Headshot Photography Session FAQ

+ What is your shooting philosophy? How do you approach the shoot itself? What is your personality like during shoots?

This is very important because it only helps if clients know what to expect going into the shoot. Once in a while people get in their head and they're thinking "why is this guy so calm, why are things going so smooth" and people overthink it WAY too much.

The way I approach headshots comes down to acknowledging and adhering to what I consider three facts about headshots:

• the subject needs to be COMPLETELY comfortable. Comfortable enough doesn’t cut it. “I think they’re comfortable because they say they’re comfortable” isn’t good enough. The subjects need to feel as if they can do anything without judgement or without being looked at.
• Expressions need to be natural. I’d rather take shots that have lesser variety of expression that are true to the subject than waste time trying to force a bunch of expressions for the sake of “variety” when you know damn well you’re probably going to use one of the more subtle shots anyway.
• It needs to be done as quickly as possible; with as little wasted time and mistakes as possible because the subject will get fatigued otherwise.

To accomplish the first thing; the actor is never going to be fully comfortable if I’m spending the shoot telling them what they’re doing wrong.

Of COURSE I’m going to give feedback if things are obviously wrong; hair, makeup, wardrobe are things that I get really focused on. But I’m not going to nitpick, I don’t make comments on people’s appearance and if someone looks uncomfortable I’m not going to say “wow you look uncomfortable”. That’s something a LAZY photographer would do because they lack the emotional intelligence to make the environment comfortable for the subject in the first place. OR they don’t understand how they can redirect the situation to make someone comfortable so they just dump the issues with the shoot on the subject.

Also; I'm not your acting coach. I'm not here to critique your career. That should be done another day, expecting to do that on the day you're getting pictures taken of yourself is a crazy thing. Your headspace shows through the pictures.

There’s an alternative way to do things; I provide a calm, peaceful, confident energy for people to feed off of, positive feedback and a LOT of patience. This is why I don’t recommend the 30 minute session to new clients. I’d rather patiently wait for 20-30 minutes for the subject to settle into a shoot than try to dance around and do a bunch of games to get a good expression out of them. How is someone going to settle in if I'm immediately pointing out their flaws? It doesn't matter how nice I say it; subconsciously it says to the subject “I must be doing really bad if he needs to do all that to make it work”. The subject starts to do WORSE and whatever naturalness they have disappears because they start to rely completely on me for the expression because at this point they’re checked out.

That said; my general style is DEFINITELY different from other photographers and I think you can probably understand this just by looking at my portfolio. I’m VERY focused during a shoot. I’m actually changing the lighting, changing the background, changing the depth of field and making sure each look really speaks on its own. I'm a true photographer by the core. I’m not just keeping the same light up on the same settings while swapping out the background paper. All the while, I have a razor sharp eye on wardrobe, hair, makeup, demeanor and expression. I approach this very similar to how I approached my previous career as a Fire Command Officer.

However; I’m just not the “loud/obnoxious” guy. I’m not going to pressure you or guilt-trip you into having fun. I’m calm, steady, focused, confident and empowering the person I’m working with. I'm really making sure I'm not overwhelming you and just being chill and present for you. I’m chatting the whole time and having a conversation because I want the subject to be distracted (and not feel like they just standing there in front of a camera).

This is also why I'm not crazy about clients bringing people to the shoot. Clients can bring anyone they want because they're adults and they can make their own decisions, but most guests just don't understand these dynamics and how to ACTUALLY get the best out of someone. The most COMMON example is when people start out flat (everyone starts flat, it's totally okay), and the guest IMMEDIATELY points it out. They literally just completely ruined my process and my ability to use patience/care to let the person settle in and be natural. Worse yet; when the guest feels the need to stare at the subject while they're taking pictures. I've seen agents/managers do this but it's also pretty common for parents to do it as well. I'm not sure who's going to be completely themself and uninhibited with their parents staring at them, but clients live & die by their decisions. There's more information on this in my guide, and bringing a guest isn't ALWAYS a bad idea, but the analogy is worth noting. You really need to have an amazing relationship with the guest and that relationship needs to be used to collaboration with your career for it to work, and it does work quite well in those situations.

