East Bay Headshots

(925)380-2911



1353 Pine St. Walnut Creek, CA

Cheap Headshots

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Cheap Headshots

What type of experience are you looking for?

We all want to find a good deal, but a price comparison only works with identical services and experiences. Apples to Apples.

When shopping for a headshot photographer, you will likely want to consider the experience you get at some of the other studios.

For example the above reviews of one well known option show a theme of:

  • Waiting 2+ hours in the crowded lobby
  • A Rushed 15-minute “Quicky” session
  • No wardrobe changes
  • Poor quality photos that cost over $100

If you search the web, you can find promises of quicky $99 headshots at this department store (that declared bankruptcy and is scheduled to close) or other semi-local “cattle call group sessions” held once a month in a rented conference room.

We try to talk people out of booking these shoots because paying a price that might “feel right,” is often viewed afterward as a big mistake.

The cheap headshot mistake

We are talking about your image here and a first impression is not something to skimp on. When you “go cheap,” you are getting what you pay for and most people are not just satisfied with their results. Trust us we have tried this and know the results. If you are like me you get frustrated the longer you have to wait and I would be in no mood to take a good photo after waiting for two hours at the department store studio.

We have found Customers who do “quicky sessions” like these commonly want to do “re-shoots” due to not getting what they wanted and need “more time.”

They end up having to book another session with another studio are now paying more than if they had chosen the right experience from the beginning.

The Solution

We don’t schedule individual 10-15 minute quicky sessions in our studio. Over the years, we have found It’s just not enough time for most people to get comfortable and get an image they are happy with. Unless of course, you are a professional model. Professional Models can take great photos with just a few takes, and that’s why agencies pay to shoot with them.

Customers who “go cheap” in the beginning end up paying more and wasting time, rather than “doing it right the first time.”

I still want some cheap headshot recommendations.

You can go cheap at JC Penny (*at least for now – as they have filed for bankruptcy and announced their Concord Store and others may be closing soon.) The charge over $100 for a 10 minute session. Read the reviews and be prepared to wait.

Why can’t I pay JC Penny Prices at your Studio?

We can’t charge JC Penny prices because 1) they offer that service as a loss-leader to get people into their stores to buy clothes and other profitable items. 2) Bargain Price photography is simply not a sustainable business model. JC Penny is bankrupt, The Picture People closed for good abandoning customers and employees alike, even Target recently closed all its photo studios. It’s an experiment that has been tried time and time again without success.

As a business, we have calculated our costs and quality costs more. We believe we… and more importantly you…are worth the extra investment. and that a good customer experience is worth it.

Book A Session with us when your ready to experience a transformation!

COVID-19 Procedures

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Dec 2020 Update – Per the latest State of CA and CoCoCo Guidelines – our retail studio is able to remain open at limited capacity and also stay open per the current media and film studio guidelines. While navigating these guidelines is confusing at times, the two mentioned appear to be most analogous to our business. We have several safety measures in place. Read more below:

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At East Bay Headshots we are doing our part to help keep our studio and clients safe. We have a written safety plan in place and you should feel safe working with us.

We offer a number of safety advantages over working with a high volume department store studio with long waits in crowded waiting rooms.

The first and most important step is the self-check. Are you part of a vulnerable population? Have you been feeling ill recently? In either case it would probably be best to postpone our session.

Assuming you feel well and are ready for a shoot we want to assure you that we have implemented a number of safety protocols post COVID-19:

  1. We are a boutique studio and are only allowing one client in our studio space at a time. Sessions are spaced out to allow for cleaning between clients.
  2. We are able to complete sessions either in studio or outside, all while staying six feet apart to allow for proper social distancing.
  3. Your photographer will wear a mask, in addition to staying six feet away.
  4. We sanitize all high touch studio surfaces between clients.
  5. We have a sink in our office with soap, water, and towels available for hand-washing as needed.
  6. We can handle scheduling, proofing, and payment all online without need for any contact.
  7. Based on CCC Dept. of Health Guidance and recommendations we are not performing temperature checks, as the health department does not believe they are effective for detecting COVID.

If you have any other concerns please feel free to reach out and we are happy to structure our sessions in a way to keep you safe.

As a small business, we also thank you for your support during these challenging times. Remember to Shop Small and be safe!