Best Headshots Santa Monica
Online Dating Headshot Photography
Karen Vaisman is an award-winning photographer and Master Retouch Artist who has spent 30+ years helping people look their best on camera. From her Agoura Hills studio, serving Santa Monica, Brentwood & Westwood, Marina del Rey & Venice, Culver City & Century City, Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles, she creates professional headshots, personal branding, and portrait photography, coaching every expression and pose so the final image looks polished, confident, and authentically you. She holds a BFA in Photography from Syracuse University.
Agoura Hills Photography Studio
Serving Santa Monica
& Greater Los Angeles
Call (818) 991‑7787
Karen answers her own phone
Book Your Headshot Session →
The Professional Headshot Studio Santa Monica Professionals Trust
Karen Vaisman is an award-winning photographer and Master Retouch Artist who has spent 30+ years helping people look their best on camera. From her Agoura Hills studio, serving Santa Monica, Brentwood & Westwood, Marina del Rey & Venice, Culver City & Century City, Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles, she creates professional headshots, personal branding, and portrait photography, coaching every expression and pose so the final image looks polished, confident, and authentically you. She holds a BFA in Photography from Syracuse University.
Ready to Book Your Professional Headshot?
Choose the fastest path to book — or compare your options.
Book Your Retouched Headshot Session
Silver Deluxe
- About 1½ hours at the studio: shoot, image selection & checkout
- 1 finished headshot, hand‑retouched by a master retoucher
- Delivered in print & web sizes
Not sure which session is right for you? Call Karen: (818) 991‑7787
Key Takeaways
Professional Headshots Near Santa Monica
- ✓Studio based in nearby Agoura Hills — serving Santa Monica, Brentwood & Westwood, Marina del Rey & Venice & the Greater Los Angeles area
- ✓Corporate, LinkedIn, actor, realtor, personal branding & online dating sessions available
- ✓Expert lighting & expression coaching — fully retouched sessions available — what to wear guide
- ✓ 30+ years experience — BFA Syracuse University — Master Retouch Artist
- ✓ 300+ 5-Star reviews on Google & Yelp
- ✓ Trusted by executives from Forbes-listed companies, Bain & Co. & Dell
- ✓By appointment Mon–Sat
Karen answers her own phone
“Karen coached me through the whole headshot experience. I am SOOO pleased!”
Corporate Headshot
Client Testimonial
Amanda Flaum - shares her enthusiastic experience getting a Business Headshot with Karen Vaisman Photography.
"I was in need of new pictures for professional profiles and engagements when I found Karen. Karen provides a great service that was timely, easy and professional. I got the final images within about a week of the initial photos. After posting them, Karen noticed that one image was a little dark and she sent me a retouched version immediately. The next time I need new photos, Karen will be my first stop."
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"Karen was wonderful & helped every way through the process. From making me comfortable to helping me choose a great picture, I could not be happier! Thanks Karen for everything!!!"
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"Karen was absolutely wonderful to work with. She was incredibly patient and professional throughout the entire session, and she made sure I looked my best in every shot. Her 30 years of experience truly shows in the way she guides you and pays attention to the small details.
I was honestly a bit nervous going in because I don’t consider myself very photogenic, but it had been 10 years since I last updated my photos and it was time. Karen immediately put me at ease and made the whole experience comfortable and enjoyable. She absolutely did not disappoint, and I’m so pleased with the final results. Highly recommend her!"
"I needed some professional photos done for a networking trip I was taking in less than two weeks as I get ready to graduate with my MBA. Karen was incredibly flexible with her time to fit me into a tight window and expertly develop my photos. They came out even better than I had hoped. Although I had no idea what I was doing, Karen knew exactly how to make me pose, gave me great advice and create the perfect image I was looking for. She even went above and beyond by helping me network with a highly placed individual in my field. I am so thankful I called her and highly recommend her for anyone who needs professional photos taken."
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"I am so happy. Made me comfortable and took excellent shots. Highly recommend."
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A weak headshot costs you the interview, the client, or the role —
before you ever get a chance to make your case in person.
Real, Not Forced
The Step Most Skip
- Natural, confident — authentically you, not stiff or over‑posed
- We’ll review selected photos together on the iPad as we go, so you can see what’s working. You’ll make your final selections on the larger computer screen.
- Karen reviews and selects favorite images with you before you leave
Executives & Professionals
- Tailored to your industry and personal brand
- Real-time expression coaching — confident and approachable, not stiff
- Every image reviewed together before you leave
Best Headshot Testimonials
“Out of 50 pictures, 50 came out MARVELOUS!”