The process works for 99.9% of my clients because they can just feel this by looking at my portfolio and that’s why they’re drawn to work with me but it DOESN’T work for the general public. If you feel like you absolutely need a high energy, load environment and you prioritize it over the final result, that's totally okay but I’m not your person. My process ONLY works if the subject trusts me.

+ Do you provide or recommend a hair/makeup artist? Can I bring a makeup artist?

I have a referral list for hair and makeup- this is extremely underrated, but it’s one of the biggest perks of working with me. Since I don’t set the makeup artist’s rates, I can work with pretty much anyone I want to. My referral list is full of extremely talented artists who do outstanding work, have VAST experience shooting headshots, will find a replacement for you if anything happens, do natural makeup, and can work on ALL skin types with ease. AND you get to pick the person you vibe with, you’re not stuck with the person who happens to be at the studio. Prices range from $125 to $400. The people I recommend are INCREDIBLE people, with great talent and very fair prices, and I really don't recommend booking someone not on my list. The people I recommend will also find replacements for you in case they can't make the shoot. I take responsibility for them. In the very rare case that they cancel at the last minute and we can't get a replacement, I'll get you rescheduled, and you will not be penalized for that. I do not take responsibility for makeup artists who are not on my list, so keep that in mind if you're bringing someone outside of my recommendations.

In general, my policy is to do whatever I can to help you while you contact makeup artists on my list. If you need to move your session time a little to make it work with an artist you really want to work with, I'll do my very best to make it work. I can reschedule you completely with two weeks' notice. If this is intimidating for any reason, email my assistant, and we will be happy to assist. If you decide that at the very last minute you want a makeup artist, that's not very smart, but we'll still help get someone in for you ASAP as long as it's within my assistant's hours (I respect her free time so much that I've literally never contacted her on a weekend). Please keep in mind, the makeup artists I work with are booked too; they're awesome and in high demand, don't wait until last minute.

Regarding makeup; if during the shoot there’s something you don’t like, you need to tell us, and please trust me that this is NOT a bad thing at all. We actually expect this, and it’s quite routine, honestly. Makeup is personal, and we are here for YOU. The artists on my list are NOT here to make a statement; they all genuinely want you to feel like yourself, and that’s why I love them. Adjustments are easy to make and if you don’t even know what you want changed, we’ll use our expertise to try to figure out what it is.

I do recommend makeup artists for a few situations:

• If you’re someone who feels more like themselves while wearing makeup (this is common and totally acceptable!)

• If you can afford and prefer the convenience of having someone do hair/makeup

• If your looks require specific hair/makeup that you’re not capable of doing yourself

• If your manager wants you to hire a HMUA.

• If you’re looking for personal branding photos for your website/social media. Good hair/makeup will REALLY help these photos pop!

• If you want your photos to have an extra "pop"

• If you just want to look good or you're doing stuff more for PR/Social media, its needed for studio shoots

+ Do sessions require a retainer? Am I allowed to reschedule?

Every session requires a retainer to hold the date. For all headshot sessions, I require a 50% retainer. It’s important to note that retainers are not refundable once you commit. The retainer will be forfeited in the case of a cancellation, lateness beyond 30 minutes, or no-shows. You may reschedule the session once with at least 7 days (168 hours from the appointment time) notice and apply the retainer to the rescheduled date. Rescheduling in my 7-day window from the shoot date incurs a $150 rescheduling fee. It’s important to note that the rescheduling fee is implemented so you do NOT lose your retainer. Instead of unreasonably taking the full retainer, I created the rescheduling fee to be a fair middle ground.

If you reschedule the day of or the day before the shoot, your retainer will be forfeited, and you will have to book a completely new appointment

Bereavement for immediate family is considered on a case-by-case basis for obvious reasons, as it’s very weird to put a time frame on that- but I’m going to do everything I can to help there.

I will not hold a new date until the rescheduling fee is paid. You may only reschedule the shoot once. If you can’t show up to the second date, you will forfeit the retainer. Those who reschedule are highly likely to do so again. If the session is more than a month out, it won’t count towards the previously stated allotment. I can still easily fill those slots.

You have 30 days to pick a new appointment date once you notify me of your intent to reschedule. If there’s some kind of hold up, please let me know so my assistant and I can help.

You can make any adjustments or cancel the shoot (with retainer returned) within 24 hours of the time of booking.

