Niagara & GTA headshots that mean business.
Polished, consistent headshots for corporate teams and individuals, on location or in our Crystal Beach studio. Natural and confident, even for people who swear they don’t photograph well.
Your headshot is often your first impression. Make it count.
People decide in 1/10 s whether they trust your face. LinkedIn profiles with a photo get up to 21× more views, and a single glance predicts ~70% of elections.
A natural, confident headshot opens doors; a stiff or dated one quietly closes them. The usual culprit is a forced smile or closed-off body language, the "professional" photo that quietly turns people away.
We know how to draw the right expression and posture out of anyone, and make it fun instead of cheesy or awkward, even if you hate the camera, so your image sells you.
Hundreds photographed. One consistent standard.
Executives, whole teams and personal brands, studio and on location across the Niagara region and the GTA. Real clients, no stock, no filters.
Everything you need for a confident, consistent look
Studio quality whether we shoot in our Crystal Beach studio or set up at your office, for one person or a team of 40.
Studio or on location
Come to our Crystal Beach studio, or we bring the studio to you: your office, an expo, a gala, from Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake to the wider GTA. Same polished result either way.
Pro lighting & backgrounds
A portable studio with flattering professional lighting and a choice of backgrounds, plus background replacement if you want a specific colour or a clean cut-out.
See every frame live
Images appear instantly on a calibrated tethered screen, so everyone leaves knowing they got a shot they're proud of. Proof live on the day, or later in a private online gallery.
Direction that relaxes anyone
Warm, expert posing and prep guidance gets a natural, confident look out of everyone, not a stiff, deer-in-headlights stare. Add a hair & makeup artist on request.
Retouched live, your way
A retoucher sits with each person to pick their favourites and retouch them live, following their preferences. Natural and true to life, never plastic.
Consistent, year after year
We match your brand or the headshots you already have, and recreate the same setup across offices and years, so every new hire matches the rest of the team.
Headshot session or headshot booth
Sessions are for headshots that need care and choice. The booth is for events, where speed and your brand matter most.
Headshot sessions
Best for
- Teams of up to 40, VIPs and executives
- When everyone needs a high-res, retouched headshot
- When the whole team is taking part
What you get
- About 5 to 10 minutes with each person
- Time to pose and try different variations
- Live proofing, with retakes until they’re happy
- Retouched in a private consult, to their preferences
- No chasing people for their picks afterwards
- Full-resolution files, named for each person and sent to your company
- A free online booking link for your team
- A prep guide on clothing and makeup, sent ahead
- Matched to your brand or existing headshot style
- Studio, brand-colour or environmental backgrounds
- The same setup recreated for new hires
- Team photos, for an extra fee
Headshot booth
Best for
- Trade shows, conferences and open events
- Walk-ups, when taking part is optional
- Big crowds, at about 30 people an hour
What you get
- The same light retouch for everyone
- On their phone in minutes
- Your brand on screen and in every email
- A digital billboard at your booth
- Lead capture for your sales team
We make it easy
Most people dread headshot day. Our whole process is built to remove that, from the planning to the posing to the final files.
Plan the look
We agree on the style, background and location up front, plus prep and wardrobe tips so everyone shows up ready.
Shoot day
We arrive early, set up the portable studio and lighting, and direct every pose. You review your frames live and leave happy.
Proof & choose
Everyone gets a private online gallery to pick their favourites and tell us their retouching preferences, at their own convenience.
Retouch & deliver
We retouch naturally in-house and deliver web and print-ready files, sized for LinkedIn, your site and print, usually within a week of your selections.
The experience behind the camera
Cool Koala is an agency, so your headshot day is run by our photographers, not one person stretched across every booking. For a big leadership group we bring multiple stations and a posing specialist; for a small team, a single photographer. Either way it is briefed to one documented standard, so everyone matches whoever is behind the lens.
That standard was set by creative director Jason Haywood, an award-winning photographer who shoots our Crystal Beach studio sessions himself. On team days, our photographers run the same lighting, backgrounds and direction, so the results hold together no matter who is on the shoot.
What to wear, and how to show up ready
You don't need to be photogenic or experienced, that's our job. A little prep just makes a good headshot easier. Here's what actually helps.
Wear solid, simple colours
Solid mid-tones flatter almost everyone and keep the focus on your face. Skip busy patterns, logos and bright neons, which pull the eye and date quickly.
Bring two or three options
A layer like a blazer or jacket adds structure, and a couple of choices lets us build more than one look in a single session. When in doubt, dress one notch above your everyday.
