A Chapel Hill headshot session with GKPhoto starts at $250 for The Professional: about 20 minutes, 2 retouched images and 48-hour delivery. Family mini sessions in Chapel Hill start at $225. Chapel Hill is 25 to 50 miles from Apex, so travel adds $100. Sessions in Chapel Hill are on location, not in a studio.
Headshots from
$250
Family from
$225
Delivery
48 hours for portraits
Travel
Adds $100
Headshots
Headshots in Chapel Hill, NC
GKPhoto works on location, so there is no studio to book in Chapel Hill. Sessions happen at your Chapel Hill office or at a spot we agree.
Headshot sessions in Chapel Hill
Session
Price
Time
Includes
The Professional
$250
About 20 min
1 to 2 looks, 2 retouched images
The Personal Brand
$395
About 45 min
2 to 3 outfits or backdrops, 5 retouched images, headshot plus environmental
Chapel Hill photographs best in spring and fall. The NC Botanical Garden has big-headed aster from September to November and red sumac color, Coker Arboretum lists flowering trees and bulbs in spring and fall color as a seasonal feature, and the garden is free to enter, open Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Campus photos need extra care: UNC requires written permission for commercial use and a consent form for minors.
UNC states that no image or video may be used for commercial or advertising purposes without written permission from the university; it also requires a consent form when a minor is photographed. identity.unc.edu
The NC Botanical Garden is at 100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, open Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no ticket or fee. ncbg.unc.edu
Location guide
Photo spots in Chapel Hill, one card each
The top places to take pictures in Chapel Hill are NC Botanical Garden, UNC-Chapel Hill campus and Coker Arboretum. Each of the 5 cards below carries its own permit note and source, so check the rule with the park or town before you book.
Display gardens open to the public with no admission fee.
Spring★★★★★
Summer★★★★★
Fall★★★★★
Winter★★★★★
Tip: Morning light. Heavy tree cover among the beds keeps midday workable, even in July.
Garden
Woods
Good for couples
Good for family
Good for headshots
Plan your visit
Parking
Free lot. The gates lock at 5 p.m. The main lot fills by 9:30 a.m. on weekends and during peak bloom (April, May and October). Overflow lot across Mason Farm Road with an accessible crosswalk. Source
Hours
Open Tuesday to Sunday 9 to 5. Closed Monday.
Shade
Plenty of shade
Crowds
Quiet
Permit and fees. Professional or commercial photographers (wedding, engagement, family sessions, quinceañera, headshots, marketing) must submit the garden's reservation form at least 7 days ahead. Fees: $75 for two hours for sessions with multiple pieces of equipment or an entourage; $25 for two hours for minimal equipment and 1-2 subjects; $500 per year for an annual pass. No exclusive use. Stay on lawns, paths and boardwalks, never in garden beds. No dressing rooms. Contact 919-962-0522. Display garden Tue-Sun 9-5; other areas dawn to dusk.
UNC lists visitor parking at Rams Head Deck, Morehead Planetarium Lot and Raleigh Road Lot.
Spring★★★★★
Summer★★★★★
Fall★★★★★
Winter★★★★★
Tip: Go early for fewer crowds. Dappled light on the quads can be tricky, so the spot is scouted first and you are placed where the shade is even.
Campus
Historic
Good for headshots
Good for large groups
Good for family
Check current rules
Plan your visit
Parking
Per UNC Transportation and Parking: visitor lots include Rams Head Parking Deck, Morehead Planetarium Lot and Raleigh Road Lot, plus digital meters along South and Country Club Roads. Check current rates (919-962-3951). Source
Shade
Some shade
Crowds
Busy
Permit and fees. UNC's photography page says no image or video may be used for commercial or advertising purposes without written permission, and consent forms are required for posed activities and minors. It does not state a rule for outside portrait sessions. Check current rules; University photographer Jon Gardiner, jon.gardiner@unc.edu, 919-962-6468.
Corner of Cameron Avenue and Raleigh Street, Chapel Hill (UNC campus)
Five-acre arboretum with flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennial displays; flat grit and brick paths, mostly wheelchair accessible.
Spring★★★★★
Summer★★★★★
Fall★★★★★
Winter★★★★★
Tip: Spring bloom. Shade is patchy here, so your session time is matched to where the shade falls.
Garden
Campus
Good for seniors
Good for couples
Good for headshots
Good for family
Check current rules
Plan your visit
Parking
Metered parking nearby and throughout downtown Chapel Hill, per the garden's page. Source
Hours
Open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
Access
Partly accessible
Shade
Some shade
Crowds
Moderate
Permit and fees. Run by the NC Botanical Garden, whose professional photography policy requires a reservation at least 7 days ahead and fees for paid sessions; whether it applies at Coker is not stated on the Coker page. Check current rules with 919-962-0522. The Cameron Avenue arbor path was listed as closed for renovation, with completion expected July 2026; check status.
How much does a photographer cost in Chapel Hill, NC?
Sessions in Chapel Hill start at $225 for family, $200 for graduation, $250 for headshot, before NC sales tax. The quote builder adds travel to Chapel Hill as its own line.
How much does it cost to shoot at the NC Botanical Garden?
$25 for two hours for minimal equipment and 1 or 2 subjects, $75 for two hours with multiple pieces of equipment or an entourage, or $500 a year. Submit the reservation form at least 7 days ahead. Entry to the garden is free.
Can we take senior photos on the UNC campus?
UNC says no image may be used for commercial or advertising purposes without written permission, and it requires consent forms for posed activities and minors. It states no rule for outside portrait sessions, so confirm with the University photographer before you book.
Where can we shoot if it rains in Chapel Hill?
The Carolina Inn has outdoor courtyards, and the inn is the place to ask about indoor options. Weather reschedules are always free.
What is the best spot in Chapel Hill for a toddler?
Coker Arboretum has flat grit and brick paths that are mostly wheelchair accessible, so strollers roll well. The NC Botanical Garden has no admission fee and a free lot, but the main lot fills by 9:30 a.m. on weekends, so arrive early.
Do you charge extra to travel to Chapel Hill?
Yes, $100 once per session, whatever package you pick. I send the full Chapel Hill total before you book. Dates here are set by arrangement.
