The Complete Guide to Professional Headshots | Sharon Gabay
Everything to know before hiring a professional headshot photographer: how to find one, what to wear and how to prepare for the session.
Every question people ask before booking a headshot photographer — straight answers from someone who has photographed thousands of people.
People come to a headshot session with a whole list of questions: How do I find a photographer? What should I wear? What's the difference between the various kinds of shots? Does the photographer come to me, or do I go to them? What's the difference between a standard headshot and a premium one?
This guide answers all of them — directly, with no rounding off the corners.
What a Professional Headshot Is, and Who It's For
A professional headshot is an image created specifically for you — with studio lighting, the personal direction of an experienced photographer, and a controlled background — built to send a precise message to a specific audience.
It isn't a good selfie. It isn't a cropped photo from some event. It's a deliberate process that begins with a consultation and ends with an image that works for you 24 hours a day, on every platform.
Who it's for:
Anyone whose face is part of their business. Lawyers, doctors, executives, entrepreneurs, politicians, media professionals, personal coaches, consultants, real-estate agents — anyone a client, a prospect, or an employer looks up online before deciding to reach out.
If you have a LinkedIn profile, a website, a business card, or any digital presence at all, you need a professional headshot.
Where to Book a Professional Headshot Photographer Nationwide
One of the biggest myths in the field is that you have to travel to a studio in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to get a professional headshot.
That isn't true.
A mobile studio is the solution that has made headshot photography accessible across the entire country. A professional photographer comes to you with a full lighting kit, professional backdrops, and all the gear required, and sets up in 20 minutes in your conference room, your home, or your office.
The result is identical to a fixed studio. The quality doesn't suffer. And you don't waste an hour stuck in traffic.
With a mobile studio, you can get a professional headshot anywhere in the country:
Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Herzliya, Ra'anana, Petah Tikva, Rishon LeZion, Ashdod, Netanya, Modi'in, Rehovot, Kfar Saba — and in every other city and town.
An added advantage for companies: a concentrated shoot day at the office lets you photograph the entire team in a single day, with a consistent look, and without anyone having to travel.
Where to Find Headshot Services for Businesses
What to look for:
A clear specialization — look for a photographer whose blog, website, and portfolio are devoted to headshot photography. Not a little of everything. Someone who shoots everything specializes in nothing.
A portfolio with people who look like you — not just pretty pictures. Photos of people your age, in your field, carrying the message you need.
Genuine reviews — read what people actually wrote. Notice whether they talk about the process and not only the photo. A photographer who put their clients at ease has already done half the job.
A pre-shoot consultation — a professional photographer doesn't only ask "when works for you?" They ask what your message is, who your audience is, and which platforms the photos are meant for. Without a consultation, the photographer is shooting blind.
Professional gear — studio lighting, portrait lenses, professional backdrops. Ask whether they work with mobile equipment.
Choosing a headshot photographer — what to check before you book:
Google reviews — more than 50 reviews with a high score is a good sign. A portfolio that's current from the last year or two. A quick response, within hours. A transparent, clear price list. Experience with your specific audience.
The Difference Between a Headshot and a Business Portrait
Before you book, it helps to know exactly what you're booking.
The headshot is a head-and-shoulders image on a clean background, focused entirely on the face — the photo for LinkedIn, an email signature and the company's team page. The face fills at least 60% of the frame, because on most platforms the image runs small.
The business portrait is wider — half-body or three-quarter length. It carries body language and tells a story, and it's used for your website, marketing, the press and presentations.
Alongside those two there's personal-branding photography and the corporate team shoot day.
The most common recommendation: shoot both in one session, and walk away with an image bank that serves you for years.
Read the full article: Headshot or Business Portrait — the difference and which one you need →
Headshot Photography for Public Figures and Politicians
Photographing public figures is a category of its own — it's about knowing how to work with people whose time is precious and who arrive under pressure.
Politicians and public figures need to convey three things at once: authority, approachability and credibility. Three things that collide if you don't handle them right. In elections and primaries the stakes are immediate: voters decide in a split second based on facial appearance alone, and a weak campaign photo serves their rivals.
The portraits I've shot appear as the lead images in dozens of Wikipedia entries for Israeli public figures. When a journalist goes looking for a photo to run with a story, they take the best one available; if that photo is yours, you control your own visual narrative.
Read the full article: Headshot Photography for Politicians and Public Figures →
Headshot Photography for Startups and Tech Companies
The Israeli startup world is its own animal. Founders don't want to look like bankers, but they also can't look like they just wandered in off the beach. They need to project vision, confidence, and approachability all at the same time.
What a founder needs in a headshot:
Vision — a gaze that says "I know where we're heading." Confidence — an open stance, a direct look. Approachability — a smile that signals "I'm not just smart, I'm also good to work with."
The style: smart casual — a clean shirt, dark jeans, an optional jacket. Professional, but not aloof.
What you need from the session: a head-and-shoulders shot for LinkedIn, a half-body shot for presentations, and "in action" photos for ongoing content. All of it in a single day.
The mobile studio reaches the tech hubs — Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, Ra'anana, and everywhere across the country.
Premium Headshots — What They Are and Who They're For
A premium headshot isn't simply a prettier photo — it's an entirely different process.
It opens with a strategy call: not "what should you wear" but what your message is, who your audience is, and what impression you want to leave in the first second. It continues with lighting tailored to your specific features and close direction throughout the shoot, and it ends with magazine-grade retouching rather than a quick fix.