Groom as you normally do
Fresh haircuts a few days out, not the night before. We keep retouching natural, so what you bring is what shows, and we can add a hair & makeup artist on request.
Rest and hydrate
A good sleep and some water do more for a photo than any filter. You'll look and feel sharper, and it shows in the eyes.
Think about where it'll live
LinkedIn, a company directory and a firm bio each want a slightly different feel. Tell us where the photo is going and we'll shape the look to fit.
Leave the nerves to us
Almost everyone feels awkward at first. We warm up, show you the screen early, and adjust until you see one you love. Most people are surprised how fun it is.
What clients say
“Over my career I've worked with many big agencies in Toronto and New York City and have found the quality of Jason's work superior. He makes clients feel comfortable and at ease.”
“I started using my professional photos this week and I can't believe how many messages and bookings I've received. Jason captured my brand in a picture.”
“I came for professional headshots and found so much more. Running against three other candidates, I won the seat of Ward 4 Councillor with 40% of the vote.”
From one headshot to a whole company
Teams and individuals work in completely different ways, so we price them differently. Pick the one that fits.
about $120 per person · estimate only, plus HST. Retouching is included and done live with each person, following their preferences. Advanced edits may cost more. Every team shoot is custom quoted, so this is a starting point we confirm with you.
A starting point, not a firm quote. Send it and we’ll confirm the details: extra images per person, matching an existing setup, or splitting the team across days. Over 40 people? See the headshot booth.
The whole session in our Crystal Beach studio: unlimited time and backdrops, multiple lighting setups, wardrobe changes, live proofing, and 1,000+ proofs to choose from. We don't watch the clock.
First finished image included; add any others you love. Plus HST.
One session, a whole range of looks
Most studios sell a rigid 20-minute slot and a fixed bundle. We do the opposite: one fair fee with a finished image included, unhurried time and live proofing, then add only the extra shots you love.
We shoot clean studio headshots across unlimited backdrops and lighting setups, and when the weather cooperates we head into Crystal Beach for natural-light frames too, mixing tight headshots with three-quarter and full-length shots. Bring props that tell your story and we'll work them in. You leave with plenty of variety, not ten near-identical files.
Bringing a business partner or colleague? Add a second person and you share the setup, so the second headshot comes in lower than booking two on their own.
Sessions run Tuesdays & Saturdays. Booking for your whole team instead? Switch to the team estimate above.
Headshot sessions, answered
Not sure what your team needs? A quick call is the fastest way to a clear plan and an accurate quote.
Book a free discovery call →Do you shoot in-studio or on location?＋
Both. We have a Crystal Beach studio, and we bring a full portable studio to your office, event or venue across Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Thorold, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wider GTA. We can even run outdoor natural-light and studio looks side by side, as we did for Alexion.
Can you photograph our whole team, or multiple offices?＋
Yes. Sessions suit teams of up to about 40, and we can recreate the identical setup across offices and years so everyone matches, no matter when or where they were photographed. For bigger groups or events, our headshot booth photographs about 30 people an hour.
What if I hate having my photo taken?＋
You're in good company, and it's exactly what we're good at. Warm, clear posing direction and live proofing mean you can see yourself looking natural and confident on the screen, so you leave knowing you got a shot you're happy with.
How does retouching work?＋
Naturally, and with you in the room. On team days, each person sits down with a retoucher after their shoot to proof their images live, retake anything they're not happy with, pick a favourite and have it retouched to their preferences. Everyone looks like themselves at their best, never plastic. We can also replace backgrounds so a whole team matches.
Can you add hair & makeup?＋
Yes. We can bring in a professional hair & makeup artist for individual sessions or full team days, so everyone looks camera-ready without the stress.
What should we wear?＋
Keep it simple: solid, muted colours in fabrics without loud patterns or logos photograph best, and dressing one notch above your everyday works well. Bring a couple of options if you're unsure, and for a team we'll send a short guide so everyone's look holds together.
How fast do we get our images?＋
On team days, people choose their headshot during their retouching consult, so nobody has to chase picks afterwards. Finished files, each named for the person, go to your company within about a week, ready for your website and bios. Individual clients get theirs within about a week of choosing. Need it faster for a deadline like a residency application or a launch? Tell us and we'll prioritize it.
How much does a headshot session cost?＋
It depends on the number of people, location and how many looks you want. Individual sessions start around $400, and team and event days are quoted per project. Tell us what you need and we'll send a clear, fixed quote.