BUSINESS HEADSHOT TESTIMONIAL VIDEO (1‑Minute)
Pam McCoy’s excitement over the results of her photo shoot is almost palpable! She loved them and was truly pleasantly surprised by the experience! No need for a makeup artist or professional makeup, Karen did it all in post production!
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Professional Retouching - Digital Slenderizing
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Professionally Retouched - Skin Smoothing, Teeth Whitening, Hair Repair
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Retouched - Hair Clean Up, Face Slenderizing, Skin Smoothing, Clothing Wrinkle Repair
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Retouched - Face Slenderizing, Double Chin Repair, Undereye Circles, Hair Repair, Teeth Whitening
- Warm, approachable, and trusted professional
- Indoor studio or outdoor palm tree setting — your choice
- 30+ years of professional photography experience
- Natural and authentic — not stiff or over‑posed
- Works on Tinder, Hinge, Match, Bumble, and any platform
- Karen guides you through everything — wardrobe to final image
- Dress simply — clean, classic clothing that doesn't distract
- Show your range — a few different looks help casting directors
- Be present — the more relaxed you feel, the better your photos
Not someone else. Not airbrushed.
You — just better.
- Digital makeup and eyelashes are included with retouched headshots if you’d like them.
- Skin smoothing — natural, not plastic
- Digital eyelashes — subtle, elegant
- Hair cleanup and color correction
- Teeth whitening — natural, never blinding white
- Under-eye improvements — refreshed, not altered
From Downtown Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevard to Ocean Park and Main Street, professionals need photographs suited to how they present themselves. Karen serves Santa Monica clients at her private Agoura Hills studio for business headshots, real estate portraits, attorney headshots and online dating photography. Whether you need a firm biography, brokerage profile or more personal introduction, Karen guides your pose and expression. From offices near the Civic Center and Pico Boulevard to businesses around the Third Street Promenade, Karen helps Santa Monica professionals plan portraits for the audiences they want to reach.
Whether your work takes you to offices near Colorado Avenue, client meetings along Montana Avenue or properties in Sunset Park, plan your headshot around your audience. Bring your company’s image specifications and allow for traffic between Santa Monica and the Agoura Hills studio. Prepare with Karen’s guides to what to wear, posing, natural smiles and looking confident. View before-and-after retouching examples, then check your chosen session’s inclusions and delivery timing.
Santa Monica and Nearby Westside Communities
From Downtown Santa Monica to Ocean Park and the Montana Avenue area, your photographs should reflect your personality and intended audience. Karen also serves clients from Brentwood & Westwood, Marina del Rey & Venice, and Culver City & Century City. All sessions take place at her Agoura Hills studio, with personal guidance backed by 30+ years of professional photography experience.
Karen Vaisman Photography, 5624 Silver Valley Ave, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. From Santa Monica City Hall, the drive to the studio is approximately 33.9 miles via I-405 N and US-101 N. Your time varies with starting point and traffic — check current directions.
Nearby: Brentwood & Westwood · Marina del Rey & Venice · Culver City & Century City · West Los Angeles · Malibu & Pacific Palisades
I had an amazing photo shoot experience with Karen Vaisman at Karen Vaisman Photography. Karen is a very pleasant, professional photographer who is very calming and brings the best out of her subjects, including me! The quality of her photography is extraordinary and amazing! I shared some of her works of me on social media and received great reviews and comments. Karen is very enjoyable to work with and I highly recommend her if you are considering getting headshots or portraits done for yourself or your family. They will be professionally produced, and you will be very happy and satisfied with the outcome! Visit her website at KARENVAISMANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.
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Karen is a consummate professional and she really knows her craft. She made me feel very comfortable and the end result was really fantastic! She also took photos of my wife who has received so many compliments on the photos!
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All the reviews you read are true! When trying to find a photographer I initially thought she was expensive. After researching and seeing other photographer's examples, I realized you get what you pay for. I'm so glad I chose Karen! She has amazing talent, makes you feel comfortable and is easy to work with. She never made me feel rushed. In fact, a 90 minute session turned into three hours. The entire time she made me feel like my pictures were worth her spending extra time. The best part? My pictures look beautiful! So glad I chose Karen!!
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First, let me say, I haven't been to a real photographer for head shots before finding Karen. In fact, I don't think I've had a formal picture done since high school and I am retired! I am not a small person and big girls aren't fond of mirrors let alone others taking pictures! Karen picked up immediately that I was VERY nervous about doing this and quickly put me at ease. She guided me through all of the shots and she is AMAZING! But it gets better, because she is an ABSOLUTE GENIUS at the editing and retouching the photos!!! You cannot go wrong with Karen! She is the best!
