Standard headshot session
Forty five minutes, two looks, one retouched high resolution file plus web and LinkedIn crops.
River North studio since 2016
A headshot that looks like you, on a good day
Forty five minutes in studio, you see every frame on a screen as we shoot, and you pick your keepers before you leave. Retouched files land the next business day.
10 yrsshooting headshots
45 mintypical session
1 dayretouched file delivery
4,000+people photographed
Sessions
Individual, actor and team headshots
Every session is tethered to a monitor so you choose your own images rather than waiting to see what you got.
Extended session
Ninety minutes, four looks including a seated and three quarter frame, three retouched files.
Actor package
Three looks shot for commercial and theatrical, sized and titled for Actors Access and Casting Networks.
Additional retouched image
Any extra selects from your session, retouched to the same standard.
Team on site day
We build a studio in your office and shoot up to 30 people in a day with consistent lighting.
Team studio rate
For groups of six or more booked into the River North studio on the same day.
About the studio
Direction is most of the job
Ben Marlow spent six years as an editorial portrait assistant before opening on Wells Street in 2016. Almost everyone who walks in says they hate having their picture taken, which is why the session is structured around direction rather than instruction. We shoot tethered to a 27 inch monitor so you can see what is working and stop worrying about what your face is doing.
•Tethered shooting, you see and select every frame
•Two changing areas and a steamer, bring three shirts
•Consistent lighting setup so team photos match across years
•Files delivered in web, print and platform specific crops
Reviews
Client feedback
“I have hated every photo of myself since college. I liked eleven of these and had to be talked down to one.”
Rachel V., Attorney, the Loop
“Thirty two people in one day and every image matches. Our team page finally looks intentional.”
Aaron K., Operations, Chicago software firm
“Booked three callbacks in the month after updating my commercial shot.”
Danny O., Actor package
FAQ
Planning your session
What should I wear?
Bring three tops in solid mid tone colors, avoiding tight patterns and bright white. Long sleeves photograph better than short, and jewel tones tend to work on most people. There is a steamer here, so bring things on hangers rather than folded.
How much retouching do you do?
We clean up temporary things like blemishes, stray hairs and glasses glare, and we even out skin without erasing texture. We do not reshape faces or bodies. The goal is that someone meeting you from the photo recognizes you immediately.
How quickly do I get the files?
You select your images before leaving the studio, and retouched high resolution files plus platform crops arrive the next business day. Rush same day delivery is available for an additional fee if you are up against a deadline.
Can you photograph our whole team?
Yes, either on site or in studio. On site we bring a full lighting kit and backdrop and need a room about twelve by fifteen feet with an outlet, and we can run 30 people through in a standard day. Everyone gets the same lighting so the team page looks consistent.
Contact
Book a studio slot
Individual sessions usually have openings within a week. Team days should be booked three to four weeks out.
Phone(312) 555-0161
Address440 N Wells St, Studio 502, Chicago, IL 60654, Chicago, Illinois
HoursMon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat by appointment
AreaChicago Loop and River North studio, on site anywhere in Chicagoland