If capturing face photos is part of your business, then this is for you. Even if you’re thinking of adding it to your portfolio, these essential tips and tricks are worth checking out, because if you’re a commercial photographer, you can increase your clients’ average spend by offering this essential service.
1. Have a great booking system that sends information about what your clients need to do to prepare for their next session. I use Calendy (there is a free version and a paid version available). I send out a few paragraphs telling clients what I expect from them, what they should expect from me, my rates, payment methods, and also how to prepare to get the best shots. Fashion and grooming tips should also be included as you always want your clients to look their best as this will reflect in their pictures. It’s easier for them to read about bleaching their upper lip and plucking loose nose and ear hair than it is to talk to them in person about it, as it may or may not apply to them, but it shows that you’ve considered everyone.
2. Don’t take photos as soon as people enter your studio or space. Talk to them, make them coffee, tea, whatever. Talk to them about where they will use the images and if they will use them with left or right copy text. Look at the clothes they have brought and help them choose the first outfit to photograph. Reassure them if they have shown up with a pimple from hell. It happens to the best of us, and rarely does someone immaculate appear. This is important, as people will feel more relaxed around people they like and trust.
3. As for the kit, find a style and stick with it. I use three Godox AD200 with the bulb head on a Godox S2 Speedlite Bracket for Bowens. I use Godox strip boxes as they are cheap but good quality and give a good amount of spread. I turn on the guide lights so that the eyes adjust to the light and we see more of the color in the eye. They are set in a triangle configuration with the top two parts of the triangle at a 1/16 power and the bottom horizontal strip box set at 1/32. My Canon EOS R is set to f/4-5.6 with around ISO 200 and a shutter speed of 1/160 per second on a Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens. I always use a tripod, and my gear of choice in the studio is a Manfrotto MK290XTA3-3WUS 290 Xtra Aluminum Tripod with the 804 3-way pan/tilt head. I shoot tethered with a Tether Tools TetherPro USB Type-C male to USB Type-C male and I edit in Adobe Lightroom Classic. You can also use Capture One as the connection is better, but I prefer to use Lightroom.
4. Be good at joking. The face is a map of expression of people’s feelings, worries and worries. The best way I have found to get great expressive photos is to make people laugh and shoot through the smile. By that I mean, first, start by understanding the key stages of facial expression. During the initial energy in the face hearing something funny, they may tilt their heads back and laugh, and then the cool down comes. The energy still resides in the face for a second or two, and this is what you are trying to capture, as this is the most impressive part. The final stage is where the face returns to the expression before what made them laugh or smile. Being good at making people laugh puts them at ease and brings out your personality. Plus, you get some incredibly expressive and jaw-dropping photos that will blow people away. Remember, most people will never have seen themselves like this.
5. Use an app or notepad if you’re not good at coming up with things to say to people. I recommend Hurleyisms by Peter Hurley. It’s a good way to have instant access to some funny things to say if you freeze up, and it will get you used to thinking about things that will eventually lead you to develop your own jokes and style.
6. Get a good workout. I highly recommend The Headshot: The Secrets to Creating Incredible Headshot Portraits. It’s what led me to train with Peter Hurley in London when I took the Headshot intensive training a few years ago. It really took me down another path, generating an additional income stream that earns me a decent amount every year.
7. Advertising on LinkedIn. Most of the clients who are going to need a great portrait will find themselves there. Use face photos you’ve taken in the past to advertise new clients. Write a blog about how a shocking headshot will increase people’s profiles that they can use on your website and social media.
8. When it comes to pricing, large companies will tend to want to photograph all of their employees at the same time, perhaps to update the website or even get employee badges, so remember to price them on a daily rate as well as the option of a session. rate and price for the edition of the chosen images. The cost of the session is usually what I charge for a single two hour session, and then I charge per edited image. For trading sessions with multiple clients, you can still have a full or half day rate, but you should spend at least 30 minutes with each staff member to get the best shots of them. Don’t try to rush everyone, or you’ll end up with unhappy customers and it’s unlikely you’ll get a repeat booking or even more than one option.
9. Once the session is over, seat the client, make them a cup of coffee, and let them choose their images. If I have taken around 200-250 images in a two hour session then most people choose around 20-25 images to purchase. These are edited and uploaded to my end client platform. I also upload all the raw images to another gallery and inform each client that for every referral I get thanks to them, as soon as the new client books, I let them choose one image from the raw gallery to edit and keep free. of charge. This is a good referral system as it uses people who are already happy with your otherwise unsellable images, and it’s nice to be able to reward people for referring you.
10. Partner with a local makeup artist and stylist. Many clients will do their own hair and makeup, but offering the service at an additional cost upfront makes this more of an experience for people and makes the session that little bit more special. You can work on a referral fee from your hair and makeup artist and earn additional income from the session.
Hopefully this will give you a little insight into how I run my portrait business.
Source: news.google.com