Read this review on Yelp
I hired Karen to shoot new headshots for my business keynote speaking website. She was wonderful to work with and is CLEARLY passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about photography. The quality of the final, re-touched photos exceeded my expectations 10-fold. Great job Karen!! I highly recommend her for professional, business headshots.
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Frequently Asked Questions — Professional Headshots Near Santa Monica
Karen Vaisman Photography serves professionals throughout Santa Monica and nearby Marina del Rey & Venice, Brentwood & Westwood, Malibu & Pacific Palisades, West Los Angeles and Culver City & Century City from her private appointment-only studio at 5624 Silver Valley Ave, Agoura Hills — just minutes off the 101 Freeway. Sessions are by appointment Monday through Saturday, 9am–5pm.
Karen answers her own phone — call (818) 991-7787 to ask questions before you book, or book your session directly online →
Yes — a professional headshot is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your personal brand. Your headshot appears on LinkedIn, your company website, business cards, and anywhere a potential client or employer searches for you online. A confident, approachable image communicates credibility before you say a word.
For executives, attorneys, financial advisors, and entrepreneurs in Santa Monica, the quality of your headshot directly impacts how you are perceived. Karen Vaisman Photography has helped professionals across greater Los Angeles upgrade their image for over 30 years. See modern professional headshots, female professional headshots, and professional headshot examples. Call Karen at (818) 991-7787 — she answers her own phone.
Yes — your LinkedIn profile photo is seen before your resume, before your pitch, and before you walk in the room. A professional headshot gives you a consistent image for LinkedIn, your company website and other professional profiles.
For executives, attorneys, financial advisors, and entrepreneurs in Santa Monica, strong LinkedIn headshots and LinkedIn profile pictures communicate credibility and authority instantly. Karen specializes in LinkedIn headshots that look natural and confident — with expert posing and expression coaching so you never look stiff or over-posed. Book your LinkedIn headshot session →
Yes — Karen's studio in Agoura Hills offers both professional indoor studio lighting AND a beautiful outdoor setting with palm trees and natural light, just steps apart. Indoor and outdoor photographs are available within your session time, except with one-photo packages such as Bronze Mini.
Explore our corporate indoor headshot options.
Most clients love having both options for different uses — LinkedIn, company website, speaking bios, and social media. See our outdoor headshots for executives guide. Book your session →
Yes — virtual background headshots are a specialty at Karen Vaisman Photography. If you need a specific environment — a corporate boardroom, a branded backdrop, a city skyline, or any other setting — Karen can add it seamlessly in post-production.
Virtual backgrounds let you get multiple completely different looks in one session without leaving the studio. The results look so realistic that clients say colleagues assume they traveled to five different locations. Learn more about virtual background headshots →
You can take a photo yourself, but it rarely achieves what a professional headshot session produces. A trained headshot photographer controls studio lighting, lens selection, expression coaching, posing, and professional retouching — none of which can be replicated with a phone, a ring light, or a selfie.
The difference is immediately visible to hiring managers, casting directors, and clients. Karen coaches your expression during the session — so you don't just look good, you look like the best, most confident version of yourself. See our before and after retouching gallery to see the difference.
Solid, medium-to-dark toned colors photograph best. The most reliable choices are:
- Navy blue — projects authority and photographs beautifully under studio lighting
- Charcoal grey — classic, versatile, always professional
- Burgundy or deep red — strong and confident
- Forest green or slate blue — distinctive and polished
- Black — classic, always works
Dark colors also have a slenderizing effect under professional studio lighting — another reason they're a smart choice.
What to avoid: tight patterns, fine stripes, herringbone, small checks, and busy textures. These create moiré patterns in digital cameras — a distracting optical interference effect that is very difficult to remove in post-production. Solid fabrics always photograph cleaner.
Bring 2–3 outfit options — Karen will advise which photographs best under studio lighting. Read our complete guide to the best colors to wear for headshots and our what to wear for headshots guide.
Most headshot sessions at Karen Vaisman Photography include:
- Pre-session style consultation so you arrive prepared
- Professional studio lighting calibrated to your skin tone and goals
- Expert expression and posing coaching throughout the session
- Multiple looks and outfit changes
- In-person image review before you leave. For Silver Deluxe, you’ll usually have about 30–50 images to choose from and select one headshot for retouching. Gold Deluxe sessions usually offer more images to choose from.
- Included file sizes depend on the session you choose. Please check your package details.