05/20/2026 update: I’m just realizing that I’ve never had a policy for what happens if I cancel or reschedule on YOU. I’ve never had a policy for the simple reason that after 1,500 shoots, I’ve quite literally never rescheduled/canceled on someone at the last minute. If I ask you to cancel/reschedule your shoot at ALL and you can’t make it to ANY new time, I will pay you back the cost of the retainer. But I’ll do whatever I can to get you into a new slot, even if it needs to be after hours or on my days off. Dead simple. I respect your time; hopefully, the same is returned. I understand that you’re making arrangements as well. If I’m asking to cancel or reschedule without exception, something very serious has happened, or I’m very sick.

When you create the appointment, you must acknowledge that you understand all of these policies. I cannot provide a refund to people who did NOT read the FAQ and later decide they disagree with the policies after booking. If you are unsure about anything, please email me.

Understanding Policies:

When you book a session, I stop offering that time to anyone else. Unlike a product, that appointment cannot be resold after the date passes. Because headshots require clients to coordinate haircuts, wardrobe, makeup, and schedules in advance, last-minute openings are difficult to refill. The retainer protects the reserved time, not just the final photos. I’m not packing in as many actors as I can like an assembly line, and rescheduling/cancellations affect me more because of that- there are simply fewer slots to absorb the hit.

You may reschedule once with at least 7 days’ notice at no charge because that still gives me a realistic chance to refill the spot. Rescheduling within 7 days creates a high risk that the original appointment will go unused, so there is a $150 rescheduling fee. This lets you keep your retainer rather than losing it completely.

Day-before and same-day cancellations are treated as cancellations because the session time cannot be filled that late.

+ What is a look? Does layering count?

A look is one top, lighting and one background combination. In general, I consider adding or removing a layer to be a new look. I've had people really take advantage of that when I accepted layering. HOWEVER; I do apply common sense here: if the addition or subtraction of the layer isn't accompanied by a hair or makeup change and it doesn't change the essence of the shot much- I'd consider it fine. Think- a profesional look where a blazer is removed, totally fine. BUT if the blazer is removed with the goal of changing the vibe from professional to editorial, that's a new look. There's some grey area with these, ultimately it's up to my discretion but I'm quite fair and it's not really my goal to give people a hard time for no reason.

+ Is there a time limit on looks based sessions?

Yes, typically I'm doing multiple shoots per day (2 or 3) so we don't have unlimted time for each shoot, we'll both get fatigued and it's not fair for my other clients.** However; the goal of the looks based sessions are to not feel as time crunched as time based sessions**, so if you do have concerns that your plan may take longer (a lot of hair/makeup changes for instance) just let me know beforehand and I'll try to adjust my schedule accordingly by seeing if I can slot you in earlier or later. I avoid client overlap at all costs, while common in the industry, I think it's unacceptable to have someone coming in while you're still shooting and doing so requires not overbooking and good schedule management- so please keep me posted!

+ How do you help clients prepare for their shoot? What are your wardrobe recommendations? What do you recommend would help me get ready for my session?

All clients who book with me receive my guide, which covers everything I can think of.

This is an easier way to do things because there is SO MUCH info that I have available that I would be on the phone for hours with each client if I were to consult each person individually.

That is TOO MUCH information for someone to take in at once, so I have everything written down in a guide that clients can access at their convenience.

The guide works for everyone, whether it's their first session or if they've been doing headshots for years. If you've been doing this for years, please don't overlook it. If you have your process and know what you're doing, I respect that but at least take a glance at it. I constantly update the guide if I find any bit of knowledge that can be of help. Clients that don't read the guide end up being dramatically unprepared compared to the ones that do. I don't even need to ask if people have read it or not because I know.

In short, the guide covers the following:

Creative direction Wardrobe Hair/Makeup Hiring Professional Hair/Makeup Posing

If you have more specific questions I'm more than happy to answer those! That's what I'm here for! I often pick out wardrobe once I can actually see it in person and give makeup advice if I feel like something can be better.

I just can't direct or dictate your shoot from scratch.

