Exceptional Individual Headshots
in the heart of Downtown Excelsior MN
Book a professional headshot session in our studio with easy online scheduling and payment. We create clean, modern LinkedIn headshots, executive portraits, and personal-brand images that are leagues ahead of your current selfie snap or over-processed AI dupe.
From the moment you step into our studio, you’ll experience a comfortable and stress-free photoshoot, ensuring that your headshots reflect the best version of the real you. With years of first-hand experience in how to light, pose, shoot and retouch everyday people like yourself; our expertly crafted headshots provide you with a powerful tool to stand out in today’s competitive business landscape.
WHY HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?
Great results come from a professional process
LIGHTING THAT FLATTERS
We use a variety of lighting styles to build a photograph that will compliment your skin tone and facial structure, portray the style of your brand and help define an overall look where you are authentic, confident and trustworthy.
COACHING THAT WORKS
Most people do not need to “try harder” to get a great photo – they need better direction. We coach your posture, head position and expression in real time to guide you into a position that brings out your best features.
RETOUCHING THAT REFINES
We do not use pre-fab overlays or stock presets. Every image is carefully retouched by hand to refine your individual features that make you unqiuely you while removing or softening those elements that you’d rather not see.
Every Headshot Session with Us Includes
REAL TIME IMAGE REVIEWING
This is our secret superpower to achieving the results we get consistently with our clients – even those who are self-declared “Not Photogenic!” We tether the camera straight to the laptop and are constantly reviewing the images we take. This creates a collaborative process where you can let us know what you like, what you’d like to change, and what we can do to improve our next round of photos. This key element is why clients book the 60-Minute Session so often – it gives us time to create your best headshots.
WHAT TO WEAR GUIDANCE
Check out our “What to Wear” guides below for an initial education on what tends to look good “On Camera.” When you arrive for your headshot session we will take time to look over the outfits you bring and decide what might look best.
MADE-TO-ORDER RETOUCHING
An Individual headshot session gives us the time needed to really talk through your images as we select your finals so we know what you’d like adjusted. Most people are surprised when I tell them “oh that’s an easy photoshop fix.” Issues like thinning hair, invisalign nubs, neck wrinkles, under-eye darkness, skin cuts/scrapes/pimples and eye redness can all be addressed based on what you tell us to do.
BOOK YOUR IN-STUDIO HEADSHOT SESSION TODAY
We offer 3 standard session types for different needs, but can also put together a custom quote for your specific needs.
2.5 Hour Custom Branding Photos In-Studio Session
$650 | 12 Images
How it Works
WHO IT’S FOR:
- Entrepreneurs and Business Owners who would like a collection of headshot and other images to use in a website, social media content, ad campaign, etc.
- Small teams of 2-10 people who need a variety of individual headshots, group or partnership photos, or other branding photos.
- Acting or Modeling Portfolio Images for Kids and Adults
- Content Shoot for a small business who needs photography of their product, service, client interactions, etc.
HOW IT WORKS:
A custom session is just that – completely customized to create a set of images for your business or professional development. During your session we will spend the first 10 minutes getting to know you and planning out our session together. The remainder of the time will be spend photographing, reviewing and choosing your final image(s) for retouching. Feel free to bring several outfit choices to photograph. Final retouched images will be delivered via online gallery within 5 business days (or sooner if you let us know!)
PRICING:
$650 includes the Session Fee + 12 Fully Retouched Images delivered to you via an online gallery of High Resolution JPG images. Additional images can be purchased for $65/each or reach out to us for a custom quote.
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Cancellation & Reschedule Policy:
Payment & Session Length: Full payment is due at booking to reserve your session time. Your booking is for a specific start and end time. We often book sessions back-to-back; if you arrive late we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to provide the full session length.
Rescheduling: You may reschedule once at no charge up to 24 hours before your session start time. If you reschedule more than once, a 30% rescheduling penalty will apply (your session credit will be reduced by 30%, and the remaining balance will be applied to your new booking).
Cancellations / refunds: No refunds. If you cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice, your full session fee will be forwarded as session credit toward a future headshot session with EJP.
Late cancellations / no-shows: Cancellations within 24 hours of the session time or failure to show will result in forfeiture of the session fee.
Session Credit terms: Session credits can be transferred to another person. All session credit must be used within 6 months of your original session date.
60 min Premium In-Studio Headshot Session
$275 | 2 Images
How it Works
WHO IT’S FOR:
Our 60 Minute Full Headshot Session is our most popular option for giving you a great experience where we have enough time to dial in your best image. Please arrive on time and “camera ready” with hair and makeup done. We will spend the first 10 minutes getting to know you, looking over the outfits you’ve brought in and planning out our time together. The remainder of the time will be spend photographing, reviewing and choosing your final images. We have enough time to try out 2-3 outfits and can photograph a variety of poses if you are looking for more than just a “head and shoulders” style headshot. We will select your final images by the end of our time together. All final images will receive a full retouch and be delivered via online gallery within 3-4 days (or sooner if you let us know!)
