Boston Headshot Photographer
Boston headshots for professionals, executives, and creatives — LinkedIn, corporate, and personal-brand portraits with a coaching-first approach. Individual sessions start at $395 and include one fully retouched, licensed image, with additional images $125 each, at the Sherborn studio about 30 minutes west of downtown Boston. Damon Bates spent 35 years as a corporate executive and a decade as a leadership consultant, trained with Peter Hurley in 2013, and directs you through posture, expression, and wardrobe so you look like yourself on your best day. Whole team? On-location Boston team headshots are a separate service.
Boston professionals — a great headshot deserves better than a rushed half-hour squeezed in over lunch or a walk across town that leaves you wilting in the summer heat or bundled against the dead of winter. Most of my clients find it far more convenient to stop in on their way into the city, first thing in the morning, or on their way home in the afternoon. My dedicated headshot studio in Sherborn is about 30 minutes west of the city, and the drive out is a scenic escape past horse farms and stone walls that clients tell me puts them in a relaxed headspace before we even start shooting. Free parking, no downtown scramble, and a session that's all about you.
As a headshot photographer, I bring a coaching-first approach — guiding you through posture, expression and wardrobe to capture a look that's confident and approachable. No stiff corporate cutouts. You'll walk out with a headshot you're genuinely proud to put on LinkedIn, your company site or anywhere else.
Here's what sets my sessions apart, and it's the whole reason clients drive out from every corner of Boston. Most photographers pose you. I coach you — because I spent 35 years as an executive and a decade as a leadership consultant and coach (some clients know me as The Executive Photographer), and I know what makes a professional read as credible, composed and at ease. That's not photography knowledge. It's understanding how presence actually works — how bearing, expression and the way you carry yourself get read by other people — and how to bring the best version of yourself forward in a single frame.
For individual headshots, executive portraits and actor headshots, you'll make the short trip out to my studio — and you'll be glad you did.
Whether you work in the Financial District, Back Bay or the Seaport, a 30-minute drive west trades a crowded downtown scramble for a dedicated space built specifically for headshot photography — quiet, unhurried, and set up to get you a result you'll actually use. Professionals across Boston's business community choose my studio for the quality, the convenience and the calm environment.
What a Boston Headshot Session Actually Looks Like
Most people walk into a headshot session with a low-grade dread — they don't like being photographed, they don't know what to do with their hands, and they've been burned before by a stiff, unflattering result. My entire process is built to dismantle that. From the moment you step in front of my camera, I'm coaching and directing: how you position your body, how the light falls across your face, how we develop an expression that's confident and genuine. You are never left guessing, and you see every frame on a tethered display in real time, so the guesswork disappears entirely.
A session runs about 45 to 60 minutes. We start by reviewing the wardrobe options you brought and setting the lighting while we talk through what the headshot is actually for — a LinkedIn profile reads differently than a company leadership page, which reads differently than a speaker bio or a book jacket. Then we shoot. I capture a range of expressions, from serious and authoritative to warm and approachable, so you leave with genuine options rather than a single take you have to settle for. Every final image is fully retouched with a light hand — stray-hair cleanup, minor blemish removal, subtle refinements. The goal is always for you to look like yourself on your best day, not like an overly retouched version of yourself.
The reason the coaching works comes back to those 35 years leading and advising executives. When I tell you a two-degree change in chin angle will change how the camera reads your confidence, I'm not guessing — I spent a career watching how executive presence lands in boardrooms and client meetings, and a decade teaching leaders to project it. I hold an MBA from Boston University, and I'm a certified Bates ExPI coach — the behavioral framework I used to help executives understand exactly how their presence comes across. That's the lens I bring to every frame, whether you're a first-time job seeker or a managing partner. If you're a senior leader, that depth goes further on my executive headshots page, and I explored the idea in more detail in this piece on executive presence.
Boston is full of talented headshot photographers, and plenty can produce a sharp, well-lit photo. What's harder to find is someone who can tell you why your current headshot isn't working, coach you out of the habits that make you look guarded or stiff, and direct you toward the version of yourself you actually want the world to see. That's the difference between a photo and a headshot that does a job — and it's what the drive out to Sherborn buys you.
My clients come from every industry and every career stage — finance and law professionals in the Financial District, biotech and startup founders and engineers in the Seaport and Kendall Square, consultants, physicians, real estate agents, authors, actors and senior executives across Greater Boston. Many arrive through referrals from someone who noticed a real difference in their headshot and wanted to know who took it. You can read what they say on my reviews page.
Photographing a whole team rather than booking for yourself? I bring my complete studio setup on-location to your Boston office so every person's headshot matches. See Boston team headshots for how on-location team sessions work and to request a quote.
Getting Here from Boston
Take the Pike (I-90) west to Route 16 south — about 30 minutes to our Sherborn studio. Free parking right at the door. For team sessions, I come to your Boston office.
Drive time: 30 minutes
Services
- ✓Executive & Corporate Headshots
- ✓LinkedIn Profile Photos
- ✓Business Portraits
- ✓Actor & Performer Headshots
- ✓Team & Group Headshots (on-location in Boston)
Thinking about your whole team, not just yourself? See how a corporate headshot day works — I bring the full studio on-site to your office.