I also ask/request for moodboards before each shoot; these are optional but the more detail the better. It's not required and if you just screenshot a few shots you like from my portfolio that helps WAY more than nothing. I also love to see old headshots or just general pictures of you so I can get an idea of what worked in the past and what didn't and start a little bit of a color analysis. I can't do a full color analysis until you're in my studio with my lighting, it's just too hard to do accurately and a wrong result will steer you wrong. Before each shoot I'm studying that moodboard and photos and the questions on your appointment form so I can be prepared. I have a slightly annoying request about clients not showing up before their appointment time and this is excatly why. I'm usually spending that time digging into all their info so it's as fresh in my head as possible.

+ What is the difference between editing and retouching?

Okay, honestly kind of sad that I even have to address this because this hasn't been a big issue until recently. But there are photographers in LA telling clients that they are giving them "unedited" photos and they've clearly been edited. It's just flat out wrong information, very misleading, and as you'd expect that's pretty dang confusing for people. But the short, simple versions:

Editing: any color, lighting adjustments, sharpening and all other basic adjustments usually done in Lightroom or Capture One. Also called color grading. All my photos come edited. They will not be unretouched

Retouching: more advanced form of editing, also known as photoshopping, usually sold indiviually or part of a package. This includes blemish removal, teeth whitening, skin smoothing, eye enhancement and all other more detailed, individiual tweaks in photoshop. This gives images a nice final polish- more information can be found on retouching below.

+ How much does retouching cost, do any of the sessions include retouching?

Retouching is a flat rate of $30 per image. To keep my prices lower than everyone else in the same tier of quality, I don't include any retouches with any session.

As of 2026- my process, recommendation and view on retouching has changed a LOT. I actually now highly recommend retouching for all images. The lighting and style I use now has more definition, realism and more of an overall pop; but with more depth it tend to emphasize more flaws (under eye, side lighting empahizing bumps etc). The opposite would be flat lighting, but its hard for a flat image to look good and espically to stand out. Even unretouched, people react more positively to the images with depth/pop/flaws than images that are flat and but more clean.

Additionally with the rise of AI slop and garbage retouching found everywhere, I do it myself now and do it very detailed so it doesn't look fake. I'm not focused on creating a look with retouching, AI slop has made realism more coveted than ever. My goal is to reduce micro distractions in the image to the point that it polishes up extremly well and has a really professional, real result. The big things I'm looking for- pimples, flakes, marks that arent natural, undereye, werid transitions in lighting (espically side lit and dramatic shots) hairs that stick out too much (not always flyaways though as they can be natural) veins in eyes, localized skin tone issues and whitening yellow teeth. IF it's possible to do more advanced color grading I will do that as well- this is more rare though.

BIG CAVEAT: IF you're someone who prefers a heavier hand with retouching please let me know first. I don't mind at all- it's actaully easier to do a heavy retouch vs a suble one and I'm happy to do what makes you happy.

At $30 it's a heck of deal and this is something that bogs up a LOT of my time. I think clients deserve retouching that's accessible price wise, so I remain committed to doing it at a low price point and doing it myself. That said, I can't discount at all, not even bundles.

IF you know how to retouch or if you have retouchers you work with, that's actually fine by me. It's not recommended but my goal is always to not make things more difficult than it needs to be and to have common sense policies.

+ Do you do any model shoots? PR type shoots?

In general, not for random people. I prefer to work with actors, and my studio is currently set up specifically for headshots. That said, if I've worked with you before and you need some PR shots, there's a good chance that I'd be able to work something out for you! Just email me, and we can set that up. Heck, even if you're a friend of a client who has a good relationship with me, that's enough. It's a lot of fun! This is where my 35mm or medium format film offerings REALLY shine.

If you're already in a modeling agency and you were referred to me, please feel free to reach out to me! I always love working with quality referrals.

I just try to avoid doing model/PR shoots for entirely random people because it's always disastrous (people trying to take advantage of my pricing because photographers who focus on models charge more because it's a more involved process).

+ Can you waive the rescheduling fee?

I can waive the rescheduling fee if you find a replacement for your session!

The policies regarding deposits and rescheduling are extremely strict, there are no exceptions whatsoever. All of my deliverables and policies are extremely actor friendly, especially when you start comparing them to other studios. I just expect people to show up to a time they committed to and be on time. With my previous career, if I was a signle minute late I would automatically get written up. That previous career gave me the tools both mentally and physically to be here right now.

In order to give me time to edit photos and have a quick turnover, I only accept 2 bookings per day, sometimes just one. Every instance of rescheduling typically costs me way more than the fee costs. Please be professional and prompt in communicating with me if anything comes up and treat your appointment like it’s a booked job.

