312 Elements PhotographyPRICING
Six professional male headshots for business and dating profiles, showcasing diverse styling and poses by Chicago headshot photographer, photographed by Chicago, IL headshot photographer 312 Elements Headshot Photography

Chicago
HEADSHOTS
forMEN

Professional headshots for men across Chicago — LinkedIn, company bios, speaking pages, and everywhere else your face is doing business before you arrive.

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Professional headshots for men in Chicago are directed studio sessions producing images for LinkedIn, company bios, press, and professional profiles. Sessions start at $750 and include wardrobe guidance, multiple looks, coached posing, and honest retouching. 312 Elements is led by photographer Michael Schacht, who has photographed 10,000+ people over 16 years — executives, founders, brokers, attorneys, and professionals across every Chicago industry.

See pricing and book a session at session pricing and booking.

Most men hate being photographed. The session is built for that.

Behind the scenes shot of Michael Schacht photographing a man in business suit during professional headshot session, 312 Elements Headshot Photography, Chicago, IL
The majority of men who walk into the studio say some version of the same thing: I don't photograph well. Almost none of them are right — they've just never been directed. Left alone in front of a camera, everyone defaults to the stiff half-smile that reads as a DMV photo with better lighting. These sessions never leave you alone. Posture, shoulders, jaw, expression — every frame is coached, and the on-screen review means you watch the images improve in real time instead of waiting for a gallery and hoping. The result reads the way you want a first professional impression to read: capable, current, and at ease.

How sessions work

  1. 1

    Context and wardrobe

    A short conversation about your industry and where the images will live, followed by a wardrobe guide — which suits, shirts, and colors photograph well, when a tie helps versus hurts, and what to bring for a second look.

  2. 2

    The session

    Studio session with multiple looks and backgrounds, directed frame by frame. Images come up on screen as we shoot, so you see exactly what's working — and leave knowing the keepers are already in the set.

  3. 3

    Delivery

    Retouched selects within one week — LinkedIn-ready square crops plus wider frames for bio pages and press, in web and print resolution.

What Chicago professionals say

I've sat for professional headshots more times than I can count, and the experience is almost always the same — someone telling you to tilt your chin and give them 'confident but approachable,' as if you can manufacture a genuine expression on command. What I walked away with from those sessions always looked technically correct and completely hollow. This was different.

RC

Robert C.

Chief Executive Officer

I was finishing my MBA and entering recruiting for management consulting — an industry where how you present yourself is scrutinized by people who have seen thousands of headshots. I didn't want the same photo that comes out of every business school's career services session. Michael understood the specific visual language those environments respond to.

AC

Adrian C.

MBA Candidate

As the public face of an organization that works hard to avoid looking like it misuses resources, I needed headshots that were clearly professional without appearing extravagant — a narrow target. The images came out warm and accessible, appropriate for our annual report, grant proposals, and the media appearances I do.

HW

Harrison W.

Executive Director

What's included

  • Multiple looks and backgrounds in one directed session
  • Pre-session wardrobe guidance, with a steamer and dressing area at the studio
  • Coached posing and expression — no being left to guess in front of the camera
  • Honest retouching that keeps you looking like yourself on a good day
  • Crops for LinkedIn, bio pages, and press; private gallery delivery within one week

What should a guy wear for a headshot?

Dress one notch above your industry's daily standard, and let the frame guide the choices: most professional crops are chest-up, so the collar, shoulders, and jacket structure carry the look. A well-fitted blazer or suit jacket in navy or charcoal over a solid shirt is the reliable foundation; ties are industry-dependent — expected in law and finance, optional in tech and creative fields. Avoid busy patterns, logos, and anything that fits like it belongs to someone else: the camera amplifies fit problems that a mirror forgives. Bring a second look — jacket on and off, or formal and open-collar — so one session covers your formal and approachable registers. Grooming follows the same week-not-day rule as haircuts: fresh trim seven days out, beard lines cleaned up the day before.

Should men smile for headshots?

The data and the casting rooms agree: a slight, genuine smile outperforms the stern look most men default to. Fully neutral reads as severe at thumbnail size, and the forced grin reads as uncomfortable — the target is the expression you'd wear meeting someone you respect: engaged eyes, relaxed jaw, the beginning of a smile. It's the hardest thing to do on command, which is why these sessions direct it instead of requesting it: micro-adjustments, conversation, and frames captured between poses, where the genuine expression actually lives. You'll see the difference on screen during the session.

How much do men's headshots cost in Chicago?

Professional men's headshots in Chicago run roughly $150 for volume mini-sessions to $800+ for full directed sessions. At 312 Elements, sessions start at $750 — multiple looks, frame-by-frame direction, honest retouching, and crops for every professional destination, with no per-image fees on professional uses. The pricing page has full details.

By the numbers

16+ years
photographing Chicago professionals at every career stage
10,000+ people
photographed — CEOs, brokers, founders, and the careers in between
$750+
session starting price — multiple looks and full direction included
1 week
standard delivery for retouched, profile-ready files

Frequently asked questions

What is a good price for a headshot?
In Chicago, professional headshots run $150–$800+ depending on session depth. Sessions at 312 Elements start at $750 with multiple looks, full direction, retouching, and all professional crops included.
Should men smile for headshots?
A slight, genuine smile outperforms the stern default — it reads as confident and approachable at the sizes profiles actually display. Sessions capture a directed range from composed to full smile so you can match the image to the destination.
What should a guy wear for a headshot?
A fitted blazer or suit in navy or charcoal over a solid shirt is the reliable base; tie depends on your industry. Avoid busy patterns and logos, and bring a second look. A wardrobe guide goes out before every session.
Is it worth paying for headshots?
If your face appears on LinkedIn, a company bio, or anywhere clients and employers look first — yes. The photo is the first credibility check, and a phone selfie or ten-year-old photo is working against you before a word gets read.
How do I not look awkward in headshots?
Get directed. Awkward headshots come from being left alone in front of a camera, not from your face. Posture, jaw, and expression are coached frame by frame here, with on-screen review so you watch the awkwardness leave the images in real time.
Should I shave or trim my beard before a headshot?
Keep whatever facial hair is normal for you — the photo should match the person who shows up. Clean up the lines the day before, and schedule haircuts a week out rather than the day of.
How often should men update their headshots?
Every two to three years, or after a visible change — new glasses, significant weight change, beard on or off, career pivot. If people who know your photo do a double-take in person, it's overdue.
Do you photograph in studio or at my office?
Individual sessions run in the West Loop studio at 212 N. Sangamon Street — parking nearby, dressing area on site. On-location office sessions are available for teams of six or more.
Can AI make my professional headshot?
AI tools produce a near-you that colleagues and clients clock the moment they meet the actual you. For images attached to your professional name, the trust cost of the mismatch outweighs the convenience. Photographed remains the standard.

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Ready for a photo that works as hard as you do?

Sessions start at $750 with multiple looks and full direction. See pricing and grab a session date.

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