What Clients Say
“My partner and I both find taking photos unnerving, but Damon spoke to our individual concerns and set us both at ease. The hardest part was choosing our favorites because even the runner-ups were better than any headshots we've ever had.”
Rebecca G.
“Damon knows his stuff. He walked me through the headshot process and knew how to get me to show off my best self. Quick and painless, but also fun and educational.”
Mike M.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes you different from other Boston headshot photographers?
The coaching, and where it comes from. Most photographers can light and frame a shot well. I spent 35 years as a corporate leader and a decade as a leadership consultant coaching executives on executive presence, so I understand how presence reads in a photograph and how to help you project it. I also hold an MBA from Boston University and am a certified Bates ExPI coach. That means the session isn't just "relax and smile" — it's active direction toward the version of you that reads as confident and credible. If you're a senior leader, see executive headshots in Boston.
What does the session actually look like?
You'll be in and out in about 30–45 minutes. We start by going through the outfits you brought, then I set the lighting while we chat about what you need the headshot for. The actual shooting takes about 20 minutes — I coach you through every frame so you're never left guessing what to do with your hands or your face. For more detail, read What Happens During a Professional Headshot Session.
Do you come to Boston offices for team sessions?
Absolutely. I bring my full portable studio — lights, backdrop, the works — right to your Boston office. All I need is a room with about 10 feet of clear wall space and a power outlet. For tips on getting your team ready, see How to Prepare Your Team for Headshot Day.
What mistakes should I avoid before my session?
The most common ones are wearing busy patterns, waiting until the last minute to plan wardrobe, and trying to look like someone you're not. A great headshot should feel like the best version of you — not a costume. For the full list, see Biggest Headshot Mistakes Professionals Make.
What's the difference between a corporate headshot and a LinkedIn headshot?
They're closely related but not identical. A corporate headshot is typically shot to match your company's brand guidelines — consistent background, lighting and framing across the team. A LinkedIn headshot is more personal and can reflect your individual style. I shoot both and many clients use the same session for both. If a polished business image is specifically what you're after, see corporate headshots in Boston, or for a deeper comparison read Corporate Headshots vs LinkedIn Headshots.
I'm a real estate agent — do you specialize in that?
Yes — real estate headshots are one of my specialties. Your headshot appears on every listing, every mailer and every bus bench, so it needs to project trust and approachability instantly. For tips specific to agents, read Why Your Real Estate Headshot Is Costing You Listings.
Is there parking at the studio?
Yes — free parking right at the door of my Sherborn studio, no downtown scramble or garage hunt. It's one of the reasons clients tell me the 30-minute drive out from Boston is easier than fighting for a spot in the city.
Do you shoot on-location in Boston?
For team sessions, absolutely — I bring my full studio setup to your Boston office. I just need a room with about 10 feet of depth and access to a power outlet. For individual sessions, you'll come to my Sherborn studio about 30 minutes west of downtown. The scenic drive past horse farms and stone walls is a great way to decompress before your shoot.
I've never had a professional headshot — what should I wear?
It depends on your industry. Finance and law: dark blazer, solid shirt, no tie unless it's your style. Tech and startups: a clean button-down or structured casual look works. Creative fields: express yourself, but keep it simple on camera. Bring 3–5 options and I'll help you choose the winner. The goal is to look like the best version of your everyday professional self. For the full guide, see What to Wear for Your Headshot Session.
What if I'm nervous or don't consider myself photogenic?
You're in great company — most of my clients feel exactly this way when they walk in. Coaching you through posture, expression and micro-adjustments is a core part of what I do. By the time we're a few minutes in, you'll be relaxed and we'll be getting great shots. For practical tips, read How to Look Confident in Your Headshot.
How often should I update my headshot?
I recommend every 2–3 years, or whenever there's been a noticeable change in your appearance — new hairstyle, glasses, significant weight change. If someone meets you in person and can't reconcile you with your photo, it's time. Read more in How Often Should You Update Your Professional Headshot.
What about AI headshots — are they worth it?
AI-generated headshots have gotten a lot of attention, but they come with real drawbacks — uncanny expressions, inconsistent lighting, and the risk that someone recognizes it as AI. A professional headshot captures the real you with coaching that brings out authentic confidence. For a detailed breakdown, read AI Headshots vs Real Headshots.
How many final images do I receive?
Your session includes one fully retouched, high-resolution image. Many clients end up wanting 2–4 additional images for different uses — LinkedIn, company website, speaker bio — which can be purchased at the time of your session. You'll see all your shots during the session so you can choose your favorites.
What other nearby communities do you serve?
I photograph professionals from across the greater Boston area. My Sherborn studio is an easy 30-minute drive from downtown, and I also serve clients in Hopkinton, Natick, Sherborn, Medfield, Needham, Wellesley, Weston, Newton, Lincoln, Concord and Brookline. For team sessions, I come to your office — see Boston team headshots — and anywhere in Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley and beyond.
About Damon Bates
Damon Bates is a Boston headshot photographer and executive coach based in Sherborn, MA. He has been photographing professionals since 2013 — first alongside a 35-year career in executive leadership, now full-time. A third-generation photographer and certified Bates ExPI™ coach, Damon coaches clients through expression, posture, and presence rather than just posing them. Learn more about Damon →