Kristina Sherk Photography (DC)
Award-winning DC headshot photographer known for expert retouching and polished results
Overview
Kristina Sherk is an award-winning headshot photographer based in Washington, DC, known for her expert retouching skills and polished final images. Her technical mastery ensures every image looks flawless while remaining natural and authentic.
Sessions combine beautiful lighting with Kristina's signature retouching expertise. She is particularly skilled at making actors look their best while keeping the final images honest and true to life.
How It Works
Kristina serves actors, corporate professionals, and public figures in the DC metro area. Her reputation for technical excellence extends beyond acting circles, making her a trusted name for anyone who needs a professional portrait.
Sessions are priced between $350 and $500, reflecting her award-winning expertise and the premium quality of her retouching. Packages include beautifully finished digital images.
Who Uses It
Ideal for DC-area actors who want headshots with expert retouching and a polished final product. Kristina's technical skill ensures images that look stunning in any format, from casting platform thumbnails to full-size prints.
Pricing & Plans
Kristina Sherk's sessions are priced between $350 and $500, reflecting her award-winning expertise and the premium quality of her post-production work. Her portfolio and booking information are available at kristinasherk.com. Packages include beautifully retouched digital images with the kind of expert post-processing that other photographers charge separately for. Kristina's pricing is competitive for the DC market, particularly given the award-winning quality and technical mastery she brings. For actors who want flawless final images without hiring a separate retoucher, Kristina's all-inclusive pricing represents genuine value. Her retouching expertise alone would cost hundreds of dollars if purchased as a standalone service.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Kristina's most distinctive advantage is her retouching expertise, which is genuinely at a professional level that few headshot photographers can match — her post-processing produces images that look flawless while maintaining the natural, honest quality that casting directors demand. Her award-winning status provides third-party validation of her technical excellence and gives her work added credibility with clients and industry professionals. Kristina's dual skill as both photographer and retoucher means the final images are cohesive and intentional, with the retouching enhancing rather than contradicting the photographer's original vision. Her work with both actors and corporate professionals in the DC area gives her a broad experience base that translates to versatility in the studio. The polished quality of her final images means they perform exceptionally well across all formats and display sizes.
What Could Be Better
Kristina's polished, expertly retouched aesthetic may produce images that feel too perfect for actors who prefer a raw, natural, minimally processed look. Her DC base means she is not embedded in the primary entertainment industry markets of New York or Los Angeles, which may limit her specific understanding of what those markets' casting directors prioritize. The expert retouching, while technically impressive, can occasionally cross the line into making actors look too polished compared to how they appear in person, which can create issues in audition rooms. Her $350 to $500 pricing, while fair for her quality, is at the premium end of the DC market where many actors have tighter budgets than their coastal counterparts. Actors who need an extensive coaching-driven session may find that Kristina's focus on technical and retouching excellence does not include the same depth of actor direction as photographers who specialize exclusively in that aspect.
Our Recommendation
Kristina Sherk is the ideal choice for DC-area actors who want headshots with impeccable technical quality and expert retouching that makes them look their absolute best while remaining natural and authentic. She is particularly well-suited for actors who also need corporate or professional headshots, as her polished aesthetic serves both entertainment and business contexts equally well. Actors who have been disappointed by the retouching quality from other photographers will appreciate Kristina's mastery of post-production. Actors who prefer a raw, unprocessed look should choose photographers who take a more minimalist approach to retouching. If you are a DC actor primarily submitting to New York or LA casting directors, consider whether supplementary headshots from a photographer in those markets would strengthen your submissions.
Pro Tips
Before your session, review Kristina's portfolio at kristinasherk.com to identify the specific level of retouching polish you want for your own images — she can calibrate her post-processing from subtle skin refinement to more comprehensive retouching based on your preferences. Communicate any specific skin concerns or features you want addressed in retouching so Kristina can plan her approach during both the photography and post-production phases. Bring wardrobe in solid, rich colors that provide a clean canvas for her expert lighting and retouching work — busy patterns and extreme textures can complicate the retouching process without adding value. If you need images for both acting and corporate or professional use, discuss both needs before the session so Kristina can plan looks that serve each context effectively. Take advantage of the DC market's lower competition by updating your headshots more frequently than actors in more expensive markets might — fresh, current images always give you a competitive edge.