Why Everyone Calls Themselves a Headshot Photographer (Even If They Shoot Weddings)
While working on the redesign of my website, I started reflecting on how photographers—regardless of their specialty—have started labeling themselves as “headshot photographers.” Even those whose main business is weddings or family portraits are using the term.
Why?
In one word: SEO.
"Headshot photographer" is a high-traffic keyword. It's what people type when they need a profile photo for LinkedIn, Zoom, a company bio, or even a dating app. So naturally, many photographers are using it to attract attention online.
But here’s the thing: headshot photography in the corporate world is completely different from consumer photography.
As someone who has specialized in corporate photography for decades, I can confidently say that shooting for businesses—especially large companies or multinationals—is a different game altogether. You're not just capturing a good-looking photo of someone. You're creating a strategic image that aligns with corporate branding, internal communication, executive presence, and sometimes even regulatory guidelines.
It involves:
Understanding company culture and values
Working with communications or HR departments
Managing tight schedules and locations (often on-site at offices)
Ensuring consistency across a team or even a global workforce
Calibrated color and lighting workflows to match brand visuals
Compare that to a consumer session—where it’s often just about capturing a mood, a moment, or a milestone for personal use. There’s more creative freedom, less bureaucracy, and usually no brand book to follow.
This isn’t to say one type of photography is better than the other—it’s just a different mindset, process, and purpose.
So when I see photographers who mainly shoot weddings or lifestyle portraits marketing themselves as headshot specialists, I get it from a business standpoint—but I also think it oversimplifies what corporate photographers really do.
For clients, this matters. If you’re a company looking for headshots that align with your brand and meet corporate standards, you need more than someone who owns a nice camera and a backdrop. You need someone who understands the corporate world—its pace, its structure, and its expectations.
And that’s a different skillset entirely.