Behind The Lens
Donald Carlton
Owner, Lead Headshot Photographer
Hi, I’m Donald—your photographer.
I specialize in creating modern, professional headshots for individuals and businesses ready to elevate their image. Since opening my studio in 2010, shortly after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, I’ve photographed thousands of clients across a wide range of industries throughout San Diego and Southern California. You’ve probably seen my work on LinkedIn, in magazines, advertising campaigns, book covers, and even billboards.
When quality and service matter most, my clients count on me to deliver. With over 15 years of headshot photography experience, a degree in marketing, and a deep understanding of how expression and image influence perception, I approach every session with both creativity and strategy. You’re not just getting a photographer—you’re getting someone who understands how to craft an image that works hard for you and your brand.
Other studios may offer similar services—some even at a lower price—but I bring personal dedication, flexibility, and consistently high standards in both image quality and client experience.
Outside the studio, I co-founded a local photography workshop in 2012 and continue to teach and mentor new photographers. When I’m not working with clients or leading workshops, I’m often playing guitar, going to concerts, or traveling and capturing landscape photos. You can view some of that work at donaldcarlton.com.
I look forward to creating something great with you!
Our Team
How We Work
Step 1: Book Your Session
We offer convenient online booking! Choose your preferred headshot session below and you'll have your appointment set in no time. For group sessions, please contact us for an estimate.
Step 2: The Photoshoot
Join us in our studio or let us come to you. We provide expert guidance on posing, use soft flattering lighting to ensure you look your absolute best, and we'll review your photos with you during the session.
Step 3: Review & Select
Within a few hours after your session, we'll email you a link that provides access to your private online gallery to view and download your unedited proofs. Select your favorites and we'll get started on the retouching process.
Step 4: Retouching & Delivery
Our skilled retouchers enhance your selected images — correcting skin tone, whitening teeth, and removing stray hairs and blemishes for a polished look. Your finished headshots are delivered via a download link in a few days.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@sandiegoprofessionalheadshots.com or call us at (619) 618-8003.
Our Take On Headshots
First Impression
Your headshot is an important investment in your career and your personal brand. Whether on your website, business card, advertisement, or social media profile, a headshot is often your first impression to potential clients, employers, or casting directors.
Non-Verbal Communication
Research has proven people form immediate impressions about a person based on their appearance alone. A 2007 experiment by psychologists at Princeton University showed that 70% of the time, we can predict the winners of elections based only on looking at photos of the candidate's faces, and candidates who appear more competent and trustworthy are more likely to win elections.*
Headshots are often published in places you cannot physically be to introduce yourself, so a headshot's job is to communicate important characteristics about you in a single image without words. Non-verbal communication plays a big role in how people perceive you before they even meet you, so if you want to make a great first impression, it is crucial to have a headshot that communicates you are confident, approachable, professional, and trustworthy.
The Photographer
Unlike many other photographers, we don't shoot everything we can get our hands on like weddings, events, and family portraits. Our experience and training is focused mostly on professional headshots. We go way beyond just snapping a quick photo of you; during the session we work one-on-one with you and help you look and feel comfortable in front of the camera. Each person who steps in front of the camera is different, and therefore requires a unique combination of posing, lighting, and camera techniques to emphasize their best features and minimize others. We understand most people don’t like being in front of the camera and don’t know what to do - that’s why we coach you through body language, posing, and facial expressions to give you a confident and approachable impression and a flattering headshot you will be proud to use.
The Image
A camera is only a tool to a photographer, but we don't disappoint when it comes to image quality - in fact it’s one of our top priorities. Your headshot will be shot through a some of the sharpest and most beautiful quality lenses on the market mounted on Nikon's top professional-level DSLR cameras. Our lighting is one of the main factors that puts our image quality a step above our competitors. We use a variety of lighting equipment and techniques for different styles, but our most popular is our large lighting modifiers that provide a soft and flattering light for any subject. During the session, we shoot tethered to a computer for immediate image review and to ensure you’re satisfied with your images before you leave. Your final selections are then retouched by our professional photo retoucher to enhance the overall image and clean up unwanted hairs and blemishes.
Take this small step to improve your brand. Book your session today.
Owner | Photographer