+ Do you have any financing options?

Yes!

PayPal & Afterpay offers monthly payment options for up to 12 months, pending credit approval.

They both have the "Pay in 4" feature that lets you make 4 biweekly payments.

You can use PayPal in the scheduler on the website for the deposit only. If you'd like to finance the whole shoot, it's best to contact me first.

+ Can I see the photos as we take them?

Yes! The photos will be tethered over to a laptop and large screen where you can see instantly see the photos AND the adjustments that I make to them. This will also allow you to make any hair/makeup/posing changes if there’s something that you don’t like. There’s also a mirror where you take the pictures to help with making changes. I upgraded to a HUGE OLED display, its sick, it's absolutely beautiful and it really allows you to see what's going on and make adjustments as needed- you're not in the dark!

+ What is your typical turnover time?

Since I limit sessions to 2 per day and sessions are typically quick & efficient, I typically deliver the Hi Res & Low Res photos the business next day. Please keep in mind that Wednesday shoots would be delivered on Monday. Retouches take 2-3 weeks, I really take a long time working on those, I wish I could do it faster, I've been searching for a solution for years but it either makes it more expensive for you, makes it AI retouching or outsources it and lowers the quality and finishing. Expeditated service for retouches is offered at an extra cost based on availability.

+ Do you have any pets at the studio?

Yes! My dog Waylon is here. He is a small Cavapoo and he absolutely loves people. If you have any issues with dogs (such as being allergic), please let me know beforehand so I can make sure he's crated during the session. If you have a severe allergy to dogs it may not be a good idea to book with me, unfortunately. Waylon is extremely smart, if you love dogs, he'll be your best friend during the shoot, if you don't love dogs he'll say hi but kind of get the point and hang out by himself- you won't even have to really communicate the with me he understands and he does this on his own.

+ How many different background options do you have? Where do you shoot?

I have over 100 different background colors to choose from including 70+ custom hand painted canvas options (these cost $300-$500 EACH but I love them). It's kind of needed too. There are SO many different skin types, hair colors and eye colors and when you combine that with wardrobe you have infinate combinations. Honestly I could have more but the studio would be taken over with backgrounds. You don't need to worry about backgrounds- I'll figure that out for you. I may ask for the general vibe or color that you're looking for but I'll still get the right tone. I have way more options than other studios and here is a category that I don't think is even close.

I shoot most of my images in the studio, but we can also go outside and shoot around the Art District. There is a TON of outdoor options around here and usually some really nice lighting.

+ Do you have a phone number that I can contact you with?

I no longer have a phone number. I used to have one posted everywhere, but since I’m a business it ends up getting completely full with spam calls and for the people that aren’t spam- they’re usually calling me when I’m with a client and unavailable. I typically answer my emails immediately if it’s within business hours. If you have my number, please text before calling- I don’t want clients that are in the studio being interrupted as it’s not fair to them. Also, to be fully transparent, it's extremely easy to forget what was spoken over the phone. When we email I have a full record of converasation I can refer to before the shoot the I can look back on for a full refresher. You will recieve my number in a reminder the day before the shoot in case of an emergency or if you need to contact me getting to the studio.

+ Do you play music during the shoot?

Yes of course! Feel free to send me any playlists or recommendations! It's super fun to make a playlist for the shoot too! Or you can send me your spotify profile. Or I have some playlists made for shoots with all the bops that I love. Spotify has the best connectivity but I can also play Apple Music or YouTube. The speaker system is sick. Good music and good vibes on shoot day! If you're nervous or new, music or soundtracks can also get you into the zone you need to be in.

+ Can I take BTS photos/videos in the studio?

Absolutely! This is encouraged too, I’d love if you tag my Instagram @headshotsbymatt or Tiktok @marcheski

+ What happens if I no-show my appointment?

This is probably one of the worst things that can happen to a photographer. No showing to your appointment makes you 100% responsible for damages to Matt Marcheski Photography for affecting the time allotment for appointments and a loss in productivity. Clients that don’t show up to their appointment will lose their retainer and will not be allowed to rebook, ever. If you ask to reschedule but don’t confirm new date and/or pay the rescheduling fee by the time your appointment comes around, you will be considered a no-show. You are considered a no-show if you arrive 15 minutes late without any notice. Clients that are 30 minutes late with notice may be considered a no-show.

