Life as a student is expensive enough without the added cost of a professional head-and-shoulders photo. Still, we hear the necessity of it time and again when applying for internships or preparing for an event where your photo could serve as an icebreaker. We put forth so many essentials for the intern season and career fair that say, “Use me! I’ll help!” But how much does a headshot even help?
You don’t need to choose between ramen money and a professional photo. Irvine has some great options that won’t leave you eating cereal for dinner. We’re talking about studios that get it. They know you’re on a budget, you’re probably nervous about being photographed, and you need something that looks polished without screaming “I spent my textbook money on this.”
From automated studios that deliver instant results to full-service photographers who’ll help you figure out what to do with your hands, here are the five best headshot studios for students in Irvine.
5 Best Studios for Irvine Headshots
- Studio Pod
- Bizphotographer
- Brystan Studios
- Kelin Tabov Photography
- Corporate Headshots
1. Studio Pod
Location: 15-20 minutes from central Irvine
Best for: Students who want professional results without the photographer anxiety
This is probably the most interesting option on the list of best headshots in Irvine. Studio Pod basically took the traditional headshot experience and flipped it upside down. No photographer, no awkward small talk, no wondering if you blinked at the wrong moment.
Here’s how it works: you book online, show up to their automated studio, and follow the prompts on screen. The lighting setup is already dialed in (apparently it would take a real photographer hours to get it this good), and you get 15 high-quality shots with 10 retakes if you’re not happy.
The whole thing takes about 15 minutes, and your photos hit your email and phone immediately. For $50, that’s pretty hard to beat. Add $10 for professional retouching if you want that extra polish, or another $10 for custom backgrounds.
What makes this perfect for students? First, the price, you’re looking at $50-60 total instead of $200-400 elsewhere. Second, there’s no photographer to feel nervous around. You can take your time, make faces at yourself, and get comfortable before hitting record. Third, it’s fast. You can literally squeeze this between classes.
Important: Studio Pod specifically mentions serving UCI students!
2. Bizphotographer
Location: 4 Venture #215, Irvine CA 92618
Best for: Students who want a traditional studio experience without leaving Irvine
Sometimes you want the full photographer experience – someone directing you, adjusting lighting, and making sure you look your best. Bizphotographer offers that classic studio setup right in Irvine, so you don’t have to drive all over Orange County.
They handle both headshots and portraits, plus they do passport and visa photos. That’s actually pretty convenient if you’re an international student or planning to study abroad — you can knock out multiple photo needs in one trip.
The studio focuses on helping people build their professional presence, which is exactly what you need as a student entering the job market. They understand that your headshot isn’t just a photo, it’s often your first impression with potential employers.
While they don’t advertise student-specific pricing, being local means you’re saving on gas and time. Plus, having a dedicated Irvine location suggests they’re familiar with the local student population and what works for young professionals in the area.
3. Brystan Studios
Location: Orange County (serving Irvine area)
Best for: Students who want the luxury experience at a reasonable price
This is where you go when you want to feel like a movie star for an hour. Brystan Studios has been doing this for over 30 years, and they include professional makeup, hair styling, and wardrobe consultation in their packages.
It might sound rich (and it is), but here’s why it’s truly student-friendly: there’s no prep work for you. Just come as you are and let them work their magic. New clothes? No need. Fixing your hair? Not essential.
They offer both studio and location shoots, with custom sets and strategic lighting. The experience is definitely more involved than a quick automated session, but if you’re serious about your career trajectory, maybe you’re in business, pre-law, or looking at competitive internships, this investment could pay off.
Their work reflects an experience of over 30 years. They make people look confident and approachable, which is the exact quality you want in professional headshots.
4. Kalin Tabov Photography
Location: Orange County, serving Irvine
Best for: Students who want a personalized, story-focused approach
Kalin doesn’t just tell you to pose and snap your picture, but instead, he puts effort into understanding your story and images of professional potential. (I once had a photographer tell me to act like a “successful businesswoman” for a headshot; I guess we project-image types work best in the context of Kalin’s method.) Kalin’s approach can be especially beneficial for people who are at an impasse, unsure of the way forward and what kind of successful business-image type they want to project. Kalin may work with the pretty, or not-workable, with a certain set-in-stone business concept.
