer with darker-colored fabric. These outfits should be well-steamed without wrinkles and highlight the photo’s focus—each attorney’s confident face.
In short, lawyer headshots should capture a friendly smile and offer a polished version of your attorneys’ day-to-day appearance.
Examples of How to Pose
Our team at Headshots.com will direct you on how to pose, but it’s a good idea to have a suggested pose or two in your back pocket to help make your staff’s headshots look cohesive on your site. Here are a few proven poses for great lawyer headshots.
Pivoted Power
Lean with one shoulder toward the camera, angling their body diagonally. Crossing their arms slightly and presenting a relaxed, confident smile completes the look.
The Lawyer Next Door
Pose in the center of the shot, from the shoulders up, with a relaxed pose, arms resting gently at their sides. Round out the look with a warm smile.
The Specialty Shot
If your practice differentiates by specialty, including something in the headshot that alludes to each lawyer’s specialization may be helpful. For instance, an environmental attorney’s backdrop could be outdoors, while a criminal defense lawyer might have a more formal background.
For these shots, find a location that speaks to your field or personality but isn’t distracting. Have your subjects pose with a friendly smile and arms lightly crossed or at their side.
Typical Pricing for Lawyer Headshots
As shown in the chart below, there are a few common ways to get you professional headshots as an attorney:
| Traditional Photo Shoot | Headshots.com | DIY Headshots | Other AI-Generated Headshots | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $100 – $1,000 per headshot | $50 – $60 per human-edited headshot, or $15 for an AI-edited headshot | $0 – $20 (phone + basic lighting) | $10 – $60 per headshot |
| Pros | • Professional photographer, lighting & composition • In-studio or on-location options • High-end retouching & print rights included |
• Very affordable & transparent pricing • Done virtually (only need the camera on your phone) • Two options to fit your budget and timeline: human-edited headshots ready in 3 business days, or AI-edited headshots ready in seconds • Human-edited options for a studio-quality look and consistency • Happiness Guarantee |
• Virtually free if you already own a smartphone • Complete scheduling flexibility • Easy to retake until you get a shot that you really like |
• Ultra-fast (minutes) • Low cost • Multiple style variations at the click of a button |
| Cons | • Expensive per image • Scheduling & travel required • Longer turnaround (5+ days to weeks) |
• Not ideal if you need in-person headshots | • Uneven lighting & composition • No professional retouching • Can look amateurish without skill or proper backdrop |
• Lack true likeness & authenticity • Often described as looking “creepy” or “waxy” • Typically require uploading 6–20 images • Limited control over fine facial details |
*Prices for “Traditional Photo Shoot” vary based on photographer reputation, usage rights, and location.
Next Steps: Get Studio-Quality Headshots with a Fraction of the Effort
You don’t have to invest time and money into a complicated photo shoot. Instead, learn more about our 100% virtual headshot services:
Option 1: AI-Edited Headshots (Ready in Seconds)
- Upload a single clear selfie
- Preview your AI-edited headshot instantly
- Only pay if you love the result
- Download and start using it right away
Unlike other AI headshot generators that create a fictional version of your face from scratch, Headshots.com’s AI enhances your actual photo so the final result looks like you (not an overly smoothed, synthetic version of you). Built by the same team of real photographers behind our human-edited headshots.
Go here to learn more about our AI-edited headshots.
Option 2: Human-Edited Headshots (Ready in 3 Business Days)
1. Quick Setup (15 minutes)
- Take photos with your own phone or camera
- Follow our simple photography tips
- Choose from our professional background options
- Submit everything through our online platform
2. Expert Editing (3 business days )
- Professional retouching by hand
- Custom background integration
- Brand-aligned color correction
- Unlimited revisions until you’re satisfied
3. Ready to Use
- Download web-optimized files for social media
- Access print-ready versions for marketing materials
- Get multiple formats included in one price
Total time from start to finish: Less than 4 business days
Go here to learn more about our human-edited headshots.
Backed by our Happiness Guarantee, you’ll get professional results without disrupting your busy legal schedule. Look through some of our customer examples to see the quality you can expect from our virtual headshot creation.
Our team works hard to handle all the coordination, help your staff capture excellent snaps, and hand-edit each photo to deliver stellar results. Polished, studio-quality headshots for a fraction of the price are only a few clicks away.
