If you hear the words “Headshot Photographer” only one name leaps to mind… that’s right… Peter Hurley. And he’s with us today! Peter shares how to survive and thrive as a headshot photographer in a tough market with more opportunities than ever.
Peter began his photography career as an athlete training for the Olympic sailing squad when he was selected to do some fashion modelling. He moved behind the lens a little while later and went into business.
He now has studios in Los Angeles and New York, is world renown as the head shot photographer, teacher, author and the guy with an uncanny ability to make people instantly comfortable.
Here’s some of what we cover:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear lots more content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:
If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Peter Hurley, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
A photographer with talent can go anywhere in the world and make money – Peter Hurley
Plus, access to a members only Facebook group where you'll connect with other members (and interview guests) to help, support and motivate you to take what you hear in each episode and put it into action. You will not find a cooler, more motivated and caring photographers online.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
If you picked up a camera and you want to go pro, you milk that thing for all it's worth. You take whatever you get – Peter Hurley
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Peter or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
30 Days of Gorgeous – The Guide
In the last episode, I interviewed Amanda Schulz and we talked about her hugely successful promotion – 30 Days of Gorgeous. What I didn't know at the time of releasing the interview is Amanda has a step by step eBook on how to implement her strategy step by step.
If you can see the potential Amanda’s 30 Days of Gorgeous will have for your business, you are going to love the PDF Guide.
This Guide is available at Amanda’s Easy store for under $12 – and you should definitely buy this if you're a free listener! Premium Members received their copy free last week – thanks to Amanda.
One bad shot in your portfolio will kill you – Peter Hurley
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL and your name. I've done just that below…
A Must Listen!In iTunes by Simon Hawkins of Simon Hawkins Photography in the UK on November 26, 2015 I have been listening to Andrew’s podcast for a long while now and still can’t wait for every episode to be released, there are some amazing take-aways for every listener whether you have been in the business for 20 years or 20 minutes. Andrew is a great host and manages to find interesting guests form all over the world which add’s a little something extra. Keep up the great work Andrew! Probably the best photography business asset availableIn iTunes by RedRanz from USA on November 26, 2015 Andrew and his guests bring a wealth of knowledge pertaining to running a successful photography business. The amount of knowledge and different opinions are staggering, but it's ultimately up to you to decide which elements to implement or tweak to work for you. I do wish I could afford the monthly premiums but with my currency tanking at the moment I'll have to check in from time to time. Thanks Andrew, and all the best A must for all photographersIn iTunes by Britt Spring of Britt Spring Photography in Australia on November 24, 2015 I look forward to every podcast that arrives in my inbox. Listening to Andrews interviews have absolutely inspired me and pushed me to make important changes to my business that i have been putting off. If you are looking for real information from all types of professionals tune in to Andrew now. Special Thanks Goes to…I have to add a special thanks to Patric Pop and Anita Watkins who are both students of Peter's and members of the Headshot Crew. Both I might add are a pair of the most motivated, get stuff done, photographers I have the pleasure of knowing. Anita and Patric were unaware of my earlier contact with Peter Hurley and our scheduled interview. They were also operating alone and unaware of the other when each contacted Peter to suggest he come onto PhotoBizX for an interview with beautiful, enthusiastic emails and full of praise for the show. Peter had a great laugh at our combined three pronged approach to get him onto the show – so thank you again guys! |
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New Facebook Group for Premium Members
The new Facebook Group for Premium members has kicked off and is going amazingly well. The camaraderie, help, support, questions and answers have been overwhelmingly good.
I think the successor of the group has a lot to do with everyone's common interest to build a better photography business and the fact everyone is at a different level means the range of topics and help really has been exceptional.
Members will have noticed more and more interview guests have been joining and participating in the discussions which just adds another level of value completely.
Having the Group as part of the Premium Membership has just added a whole new level of value – I love that!
When you sign up to become a Premium members, send me a friend request via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/andyhellmich so I can find and add you to the Members Group.
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
The Headshot: The Secrets to Creating Amazing Headshot Portraits
Hold Your Sub to look slimmer in photographs!
Equipment
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Fixed Lens
Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to Peter for sharing so much in this episode.
If you've got an ounce of talent and a lot of drive, you're going somewhere. If you've got a ton of talent and zero drive you're not going anywhere – Peter Hurley
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
Awesome! Peter is a hero of mine! I am excited to join the headshot crew and learn as much as I can!
It was very cool to have him on the show!
Hope I was able to wrangle a take away or two from him and for you during the interview Amanda.
Hi Andrew
I am a long time listener.
I have to say that was one of my all time favorite interviews great job.
Ian
Awesome – thanks Ian!
Great business model here. Great interview Andrew. What a great setup Peter has.
Thanks Jerry – yes, Peter has certainly created something special.
Talking to a few of his “crew” it sounds like his approach to teaching is just as good as his photography and a lot of them are doing very well following Peter’s business model.
To clarify, Peter shoots for 1200 and gives the clients all the images, at what rez? Then if they want they can contract the individual image retouching at $45 each. Then for $300 you get all of them at high rez. Interesting.
The way I understood it – clients pay $1200 and get all the hi res (full res) images that are approved by both the client and Peter. That is the end of his service, in regards to photography.
After that, clients have their favourites retouched at $45 per image by a recommended retoucher – not sure if they are in-house but I expect so.
I’m not sure where the $300 comes from that you’re referring to?
To clarify… For $1200 you get the approved photos as high res. $300 gets you the full res images. He doesn’t do any retouching, clients are sent to Colorworksny for $45 an image.
Awesome, thanks Roman.
Are you part of the Headshot Crew or have worked/trained with Peter?
Yeah, Roman has worked with me a bunch. He’s got it right.
Thank you for this! Again, ya making me think about possible better workflows.
My pleasure Rollin 🙂
Thank you Andrew for all you do…
Peter,
Watched all of the videos you’ve posted online/YouTube. Why the change from 35mm to 645 and now back to full frame 35mm digital? As a 645 and 2 1/4 shooter (Film cause the price is right) I see the difference that lenses on larger format cameras make. Just curious why you changed back again.
Thank you for a great interview.
Bill Gray
I never owned a DSLR until I bought my 5DSr earlier last year. I was a medium format shooter pretty much from the start when I first picked up a camera in 2000. All the shooters back then when I was modeling shot medium format and I rarely remember shooting a job where the photographer used a 35mm. So I went straight to 645 and shot that until I bought a back for my Contax 645 in 2004. Didn’t own a DSLR until the Canon 5DSr purchase, so hadn’t shot it at all really over the course of my career. I tested that camera when it was first to arrive in the US and loved the look of the files off of it. I’ve been shooting it ever since and just simplified my entire operation. I used to lug around a full case of MF lenses and bodies and now I just go with that body a backup 5D mark iii and 2 lenses pretty much. 24-70 and 70-200. Just losing all that weight was worth it and my clients love the work, so no sweat in the quality or look of it dept.