12 Best Headshot Photographers in NYC and L.A in 2024

We all admire fantastic headshots of famous people, but have you ever thought about the headshot photographers behind those amazing shots?

These people are not just skilled in setting up lights and selecting the perfect camera lens. They also know how to find the best angles, bring out personalities in the photos, and make the models feel comfortable during the shoot. Here are some experts in New York City and Los Angeles who can help you get amazing headshots.

1. Bradford Rogne

Bradford has been working in the photography industry for more than 20 years. He is known as a talented portrait photographer and a skillful make-up artist.

In his work, he mainly focuses on beauty, commercial-aspect and fashion. Bradford’s photographs were featured in magazines like Allure, Life & Style, OUT and InStyle. Such networks as Lifetime, ABC Family, Bravo and Style have used Rogne’s works for commercial purposes.

2. Peter Hurley

Hurley, known for his hit book "The Headshot," is in demand as a speaker for top tech companies and TEDx events. He's all about helping people present their best selves. His informative videos, TV spots, and mentions in prestigious publications like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have established his status as one of the best headshot photographers NYC.

Hurley is recognized as a Canon Explorer of Light but his impact stretches beyond just photography. He started the Headshot Crew, coaching headshot experts worldwide and transcending traditional confines.

3. Douglas Gorenstein

Douglas Gorenstein, once an actor, now a photographer, is famous for taking lively headshots that show an actor's real personality. He's familiar with what casting directors are looking for, so he makes sure to capture his subjects' true spirit in every photo, while still making them look stunning.

Besides working with individual clients, Gorenstein has also put his skills to use for corporate clients. With the help of eye-pleasing headshots, he boosts their brand image. His portfolio showcases a wide variety of people, from aspiring actors to Fortune 500 CEOs. The highlight of ever photos is that models are expertly photographed in their natural environments.

4. Dino Mosley

Dino Mosley is a Los Angeles-based photographer, who can be proud of his professional portfolio. He is engaged in fashion portraiture, modeling portfolios and headshot photography. Dino Mosley works in his own studio in Los Angeles. He says that the main goal of a professional shooter in LA is to help a model get the look that will fit any situation.

What makes Mosley unique is his talent for setting a relaxed and cozy atmosphere during photo shoots. So, his clients feel comfortable and self-assured in front of the camera. As a result, he can capture genuine moments that truly showcase the personality and character of each person.

5. David Noles

Being one of the best photographers for inspiration, David Noles has his own unique style. The majority of his works really look like magazine covers. He tries to make his models appear as natural as possible in the photos. Noles often uses backgrounds that match the color of model’s hair and clothing.

Being in love with New York, David Noles moved there from Los Angeles. Currently, he works in his own studio in NYC and has a busy schedule.

6. Jessica Osber

Apart from taking headshots, Jessica Osber is an actor, director and dreamer. She has been working in the photography sphere professionally for 8 years. Using her directorial vision, Jessica tries to compose each frame in a flattering and creative way. She worked as an assistant with a top headshot photographer Peter Hurley.

Being inspired by this collaboration, Osber decided to open her own studio in 2015. Jessica Osber worked with Merrill Lynch, the New York Times, Black Rock, Huffington Post, the National America Opera Center, USB Memory Direct and Paramount Pictures.

7. Michael Levy

Michael Levy is an American headshot photographer, who was born on Valentine’s Day in 1983. He started his artistic path in 2014 organizing headshot photo sessions. By the way, his wife was one of his models. In his work, Michael Levy tries to create a special story to get interesting and vibrant results. He doesn't look for any special model, pose or expression in his work.

Among his clients, there are those, who have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway and TV shows such as Castle Rock HBO's "Girls", White Collar, Limitless, Gossip Girl Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, etc.

8. Claudia Hoag

Claudia Hoag takes headshots of people involved in the educational, acting, and corporate fields. She lets her clients choose between doing the headshots on location, at her studio in West LA, or an outdoor area of their choosing. Her portfolio includes photos of writers, artists, graduate students of all fields, as well as of businesspeople, experienced advisors, financial directors, wealth strategists, and many others.

The biggest talent of this female photographer is her ability to help people feel relaxed and natural during the photoshoot. Claudia Hoag expands the capabilities of the people on the other side of the camera to ensure they look like true masters of their craft in the final photos. After the photoshoot, you can handpick the best shots and the photographer will edit them for you.

9. Cathryn Farnsworth

In the heart of Los Angeles, Farnsworth is the go-to expert for actors, models, business moguls, and artistic minds eager to polish their personal image. Her photography style is all about sweating the small stuff, focusing on what clicks, and naturally drawing out the finest qualities in her clients.

