How To Save Money with Business Travel Headshots

How to save money with business travel during the current Canada–U.S. trade relationship. Looming tariffs threaten everything from auto parts to softwood lumber. But for American professionals travelling to Canada, whether for meetings, events, or a summer escape, there’s a lesser-known opportunity quietly sitting in plain sight: save money with business travel by booking headshots and branding photos.

This blog isn’t about geopolitics. It’s about how the rising tension between governments might ironically benefit professionals on both sides of the border. If you’re a U.S.-based executive, entrepreneur, or remote worker visiting cities like Vancouver or Toronto, you might be sitting on a 30% discount you didn’t even know existed.

I will show you how to take advantage of Canada’s weaker dollar and save money with business travel headshots and branding photos!

The Canada–U.S. Trade Standoff: A Quick Recap

This past week, negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have become increasingly strained, with Politico reporting that high-level meetings have stalled amid rising political tension. American negotiators are considering new tariffs on Canadian aluminum, timber, and agricultural products. Canada is preparing to retaliate.

For consumers, this could mean higher prices on everything from construction materials to groceries. For business leaders, it’s a sign of growing uncertainty about the two countries’ economic future.

But while governments wrangle over policy and percentages, savvy professionals are able to use the power of the U.S. dollar to their advantage while travelling in Canada.

Why Now Is a Smart Time to Invest in Your Image 

The U.S. Dollar Advantage: How the Exchange Rate Works in Your Favour

Today (July 30th, 2025), the Canadian dollar is hovering around 72 cents to the U.S. dollar. That means for every $100 USD you spend in Canada, you’re getting about $138 CAD in value. It’s like a built-in sale, and it applies to everything! Consumer goods like Lavoh Face Cloths, meals, lodging, and yes, even headshots.

So if you’ve been thinking about refreshing your LinkedIn profile, updating your website bio, or launching a new brand, getting a photoshoot while you’re in Canada could save you hundreds, without compromising quality.

A Creative Way to Maximize Business Travel

Let’s say you’re attending a conference in Vancouver. You’ve already booked the flight and hotel. Why not block out an hour in your schedule to get a professional headshot or extend your trip for a full day of branding photos while you’re here?

You’re not just saving money, you’re maximizing time. For many American professionals, having their headshot done in Canada isn’t just cheaper, it’s logistically easier. No need to carve out time during an already-packed workweek back home. Instead, you get to show up, get comfortable, and leave with a set of high-quality images that reflect your current role, style, and goals.

What Makes Canada (and Vancouver in Particular) a Great Place for Personal Branding Photos

As someone who photographs hundreds of executives and entrepreneurs a year, I’ve seen firsthand how Canadian cities, especially Vancouver, offer a unique blend of natural beauty, urban design, and professional settings that make for standout photos.

Diverse Backdrops in One Shoot

Whether you want your photo in a modern glass office, surrounded by West Coast greenery, or against a neutral studio backdrop that keeps the focus on your expression, it’s all here. Often in the same neighbourhood.

A Reputation for Creative Excellence

Vancouver photographers punch above their weight in the creative space. As a corporate and commercial photographer working with some of the largest companies in Canada, I’ve developed a workflow that combines bold visual creativity with business savvy. My goal? Make you look like the confident, credible, and modern professional you are. I listen to your goals and create a strategy through photography to get you one step closer to achieving your goals.

Real-World Examples

How a U.S. Executive Saved Money and Boosted Their Brand with Headshots

A few months ago, I worked with a tech startup executive visiting Vancouver from San Francisco. He had a packed schedule. Pitch meetings, networking, a speaking engagement and some sightseeing. He also squeezed in a 45-minute headshot session at my East Vancouver studio.

He later told me that not only did he save nearly $230 compared to what his company typically paid for headshots because of the USD-CND conversion rate, but he also received compliments on LinkedIn within hours of updating his profile photo.

He used his travel time not just to meet investors, but to upgrade his digital presence. And he looked good doing it.

Canadian Domestic Tourism is Strong as Canadian’s Boycott U.S. Travel

Canadian’s can also take advantage of business tourism by booking professional services while travelling. Canadians may not get a discount with the conversion rate, but you can still write off a portion of your family summer vacation. (Consult a professional CPA)

Aaron from Ignite Web Design recently travelled from Edmonton to Vancouver and booked professional headshots at my East Vancouver studio while visiting clients. It’s a smart move more Canadian entrepreneurs are making. Using domestic travel to build their brand, refresh LinkedIn headshots, and write off part of the trip as a business expense. While Canadian tourism gets a summer lift as the U.S. travel boycott goes on, combining business and pleasure is a savvy way to save and grow.

Why a Strong Headshot Is More Important Than Ever

First Impressions Happen Online

Before a single word of your résumé is read, your headshot is doing the talking. And let’s be honest: if your current profile photo is more than three years old—or worse, a cropped wedding photo—you’re not putting your best face forward.

As LinkedIn’s own research shows, profiles with photos receive 21x more views and 36x more messages. A great headshot is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a career asset. Here is an article from LinkedIn on headshot Tips.

Remote Work Has Changed the Rules

Whether you’re based in New York or Nashville, chances are your clients, partners, or teams are scattered around the world. In a digital-first work culture, your headshot might be the only “face-to-face” interaction someone has with you before a meeting or call.

That makes it more important than ever to present yourself as polished, approachable, and aligned with your professional goals.

What to Expect with a Vancouver Headshot Session

If you’re considering a photoshoot while visiting Vancouver, here’s what a typical session at my studio looks like:

• Prep guidance: I’ll help you choose outfits, backgrounds, and styling that align with your industry.

• Flexible scheduling: Whether you’re flying in for two days or squeezing it between meetings, we’ll find a time that works.

• Full-resolution digital files: Delivered fast, ready for LinkedIn, company bios, press kits, or speaking engagements.

• Clear pricing in CAD—so you know exactly what you’re saving when converting from USD.

Final Thoughts: When Trade Tensions Help Your Brand

Canada–U.S. trade tensions aren’t ideal for most businesses. But when you look closer, there’s an opportunity hidden in the economic noise. Whether you’re here for work, vacation, or both, adding a headshot session to your itinerary could be the smartest cross-border decision you make all year.

Because when things get chaotic at the macro level, it’s the small, strategic moves that really count.

And investing in your image? That’s a move that pays off in any economy.