Retouched sessions also include natural-looking professional hand-retouching. Digital makeup and eyelashes are included with retouched headshots if you’d like them. You can upgrade to retouching during your session. Karen is a Master Retouch Artist with 30+ years of experience and a BFA from Syracuse University. See full session details and pricing →
Choose clothing that reflects your profession and personal brand. Well-fitted, polished outfits always photograph better than baggy or overly casual clothing. A few key rules:
- Bring 2–3 outfit options — variety gives you more choices in your final images
- Stick to solid, neutral colors — avoid busy patterns, tight textures, and logos
- Make sure everything is freshly pressed or steamed — wrinkles are very visible on camera
- Avoid transition lenses — regular glasses or contacts keep the focus on your eyes
- Keep jewelry simple — nothing that competes with your face
Read our complete what to wear for headshots guide and our color guide for full details.
The best background keeps the focus on you. Options include:
- Studio backgrounds — solid colors or textured walls give a sharp, polished result
- Outdoor locations — natural settings with soft, blurred backgrounds add warmth and approachability. See our outdoor headshot guide for executives
- Virtual backgrounds — add any environment in post-production for multiple looks in one session
- Environmental backgrounds — your office or an architectural setting can reinforce your professional brand
Read our ultimate headshot background guide and our professional headshot background guide for more.
Your headshot is often the very first time someone meets you — and online, you’re a stranger. That connection has to happen instantly, on a flat, two-dimensional image. In a split second, people decide whether you seem trustworthy, approachable and real.
That’s why Karen never just says “smile” or “say cheese.” While she photographs you, she talks with you about your life, your family, your work — and when she sees that spark, she asks you to look right into the lens and picture it: your child’s face, or the Hawaii trip you can’t wait to take. Your expression changes on its own, and that genuine warmth is what she captures. It’s guided conversation and imagination, not forced poses.
Karen also fine-tunes your posture and expression as you go, so you come across confident, approachable, and authentically yourself. Afterward, you choose your favorites together on a large screen, with her guidance on which images connect best. Retouched sessions include her natural hand retouching — see the before and after gallery. Questions? Call Karen at (818) 991-7787 — she answers her own phone.
Yes — actor and talent headshots are one of Karen's specialties. Your headshot is your calling card — it's the first thing casting directors see when considering you for a role. In a competitive industry, a standout headshot can mean the difference between getting the audition and getting passed over.
Karen understands what casting directors look for and coaches actors through expression, range, and character during their session. Book your actor headshot session →
Yes — Karen Vaisman Photography photographs realtors and attorneys from Santa Monica and greater Los Angeles, drawing on 30+ years of professional photography experience. Real estate is a relationship business, and your headshot is on everything — signs, cards, Zillow listings, and your website. It needs to communicate trust and approachability instantly.
Karen specializes in realtor headshots that position you as the expert you are. Book your real estate headshot session →
Yes — online dating photography is a specialty at Karen Vaisman Photography. In a sea of selfies, a natural, confident professional photo makes you stand out immediately and attracts the right match.
Karen creates dating profile photos that feel relaxed and authentic — not stiff or staged. Virtual backgrounds are also popular for dating sessions — Karen uses them to help tell your story, creating multiple looks and settings that show your personality and lifestyle in one session. Also see Karen's dating photographer Los Angeles sessions. Book your dating photo session →
Yes — personal branding photography goes beyond a single headshot. It's a full suite of on-brand imagery for coaches, consultants, speakers, and entrepreneurs — everything you need for your website, social media, press kit, and marketing materials.
Virtual backgrounds are especially popular for personal branding sessions — Karen can create multiple completely different environments in one session, giving you a full library of on-brand images without leaving the studio.
Karen works with you to understand your brand, your audience, and your goals — then creates images that tell your story. Call Karen at (818) 991-7787 to discuss your personal branding session.
In retouched sessions, professional retouching refines your final images after the session — balancing skin tone, removing temporary blemishes, sharpening eyes, and ensuring the overall image is polished and publication-ready. Karen is a Master Retouch Artist with over 30 years of experience.
Digital makeup and eyelashes are included with retouched headshots if you’d like them. The goal is never to make you look like someone else — it's to present you at your absolute best. See real examples in our before and after gallery. See session options →
Preparation makes a real difference in your results. Here's what Karen recommends:
- Get a full night of sleep the night before
- Arrive with freshly washed, styled hair — as you would for an important meeting
- Apply makeup as you normally would for a professional setting — read our makeup for headshots guide for camera-ready tips
- Bring 2–3 outfit options — read our what to wear guide before you arrive
- Avoid a brand new haircut right before — wait 1–2 weeks so it settles
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early to settle in and relax before we start
Karen will walk you through everything else during the session. Questions beforehand? Call Karen directly at (818) 991-7787 — she answers her own phone.
