A prospective client looking for a headshot photographer will spend 30 seconds on your portfolio and then go straight to your reviews. Your portfolio proves you can take good photos. Your reviews prove you can make them look good.
Who Is Looking for Headshots
- Professionals updating LinkedIn profiles
- Actors and performers for casting submissions
- Real estate agents for marketing materials
- Executives for company websites and press
- Job seekers and recent graduates
- Entrepreneurs building personal brand presence
Each of these clients has a different relationship with being photographed — and different anxieties. Your reviews should speak to those anxieties.
The #1 Anxiety: “I’m not photogenic”
Almost every non-model client believes they photograph badly. A review that addresses this directly is your most powerful conversion asset:
“I’ve hated every photo ever taken of me. I went in dreading the session. [Photographer] spent the first 15 minutes just talking with me and showing me how to angle my face and relax my expression. The final images are the first photos of myself I actually like. I’ve already updated my LinkedIn and gotten multiple comments on the new headshot.”
When asking for reviews, prompt this angle:
“If you came in a little nervous about the camera — and walked out happy with the results — I’d love for you to share that. Other people need to hear it.”
When to Ask
When you deliver the final photos: This is peak excitement:
“Your gallery is ready! I hope you love them. If you do, a quick Google review would mean the world — it helps people who are on the fence decide to give it a try: [link]”
One week later: After they’ve updated LinkedIn and gotten feedback from others:
“How are the new headshots landing? If people have been commenting on them, this is the perfect time for a review: [link]“
What Makes a Great Headshot Review
“Booked for a corporate headshot update. The session was quick (45 min) but incredibly efficient — [name] knew exactly what she was doing and coached me through everything. I got 8 final edited images and couldn’t decide because they were all good. Turnaround was 3 business days. Will book again next year without question.”
Key elements: time investment (quick but efficient), coaching quality, number of deliverables, turnaround time, and intent to return.
Segment by Client Type
Use SocialProof to tag testimonials by:
- Corporate / LinkedIn
- Actor / performer headshots
- Real estate agent
- Executive / C-suite
- Team / group headshots
- Personal brand
Where to Collect Reviews
- Google Business Profile — Primary for “headshot photographer [city]”
- Yelp — Active in some markets for photographers
- Instagram — Ask clients to tag you and reshare with permission
- Your website — Before/after or role-based testimonials via SocialProof
The photographer who collects “I hate photos and now I love them” reviews fills their calendar. Start asking after every delivery. Start collecting headshot photography reviews →