Professional Headshots in Carlsbad & San Diego
Headshots for Individuals, Professionals & Corporate Teams
Professional headshots that look like you on your best day: confident, approachable, and natural.
I'm Cary Pennington, a professional headshot photographer based in Carlsbad, serving individuals, professionals, and businesses throughout North County San Diego and the greater San Diego area. With more than 20 years of photography experience and a specialization in headshots since 2018, I take a relaxed, guided approach to creating natural, confident images that feel genuinely you.
Through expert posing guidance, expression coaching, and professional lighting, I'll help you feel comfortable in front of the camera and walk away with headshots you're proud to share.
Need team headshots for your company? Request a Quote
Trusted by Professionals and Organizations Across San Diego
From established organizations to local businesses, Cary Pennington Photography provides professional headshots for individuals and teams across a range of industries.
A few organizations represented in Cary's portfolio:
Headshots for Every Kind of Professional
Based in Carlsbad in North County San Diego, I create professional headshots for individuals, creatives, and businesses throughout San Diego County.
For Professionals Who Want to Stand Out
Executive Headshots
Professional, approachable headshots for leadership profiles, company websites, LinkedIn, and speaking engagements.
Real Estate Headshots
Realtor headshots for agent profiles, brokerage websites, marketing materials, and real estate branding.
Attorney & Consultant Headshots
Confident, credible headshots for law firm websites, professional directories, and consulting businesses.
Doctor & Healthcare Headshots
Professional headshots for physicians, healthcare providers, medical practices, and hospital directories.
ERAS Residency Headshots
Medical residency application photos prepared to meet ERAS photo requirements.
Military & Civil Service Headshots
Professional portraits for military personnel, government employees, promotion profiles, and career transitions.
Actor Headshots
Expressive, natural-looking headshots that showcase your personality for auditions, casting profiles, and portfolios.
Personal Branding & Entrepreneur Headshots
Personality-driven portraits for entrepreneurs and business owners building a recognizable personal brand.
Individual Headshots for San Diego Professionals
Whether you're updating your LinkedIn profile, starting a new position, refreshing your company bio, or building your professional reputation, your headshot should reflect the person people will meet in real life.
Sessions are guided from start to finish. You'll receive help with posing, posture, and expression so you don't have to figure out what to do in front of the camera. Wardrobe guidance and natural retouching help create a finished image that looks polished without looking overdone.
Individual headshot sessions are available in Carlsbad, with options designed for different needs and budgets.
Corporate Team Headshots in San Diego
Give your company's website, LinkedIn profiles, and employee directories a consistent, professional look with corporate headshots created for your team.
Cary Pennington Photography offers on-location team headshots throughout San Diego County. Professional lighting and background equipment are brought directly to your workplace, helping employees get photographed efficiently without the need to travel to a studio.
From small businesses and professional offices to larger teams and multi-location companies, sessions are planned around your team's size, schedule, and needs. Each person receives posing and expression guidance to create a cohesive set of headshots while still looking like themselves.
Planning headshots for a company?
Personal Branding Photography for San Diego Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Your professional image is about more than one profile photo. Personal branding photography creates a collection of images that shows your personality, communicates what you do, and gives people a better sense of the person behind your business.
Branding sessions can include a variety of looks, settings, and activities tailored to your work and how you connect with clients. The resulting images can be used across your website, social media, marketing materials, and other business platforms.
Not Comfortable in Front of the Camera? You're Not Alone
Most people aren't used to being photographed. You might worry your smile will look stiff, your expression unnatural, or that you won't look like yourself.
That's where I come in. I'll guide you through the process, from wardrobe preparation to posing and expressions, so you can feel comfortable and look like yourself.
Your Headshot Experience, Step by Step
1. Book Your Session
Choose the headshot session that fits your needs and get helpful wardrobe guidance so you know what to expect.
2. Guided Posing & Expressions
I'll coach your posture, angles, and expressions throughout your session to help you look natural, confident, and approachable.
3. Review Your Images
View your proof gallery and select the images you'd like professionally retouched.
4. Expert Retouching
Your selected images receive careful, natural retouching to refine the final photos while keeping you looking like yourself.
Real People. Headshots They're Happy With
Getting your headshots taken can feel a little intimidating, especially if you're not used to being in front of the camera. My goal is to make the experience relaxed, guide you through the process, and create images that feel like you on your very best day. But don't just take my word for it. Here's what clients have to say about their experience.
"I usually hate having my photo taken, but Cary made it easy—and I ended up with headshots I actually love!"
Alysia Perez - Aesthetic RN
Cary was awesome from start to finish. Not only did he take great shots, but he also helped me with my wardrobe selection. Finally, he was very detail oriented and took notice of everything that needed adjusting with my clothes and positioning. It was a great experience and I highly recommend Cary for your next photo shoot…
Nazar - VP of Operations Job Options Inc.
Cary is an exceptional photographer. I had my corporate headshots taken by him. He is very patient and dedicates a lot of time to capturing the best shots with the perfect lighting. I highly recommend his photography services.
Anitha- Director, Customer Engineering
Samsung Semiconductor
Ready to Finally Love Your Headshots?
Let’s create professional, authentic images that show the real you.
Fill out the form below, and I’ll guide you every step of the way.
No pressure — I’ll reach out to confirm details and answer any questions.