Karen Vaisman Photography is located at 5624 Silver Valley Ave, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 — just off the 101 Freeway, a short drive from Santa Monica — see the directions section on this page for landmark mileage. Sessions are by appointment Monday through Saturday, 9am–5pm.
Karen answers her own phone — call (818) 991-7787 for a free consultation before you book. Or book directly online: Book your headshot session →
See all the areas we serve across Los Angeles and Ventura County.
Yes — Karen Vaisman Photography is a full-service professional passport photo studio. Many clients combine a headshot session with passport photos in the same visit — it's a great way to get everything done in one appointment. Book your passport photo appointment →
Karen produces passport and citizenship photos for:
- US passport photos — zero rejections, ever
- Canadian passport & citizenship photos
- British passport photos
- French passport photos
- German passport photos
- Irish passport photos
- Spanish passport photos
- Italian passport photos
- Polish citizenship photos
- Schengen visa photos
- Many other countries — call Karen at (818) 991-7787 to confirm your country's requirements
Agoura Hills Photography Studio
Serving Santa Monica & Greater Los Angeles
Call (818) 991-7787
Karen answers her own phone
Book Your Headshot Session →Karen Vaisman is an award-winning photographer and Master Retouch Artist who has spent 30+ years helping people look their best on camera. From her Agoura Hills studio, serving Santa Monica, Brentwood & Westwood, Marina del Rey & Venice, Culver City & Century City, Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles, she creates professional headshots, personal branding, and portrait photography, coaching every expression and pose so the final image looks polished, confident, and authentically you. She holds a BFA in Photography from Syracuse University.
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- Posture — stand straight, shoulders back, chin slightly forward
- Angle your body — slightly to the side adds depth and dimension
- Eye contact — relax your face and let your smile come naturally
- Look approachable — a relaxed expression connects instantly
- Off-camera look — glancing slightly off‑camera feels more natural
Ready for a Headshot You’re Proud Of?
Book your retouched session, or compare all headshot options.
Prefer to talk first? Karen answers her own phone.
(818) 991-7787Agoura Hills Photography Studio · By appointment
What Our Clients Have to Say …
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Mish Polak
“Karen is the most amazing photographer. For someone who hates having their picture taken, she actually had me loving my own photo. She has such an amazing eye with everything from the background color, what you’re wearing, make-up, to how relaxed you are so that your smile looks natural. Thank you Karen for flawless headshots!”
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Brenda Guess
“I flew in from the Bay Area for Karen to take my photo. I can never adequately express what a wonderful experience it was having my picture taken by her! She helped me prepare and I felt so comfortable. She took incredible shots! I loved how she touched up my photos and provided my photos so promptly. I highly recommend Karen!”
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JR Rackley
“Karen made this experience very comfortable and fun. The final photos came out perfect and the retouches were spot on. I would recommend Karen Vaisman Photography to anyone.”
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Terry Benzel
“I am not photogenic but Karen is very talented at figuring out how to get me to relax and capture the true me. She knows how to apply just the right amount of touch up to make me look great without overdoing it. Even if you aren't in the area she is worth the drive!”
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Miranda Frederick
“My experience with Karen was tremendous. We were having such a good time our session - we laughed like old friends. Not only did she do a great job, I requested a Rush and I received the photos in less than 24 hours. I highly recommend Karen for your next photo shoot. She's a true professional.”
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Bill Richardson
“Karen puts her clients at ease and captures the essence of who you are and she makes it fun. Her photography and retouching skills are outstanding.”
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Susana Cabrera
“From the moment I walked into her studio, it was clear that Karen is not only an incredibly talented photographer but also an absolute professional in every sense of the word.”
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Tina Thomas
Working with Karen was an exceptional experience from start to finish — and the final photographs are nothing short of stunning. What truly stood out was her skillful retouching: she strikes the perfect balance, enhancing the images just enough to bring out their full potential while still maintaining the natural essence of my appearance. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of top-notch photography services.
Enjoy our Blog …
Dreading your next professional headshot? Fear not! As a veteran Los Angeles photographer, I've helped countless camera-shy clients shine in their photos. With the right techniques and a supportive environment, anyone can look confident and approachable in their headshot – yes, even you who just thought, "But I'm not photogenic!" Let me show you how to transform your headshot experience from nerve-wracking to enjoyable.