DETAILS:
– For one person or a small group of up to 3 team members who need “express” style images – Includes 2 Fully Retouched Images (please note, this is 2 images in total and not 2 images per person)
PRICING:
$285 Includes the Session Fee and 2 Fully Retouched Images. Additional Images can be purchased for an additional $65/each or 3 for $150. You can decide that at the end of your session.
PLEASE NOTE:
To make sure you get the best experience, please know that a Full Headshot Session best serves an individual person who needs a couple images for LinkedIn, website or job hunting. If you are an Entrepreneur or company in need of a larger set of images for Content Marketing, Branding, Teams, or Product photos we do have a 2.5 Hour Custom Branding session that might be a better fit or you can contact us directly and we can put together a custom quote for you!
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Cancellation & Reschedule Policy:
Payment & Session Length: Full payment is due at booking to reserve your session time. Your booking is for a specific start and end time. We often book sessions back-to-back; if you arrive late we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to provide the full session length.
Rescheduling: You may reschedule once at no charge up to 24 hours before your session start time. If you reschedule more than once, a 30% rescheduling penalty will apply (your session credit will be reduced by 30%, and the remaining balance will be applied to your new booking).
Cancellations / refunds: No refunds. If you cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice, your full session fee will be forwarded as session credit toward a future headshot session with EJP.
Late cancellations / no-shows: Cancellations within 24 hours of the session time or failure to show will result in forfeiture of the session fee.
Session Credit terms: Session credits can be transferred to another person. All session credit must be used within 6 months of your original session date.
20 min Express In-Studio Headshot Session
$185 | 1 Image
How it Works
HOW IT WORKS:
This session is our most economical fit for one person who just needs a single professionally posed, lighted, and retouched headshot. During this short session we will photograph you against a solid colored backdrop (your choice) in a “Head-and-Shoulders” style crop. Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early and be “camera ready.” In the first 10 minutes we take a series of 15-20 images from slightly different angles to create a good selection of images for you to choose from. In the last 10 minutes we sit down and look through all images taken to select your favorite. Your final image will receive a full retouch to enhance your natural beauty and remove any unwanted blemishes, and your final JPG file will be emailed to you within 3 business days.
DETAILS:
– For 1 Person, 1 outfit, 1 backdrop color of your choice
– 20 Minutes of Studio time with Emily spent photographing and selecting your best image
– Includes 1 Fully Retouched Image, emailed as a High-Resolution JPG File
– Additional Images Available for purchase at $65/each or 3 for $150
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PLEASE NOTE: To make sure you get the best experience, please know that Express Headshots are intentionally quick and streamlined: one person, one outfit, a limited variety of poses, and quick decision-making when selecting your final image. If you’d like extra time to feel fully camera-ready or to try different outfits, hair or jewelry on different backgrounds we suggest booking the 60-Minute Full Headshot Session.
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Cancellation & Reschedule Policy:
Payment & Session Length: Full payment is due at booking to reserve your session time. Your booking is for a specific start and end time. We often book sessions back-to-back; if you arrive late we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to provide the full session length.
Rescheduling: You may reschedule once at no charge up to 24 hours before your session start time. If you reschedule more than once, a 30% rescheduling penalty will apply (your session credit will be reduced by 30%, and the remaining balance will be applied to your new booking).
Cancellations / refunds: No refunds. If you cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice, your full session fee will be forwarded as session credit toward a future headshot session with EJP.
Late cancellations / no-shows: Cancellations within 24 hours of the session time or failure to show will result in forfeiture of the session fee.
Session Credit terms: Session credits can be transferred to another person. All session credit must be used within 6 months of your original session date.
IMAGE REFINEMENT
Retouching that Elevates
All headshots go through a rigerous review and hand-refinement process before getting delivered to your inbox. Here are just a few of the elements we include in our retouching process to ensure you look your absolute best in every image.
EYES & UNDEREYE AREA
The eye and surrounding area is one of our clients’ main concerns when talking about retouching. In our standard retouching process, we can brighten and add dimension to the iris and pupil, take out redness, reduce those fine lines in the skin surrounding the eye, and remove dark circles or “bags” that are too pronounced.
HAIR
Whether your hair is curly, straight, or not as full as it once was, we have an arsonal of techniques for bringing out the natural beauty of your hair! Often it’s just removing a few stray hairs, but sometimes we are filling in part lines or gaps, taking out grey or white hairs, and even adding color where hair dye has grown out.
SKIN
We all have them – scratches, pimples, redness, scars, or cuts. They always seem to pop up the day of a headshot session. Most skin blemishes and cuts very easily removed. We can completely remove whiteheads or pimples, soften rough textures, unify the color in red or blotchy areas, and still retain the natural skin texture and color of the area.
CLOTHING WRINKLES OR BULKY FABRIC
One subtle super-power of retouching is the ability to soften out or pull in the small wrinkles and bunches that occur in our shirts or pants when we stand, sit or lean. Especially around the outer edge of the body, sometimes a shirt can lay in a way that makes us look a little extra chubby around the waistline or shoulder area. This is remedied by our hand-retouching process that takes the time to review and refine every image individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might have questions before you book your session – and that’s great! Here are just a few of the most-asked questions we get along with our general guidedance. If your question isn’t addressed below please reach out directly via email at hello@emilyjohnphotography.com.