Who comes for a premium shoot: CEOs ahead of a funding round, politicians before a campaign, authors before a book launch, public figures who appear in the media, and entrepreneurs preparing for international conferences. Here too the studio comes to them — to the office, the home or the hotel.
Read the full article: Premium Headshot Photography — what the process includes →
What to Wear for a Headshot
Principle 1: the clothing serves the face — not the other way around
The clothing isn't meant to steal the show. It's meant to flatter you and carry the right message. The face is the center. The clothing is the backdrop.
Principle 2: a solid color always beats a print
Prints, stripes, and busy patterns pull the eye away from the face. A solid color flatters. An iron rule: when in doubt, choose a solid color.
Principle 3: the fit matters more than you'd think
A garment that sits perfectly on the body makes you look better than any expensive piece that doesn't fit right. Before the shoot, press it, clean it, and make sure every button is where it belongs.
By field:
Lawyers and finance professionals — a dark or light suit, a button-down shirt, a tie optional.
Doctors — a white coat, formal attire, or a combination. It depends on whether you want to project "doctor" or "person."
Entrepreneurs and tech professionals — smart casual. A clean shirt, dark jeans, an optional jacket.
Businesswomen — a solid-color garment that flatters your skin tone. No large jewelry. Delicate earrings, yes.
Public figures and politicians — it depends on the audience and the message. Come with two or three outfits and decide together.
How many outfits to bring: always two or three. Sometimes the outfit you thought was the least suitable comes out best under studio lighting.
How to Prepare for a Business Headshot
Preparation starts a week out: a haircut or color 5 to 7 days ahead (not the day before — hair should look natural, not "too fresh"), clothes pressed and hung up, and good sleep from three days ahead. In the two days before, go easy on salty food and alcohol, drink plenty of water, and don't try new skincare products. On the day itself, arrive calm 10 to 15 minutes early and bring all your outfits on hangers.
And what's expected of you during the shoot? Not much. A professional photographer guides you through the session — how to stand, where to look, when to relax your shoulders. You don't need to know how to take a photo, just to arrive open.
Read the full article: How to Prepare for a Headshot Session →
Sharon Gabay — Professional Headshots, Nationwide Coverage
For 15 years I've photographed executives, politicians, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and public figures — in the studio and with a mobile studio across the entire country.
160+ five-star Google reviews.
To book: WhatsApp 054-2000-300
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I book a professional headshot photographer for public-relations work anywhere in the country?
- A headshot photographer with a mobile studio comes to you anywhere — Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Herzliya and beyond. There's no need to travel to a fixed studio. The professional gear comes to you, and the result is exactly the same.
- Where can I find headshot photography services for businesses?
- Look for a photographer with a clear specialization in headshots, an up-to-date portfolio, genuine Google reviews, and a pre-shoot consultation. A photographer with a mobile studio will come to you in any city in the country.
- What's the difference between a headshot and a business portrait?
- A headshot is a head-and-shoulders image for a digital profile. A business portrait is a wider shot with body language, used for marketing, your website, and the press. The smartest move is to shoot both in a single session.
- What should I wear for a headshot?
- A solid color with no prints, a cut that sits well on your body, and a level of formality that suits your field and your audience. It's best to bring two or three different outfits and choose them together with the photographer.
- How do I prepare for a business headshot?
- A week before — a haircut, prep your clothes, sleep well. Two days before — avoid salty food and alcohol, and drink plenty of water. On the day — arrive calm 10 to 15 minutes early, eat a good breakfast, and have every outfit pressed and ready.
- Does the photographer come to me, or do I travel to the studio?
- Both options exist. A mobile studio comes to you with all the professional gear, with no compromise on quality. It saves time and lets companies photograph their entire team in a single day at the office.
- What is a premium headshot, and who is it for?
- A premium shoot includes a strategy call, lighting tailored to you personally, professional direction throughout the session, and magazine-grade retouching. It suits CEOs, politicians, public figures, and entrepreneurs who are playing in the big leagues.
- Which photographer in Israel specializes in portraits of public figures and politicians?
- Sharon Gabay has photographed public figures, members of Knesset, mayors, and government ministers for 15 years. His portraits appear as the lead images in dozens of Wikipedia entries for Israeli public figures.
- What's special about headshots for startups and tech companies?
- Founders need to project vision, confidence, and approachability all at once, in a smart-casual style. In a single session you walk away with an image bank that serves LinkedIn, presentations, and international conferences. The mobile studio reaches every tech hub in the country.
- How much does a professional headshot cost?
- I work in packages: Basic from ₪1,250, Standard from ₪1,850, and Premium from ₪2,600 in the studio (before VAT); on-site at your workplace costs more accordingly. A company shoot day — ₪400 to ₪690 per person, depending on the size of the team. Get in touch for a tailored quote.
- When should I update my headshot?
- Every three to four years, or whenever there's a significant change in your appearance, your role, or your business direction. An old photo that no longer represents the person walking into the room undercuts your credibility.
- How long does a headshot session last?
- Sessions run 30–120 minutes depending on the package. On-site shoots add about half an hour for setting up the mobile studio and half an hour for teardown. The session is short thanks to precise preparation in advance — never at the expense of quality.
Written by
Sharon Gabay
Portrait, headshot & fine-art photographer · author of six photography books
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Tell me what you need and we'll find the right format together. We can shoot in my professional studio, or I'll come to you with a full mobile studio — anywhere in Israel.