What makes Farnsworth stand out is her commitment to building a cozy and team-oriented vibe during photo shoots. She gives her clients the ease and self-belief to shine in front of the lens. This connection empowers her to snap up real, heartfelt expressions and emotions that strike a chord with viewers. The resulting headshots are both impactful and genuine.

10. Lindsay Adler

Lindsay has been included in the list of the top 10 photographers worldwide. Her chick style is very distinct. Lindsay is also known for working closely with both designers and stylists to create memorable looks for her headshots.

Her work has graced the pages of the most popular fashion magazines, like Harper's Bazaar, L'Officiel, and more. More than that, she’s also a sought-after photographic educator, teaching headshot photography all over the world.

11. Barry Morgenstein

Barry Morgenstein’s portfolio features numerous representatives of the modern era of pop culture. Oliver North, Donald Trump, Meryl Streep and Steven Tyler are only several famous people he managed to photograph. Whether Morgenstein invites a beginning actor or megastar to his photo session, he professionally interacts with his clients producing the best possible results.

Barry Morgenstein has a clear vision of how to set the scene and show the model in the best light. By the way, the artist has his own studios in NYC.

12. Joey Lawrence

Joey is not only a respected headshot photographer but also a director based in New York. Over the years, he has photographed many celebrities, including Hollywood actors and actresses, like Robert De Niro, and Jessica Chastain to name a few.

His projects can often be seen in mass media. Joey’s work has been consistently in demand since he was 18. That’s why he has been listed as one of the “Most Influential Photographers on Social Media” and named one of the “30 Photographers under 30 to Watch”.

Bonus: Headshot Photographers from All Over the World

Below, I want to briefly tell you about headshot photographers who operate beyond the USA but have garnered numerous awards, positive reviews, and recognition in their field.

David Chang is a professional photographer from Toronto. He specializes in business, LinkedIn, and corporate portraits. David has collaborated with well-known brands. For example, he photographed about 250 Mercedes-Benz employees in Canada. Besides offering his photography services, David maintains a blog where he explains all aspects of portrait images, common mistakes, model behavior, and more.

YellowBelly. Situated in Hackney, the company is known far beyond the borders. Their expertise isn't limited to headshots alone. They've also been featured in numerous publications and programs such as BBC, Netflix, and RadioTimes.

Emily Goldie. This is a talented acting headshop photographer, who specializes in taking studio headshots and portraits of actors and creatives across Yorkshire and the North of England. She does her best to capture the essence of creatives, actors, and performers, drawing from her own professional background in the industry.

Rory Lewis. Inspired by paintings and famous artists, like Caravaggio, his headshots are ethereal and thought-provoking. The use of artificial lighting and composition makes them look like real paintings. Some of the celebrities he took pictures of are William Shatner, Sir John Major, and others.

Calvin Thomas. Calvin Thomas entered the world of professional photography at the age of 15 and was taking his first headshots even sooner when he was only 11. Thomas is known for his natural, contemporary, refined photos that he takes for actors, entrepreneurs, and corporate employees.

Hero Shot Photography. The founder of the company; Sammer Affridi, has been taking professional headshots for individuals and businesses for more than ten years. Hero Shot's commitment to flattering lighting and bringing a human connection to all of their work has seen them as one of the highest-rated photography studios in Australia. Based in Sydney they also have offices in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Sebastian Szulfer. He is a Poland-based photographer, who specializes in event as well as in corporate headshot and portrait photography genres. Being a destination photographer, he often works in such cities as Barcelona, Berlin, and Warsaw. Sebastian Szulfer speaks English, Spanish and Polish, which greatly helps him in his work.

FREE Bonus Tools

Wondering why the works of these famous photographers are so successful? Apart from good lighting, properly chosen composition and high-quality camera gear, they perform excellent image editing. Check out these free tools suitable even for beginners to make headshots look professional.

Portrait

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If you want to facilitate your image editing workflow and enhance your photos, this freebie is just what you need. It is perfect for headshot photos as it improves skin tones, make them smoother with natural look preserved.

Whitening Brush

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What can be better than a luminescent smile in the photo? To achieve this effect, just download this teeth whitening brush and make your smile shine in several clicks.

Soft B&W

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B&W headshot photographs aren't inferior to color ones. This filter will give your photos soft black and white effect and a special atmosphere.

Bright Eyes

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If a model’s eyes appeared dark in the shot, you can fix this by applying this filter to your photo.

Chocolate

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You can improve your headshot pictures by using this chocolate filter. It enhances skin tone giving it sun-tanned and even bronzed look.

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