If part of your business is portrait photography, this is for you. Even if you are thinking of adding it to your portfolio, you should check out these essential tips and tricks because if you are a commercial photographer you can increase your average spend. customer satisfaction by providing this essential service.
1. Have a great reservation system to send information about what your clients need to do to prepare for their upcoming shoot. I use calendar (there is a free version and a paid version). I send a few paragraphs telling clients what to expect from them, what they should expect from me, my fees, payment methods, and how to prepare for the best photos. Personal and fashion makeup tips should also be included, as you always want your clients to look their best, as this will reflect in your images. It’s easier for them to read about upper lip bleaching and nose and ear hair removal than talking to them directly, as it may or may not apply to them, but show you have considered everyone.
2. Don’t take pictures as soon as people enter your studio or space. Talk to them, make coffee, tea, whatever. Talk to them about where they will use the images and whether they will use them with text copied to the left or right. Look at the clothes they carry and help them choose the first outfit to shoot. Reassure them if they break out. It happens to the best of us, and rarely does anyone appear to be perfect. This is important, as people will feel more comfortable with people they like and trust.
3. Find a style and stick with it. i use three Godox AD200 with bulb head on one Godox S2 Speedlite Light Holder for Bowens. I use Godox strip box, because they are cheap but good quality and give good diffusibility. I turn on the guide light so that the eyes adjust to the light and we see more colors in the eyes. They are set up in a triangular configuration with the top two sections of the triangle at 1/16 power and the bottom horizontal strip box set at 1/32. Mine Canon EOS CHEAP is set at f/4-5.6 at around ISO 200 and 1/160 second shutter speed per Canon 100mm f/2.8L . Macro Lens. I always use a tripod and the kit I choose in the studio is Manfrotto MK290XTA3-3WUS 290 Xtra Aluminum Tripod with 3-Way Rotating/Tilt Head 804. I capture tethered using a Tether Tool Cable TetherPro USB Type-C Male to USB Type-C Male and edited to Adobe Lightroom Classic. You can also use Capture One, because tethering is better there, but I prefer using Lightroom.
4. Good at making jokes. The face is a chart that represents people’s emotions, concerns, and worries. The best way I’ve found to get beautiful, expressive photos is to make people smile and shoot through the smile. I mean, first, let’s start by understanding the main stages of facial expressions. While the initial energy is in the face when they hear something funny, they can throw their heads back and laugh, followed by a cooldown. The energy remains on the face for a second or two, and this is the target you want to capture, as this is the most impressive part. The final stage is when the face returns to its expression before making them smile or smile. Being good at making people laugh will put them at ease and bring out their individuality. Plus, you’ll get some incredibly expressive and amazing shots that will leave everyone in awe. Remember, most people will never see themselves like this.
5. Use an app or a notebook if you’re not good at coming up with things to say to people. I recommend Peter Hurley’s Hurdles. It’s a great way to have immediate access to some fun things to say if you’re stumped, and it will get you in the habit of thinking up things that will eventually lead you to developing your style and manner of speaking. own joke.
6. Well trained. I suggest Headshot: The secret to creating great portraits from Headshot. That’s what got me working out with Peter Hurley in London when I did Headshot Intensive training a few years ago. It really took me on a different path, creating an additional source of income that helped me earn a decent amount each year.
7. Advertise on LinkedIn. Most of the clients that will need a great headshot will be found there. Use portraits you’ve taken in the past to promote new clients. Write a blog about how a killer headshot will raise people’s profiles that they can use on their website and social media.
8. For the price, large companies will tend to want all of their employees to be photographed at the same time so they can refresh their website or even employee badges, so be sure to give them yours. They offer daily rates as well as the option of a rate session and prices for editing the selected image. Session cost is usually what I charge for a two-hour session, and then I charge for each edited image. For business sessions with lots of clients, you can still have a full day or half day rate, but you should spend at least 30 minutes with each employee to get the best shots of them. Don’t try to push people through, or you will run into unhappy customers and it will be difficult to get repeat bookings or even make them choose more than once.
9. When your session is over, have the customer sit down, make them a cup of coffee and allow them to choose their image. If I took about 200-250 photos in a two-hour session, most people choose about 20-25 photos to buy. They are edited and uploaded to my finished client platform. I also upload all the unedited images to another gallery and notify every client that for every recommendation I receive for them, as soon as a new client signs up, I allow them to choose one. images from unedited gallery to edit and keep free of charge. This is a good referral system, as it uses people who are already satisfied with their image that I will not sell, and it would be nice to be able to reward those who have referred you.
10. Partner with a local hair and makeup stylist. A lot of clients will do their own hair and makeup, but offering the service at an additional upfront cost will make the experience more enjoyable for everyone and make the treatment even more special. little. You can work with a referral fee from your hair and makeup artist and earn extra income from this session.
Hopefully this will give you a little insight into how I run my live business.