What should I wear for my headshot session?
CLICK HERE for a blog post we created on what to wear for headshot sessions. You can also scroll through the website and just see what other folks are wearing and what you might have in your closet that is a similar style, color, or fit.
What should I avoid wearing?
Avoid busy patterns, tiny stripes, neon colors, wrinkled fabric, and distracting logos (unless the logo is essential to your brand). These can create visual noise and pull attention away from your expression. For a “head-and-shoulders” LinkedIn Headshot the best clothing is structured and fitted with a clean collar-line that isn’t drapey, oversized, puffy, or cowl-neck. Also avoid washed-out colors like pale yellow, mint green, or nude as this can make the face look pale. For crisp, timeless business headshots, CLICK HERE for more what-to-wear ideas.
Can I do multiple outfits or "looks"?
That depends on the session you book. For Express 20-Min Headshot sessions – No. We keep the costs down by simplifying and streamlining those sessions. For Premium and Custom sessions – Yes. These sessions are timed so that we can take a variety of photos of you in a few different outfits, backgrounds, and poses.
I'm awkward and hate getting my photo taken. What can you do to help?
99% of the thousands of people I photograph every year are not models and are varied degrees of uncomfortable in front of the camera. It’s very normal, and I am quite practiced at making the process easy and fun. I will guide you through the posture, chin position, shoulders, and expression so your headshot looks natural—not stiff. We chat about life to keep your mind off the fear. We shoot tethered into the laptop and review all images in real time so we can dialogue about what you like, what’s not working, and what we can improve for the next round. My goal is for you to walk away with a handsome professional headshot you are excited to use, and we take the time to get it right.
How soon do I get my photos back?
Turnaround depends on the package and retouching level, but most headshot clients receive their images within 4 business days. If you need them sooner just let me know when you get to your session. I prioritize fast, reliable delivery so you can update your LinkedIn profile, website, and marketing assets quickly.
Do you retouch headshots? How much?
Yes—professional retouching is standard, typically including skin polish, reducing temporary blemishes, softening under-eye shadows, taming flyaways, and brightening eyes while keeping texture natural. If you see something specific while reviewing images with me, just let me know and I can usually fix it.
Emily John Photography focuses on natural headshot retouching that still looks like you—just well-rested, refined, and camera-ready.
What is your cancellation/reschedule policy?
Cancellation & Reschedule Policy:
Payment & Session Length: Full payment is due at booking to reserve your session time. Your booking is for a specific start and end time. We often book sessions back-to-back; if you arrive late we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to provide the full session length.
Rescheduling: You may reschedule once at no charge up to 24 hours before your session start time. If you reschedule more than once, a 30% rescheduling penalty will apply (your session credit will be reduced by 30%, and the remaining balance will be applied to your new booking).
Cancellations / refunds: No refunds. If you cancel with at least 24 hours’ notice, your full session fee will be forwarded as session credit toward a future headshot session with EJP.
Late cancellations / no-shows: Cancellations within 24 hours of the session time or failure to show will result in forfeiture of the session fee.
Session Credit terms: Session credits can be transferred to another person. All session credit must be used within 6 months of your original session date.
Do I get usage rights for my headshots?
Whomever pays for the headshot session is the one granted non-exclusive usage rights to use the images for LinkedIn, websites, speaking pages, press kits, and internal company profiles. These rights cannot be re-sold to third parties or altered (besides cropping) without written permission from Emily John Photography.
In accordance with the US Copyright Act (Title 17) Emily John Photography remains the copyright owner of all images created.
Please reach out for a custom quote if you are in need of any of the following:
– Using a headshot or any image that you did not pay for. This includes a headshot or other photo taken during a shoot that your employer or another business paid for but you did not.
– Rights to use the image for a national marketing campaign
– You would like to signficantly alter or photoshop a photo taken by EJP. Cropping and resizing images is fine, but if you want to add filters, photoshop the face/body/background, or use composited or AI-generated alterations please reach out for permission.
HEADSHOT INSPIRATION
Our studio in Downtown Excelsior is a cozy, comfortable space where we can create a variety of headshot looks that will fit your vibe. Our most popular looks for headshots are either a “head and shoulders” crop on a solid color backdrop, or a “waist-up” posed image on a solid color backdrop. However we can customize the look and feel to either match your company standard or your vision.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
FINE TUNE YOUR PHOTO SESSION WITH OUR HELP
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING MY HEADSHOT SESSION?
There’s a saying “you don’t know ’till you know”… well we are here to let you know!
WHAT DO I WEAR FOR PHOTOS?
Our best tips and tricks for looking polished, professional, and appealing to your target audience.
WHERE SHOULD I BE USING MY HEADSHOT IMAGES?
The obvious and not-so-obvious places you can use your headshots to get the most bang from your session with us.