Doctor Headshots: Planning a Photo Day for Your Medical Practice
Updated: Oct 10
One physician has a studio portrait. Another has a photograph cropped from a conference. The newest provider hasn't been added to the website yet. If you're the person responsible for bringing that page together, a doctor headshot session is also a scheduling project—and the photographs need to work as a set.
I'm Austen Hunter, owner of Austen Hunter Photography and the 2024 Navy Civilian Photographer of the Year. I photograph professionals and teams in Pensacola. For a medical practice, I start with the website requirements and the people who need to be photographed, then build the session around those needs.
Key Takeaways
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Start With Your Provider Directory
Look at the page where the photographs will live. Are portraits circular, square, or vertical? Is the practice keeping its current style or replacing the whole set? Ask the person managing the website for an example and any image specifications before photo day.
A consistent portrait helps visitors recognize the person behind the biography. It doesn't establish clinical skill or guarantee patient trust. The useful goal is a clear, current photograph that looks at home beside the rest of your team.
If the images will also appear in speaker biographies or professional profiles, include those uses in the brief. For example, Doximity's profile photo guidance discusses practical choices for a physician's profile picture. Check each destination rather than assuming one crop will suit everything.
Decide on White Coats, Scrubs, or Business Clothing
There isn't one outfit every doctor should wear. Start with your practice's brand guidance and the way your team normally presents itself to patients. Decide whether providers need a white-coat portrait, business clothing, scrubs, or more than one version.
Send that decision to everyone in advance. Ask people to bring clean, pressed clothing and check visible embroidery or badges for outdated details. If a second outfit is needed, allow for changing time when we plan the schedule.
The existing portraits above show two ways a white coat can appear in the frame: a wider portrait and a closer headshot. Sharing an example is more useful than asking everyone to interpret “professional” on their own. My what-to-wear guide covers the smaller preparation choices.
Plan Around the Practice's Workday
Choose a dedicated room or area where the setup can stay in place. Roughly 8 by 10 feet is a starting point, but I'll need to confirm the room and the brief. Avoid making the waiting area a crowd around the person in front of the camera.
Ask one coordinator to organize small groups or appointment slots around the team's availability. Include time for arrivals, clothing adjustments, and anyone who needs a longer portrait session. A provider with several image requirements may need more time than a colleague who needs one directory photograph.
Before Photo Day | What to Confirm |
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People | Who needs a portrait, who approves the list, and who may miss the day |
Appearance | Background, clothing guidance, and a reference image |
Schedule | Available windows, a dedicated space, and an on-site coordinator |
Finished files | Image selection, naming, website crops, and the delivery deadline |
My corporate headshot-day guide has a fuller planning checklist. You don't need to teach your team how to pose beforehand; I'll give direction during the session.
“Your team's portraits should feel consistent without making every person look the same.” — Austen Hunter
Make the Files Easy to Put to Work
Before booking, agree on who selects the photographs, the number of finished images, retouching, and delivery. Tell me whether the practice needs one organized set for its website or a different handoff for each person. Confirm names and file-label preferences through your coordinator.
If a website launch has a deadline, raise it with the initial inquiry. I'll confirm the timing for your assignment. Also decide how to handle absent colleagues and future hires; my guide to consistent employee headshots explains how a simple reference brief helps later photographs fit the set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Photograph Our Medical Team at the Practice?
Yes. Send the location, approximate headcount, and a description of the available space. I'll confirm what works for an on-site session and prepare a custom quote.
Does Everyone Need to Wear the Same Thing?
Agree on a shared approach rather than identical outfits. Your practice may choose white coats for providers and business clothing for other staff. Check the organization's requirements before sending instructions.
How Long Does Each Headshot Take?
It depends on the number of looks and finished images needed. We'll plan a schedule around your brief and availability rather than use one fixed time for everyone.
Is This the Same as an ERAS Application Photo?
This guide is about practice and provider portraits. Residency applications have their own requirements; use my ERAS photo guide and check the current application instructions if that's what you need.
Plan Your Practice's Headshot Session
Tell me your approximate team size, location, preferred dates, and where the images will appear. I'll help you plan the session and provide a custom quote for your medical team.