He is famous for being on time, for being a dependable person, and for being genial. These are all good traits for a photographer to have when your clients are, more often than not, apprehensive about having their visage captured. Yet, with headshots being what they are, you can think of 3S Photography as offering a personalized, even more so, signature style.
3S serves up its “Signature 3-D Headshot” on a pedestal with three important elements. The first is signature clarity, in which you see every detail of what every important part of the headshot really looks like.
5. Corporate Headshots
Location: Orange County, serving Irvine area
Best for: Business students and those wanting a traditional corporate look
If you’re studying business, economics, or anything where you’ll be interviewing at traditional corporate environments, this studio knows exactly what those employers are looking for. They specialize in professional business headshots with clean, classic styling.
There are a number of backdrop possibilities (all white, all gray, or colors of your selection) so that you may perfectly coordinate with your school visuals or simply opt for what seems to suit your personal aesthetic.
Every session lasts only 5 to 10 minutes, making it very convenient for students who have jobs and classes to manage. They also do shoots on location, so if your students need headshots, they can come to you.
The environmental indoor options are interesting. They can shoot in office or lobby settings, which might be perfect if you want something that looks more real-world than studio-perfect.
Making the Most of Your Student Headshot
What to Wear on a Student Budget
You do not need to buy a whole new wardrobe. Stick to the solid colors you already own, which, if you are following my lead, should be a mix of navy, black, gray, and white.These colors work well because:
- They tend to look good on everyone;
- They’re quiet enough not to compete with the stage, yet still contrast nicely;
- When you do use color, it’s good to have it pop out against the color of your ensemble.
The essence is to maintain an appearance that is professional and sharp while remaining within budget constraints. Wear neat, clean, pressed clothing. The fit rule applies. Ironing is the secret to looking together and not way too expensive for your budget.
How to Prepare for Your First Professional Shoot
Rest well and drink plenty of water the day before. Your complexion and peepers will show it. If someone else is doing your hair and makeup, arrive with your hair clean and your face free of all but the most essential of essentials. If you are doing the makeup yourself, make it simple, and let more of your natural self show through.
Rehearse in front of a mirror. Seek out a smile that feels sincere and is easy for you. If you were already doing it in private, then congratulations, you were practicing for public viewing! If it feels, at all, awkward to do, then that is a signal you are holding back from an expression that is truly easy for you. You might wrack your brain for positive emotions to express with your face, but if none of those spark joy that you can convince the world with, then clasp a hand over your heart (as I wish I could do in the image above) and act like it really matters to you that I never see you without a smile.
When to Invest in Headshots During College
When it comes to making sure you look good in photographs, there’s one thing that matters more than any other: timing. You want to have your headshots done as close to the beginning of the semester as you can, and as far away from finals as you can manage. You want to be not just stress-free in front of the camera but also in the state of mind to plan your career and not to be putting off plans till the very last moment.
It might not be on your mind if you’re a first or second year student, but if you’re a third or fourth year student (or if you’re looking for a job or applying for internships), don’t let it slide.
If you are a student…
- In your third or fourth year, and especially if you’re actively seeking a job or applying for internships, don’t put it off.
- More and more employers expect this from you.
Your Next Step
Receiving a headshot as a student isn’t merely an exercise in ultimating a somewhat elegant portrait. It’s a first step in treating your would-be career with a sort of immediacy that many apparently don’t realize until they’re already several paces down the path of gainful employment.
If you want to present an air of professionalism and also have images that are somewhat flattering, you have options beyond Studio Pod. It may up your comfort levels, but it is by no means the only route to a polished-looking photo.
There’s one thing all potential headshot studios share: they understand that a headshot can be a serious game-changer, and they’re all quite determined to make yours a reality.
Prepared to secure your session? Check out a handful of websites first, and contrast the various packages they offer. Then (and only then), read some fresh reviews of what you’re about to book. Your future self will high-five you for taking this step seriously.