+ Do you hop on a call or video call before each shoot?

No. My preparation guide is more effective than a call. If that guide doesn't help; the client probably needs EXTENSIVE work with an acting coach or wardrobe stylist. It would be comical for me to claim to do what an acting coach or wardrobe stylist can do in a just a quick call, but my guide gets into why this is a problem. A lot of photographers will claim "oh don't worry, I'll figure that out all for you!" and that's when you get the cookie cutter results we ALWAYS see. I'm not going to lie to clients that are maybe a little unsure to con them into booking a shoot. EVERYONE is unsure before it shoot. It does require a little bit of planning on the clients side and my material equips and empowers ANYONE to handle that.

I do like to learn everything possible about my clients; which you'll see in the booking process and my guide gives you more ideas about how you can forward your vision to me if you have one. If you don't have a vision for your shoot thats fine too! I'll get you some good basics to start with!

Before each shoot, I reread all of the communication that I had with the client as a quick refresher. If we did a call instead, I typically DON’T have that information available and in front of me and it just ends up being counter-intuitive.

+ Do you provide discounts?

For return clients yes!

10% for the 2nd shoot 15% for the 3rd and beyond

The discount for the full session gets taken off when you pay the balance. I'm not sure why my scheduling system, Acuity, stopped reducing the retainer amount when using a coupon code but they did so the retainer reflects full price. I don't love that, Acuity has been amazing but that's been weird. So far it hasn't been an issue but if it is, please let me know. I love working with return clients and I'm always happy to apply it. You don't even have to mention it anymore, just make sure you answer the appointment form accurately and I'll put in the discount day of the shoot!

+ Can I provide feedback during the shoot?

Absolutely!!! You're going to be the one using these photos, not me. I want you to be happy with them, you should always feel like these shots look like you. I very much prefer when this happens. You can even show me photos in my portfolio and I’ll try my best to replicate them. Alternatively, you can show me your past headshots and what you DO and DON’T like about them. Typically, the only time that someone has a negative experience is when they hold their tongue and DON’T provide any feedback until they’re gone. Please let me know if there’s anything in my control that you do or don’t like during a shoot. Some examples:

You don’t like the background

The lighting is too hard or too soft

There’s too much or not enough shadowing in the light

You feel like your hair, makeup or wardrobe needs to be adjusted

I show the photos as we shoot so I can make any adjustments if necessary. During a shoot, it’s important to look at the photos non-objectively. Negative and self-deprecating talk can quickly derail a shoot and lower your self-esteem.

I can do literally anything with the lighting; if I can't I can explain to you why. I won't be upset if you don't like something because I have to ability to fix it with ease.

+ How can I use the images?

In general, you can use them however you’d like. Clients receive a perpetual license to use the images in any way. It helps a TON if you tag my Instagram @headshotsbymatt or mention my name if you’re posting on other platforms. If you’re posting to your own website, crediting my work and providing a link to my website helps my website SEO a lot. This isn’t required, nor would I ever chase someone down because they didn’t credit me, but it is always very much appreciated. I DON’T provide a licensing contract, if you’d like one to feel safe, you’re more than welcome to ask and I’ll provide you with one no question at all.

Clients do NOT get the copyright to the images unless something is worked out beforehand BUT does NOT affect your ability to use the images in any way, it does protect me if I ever use them or post them to social media (but I ask for permission from every client while you book!). Also, if you ever get the photos stolen and they get posted online to social media you can contact me and I'll get them taken down.

FOR ANY OTHER SHOOTS, mostly commercial shoots; different licensing terms will almost certainly apply and it gets worked out on a case-by-case basis depending on client need.

If anyone uses these images without your consent and you can't get them taken down please let me know.

+ Where are you located?

In the Arts District in Los Angeles.

+ How do you accept payment?

I accept cash, credit card, Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, Cashapp and Afterpay.

+ What is the "PR/Full Body Look"?

This is for anyone who needs shots that require me to shoot anything below the knees during a timed session. Doing these kinds of images requires me to pull out paper backdrops to the floor, and it causes damage to them every time they're stepped on—especially the white ones. The extra charge covers the costs associated with having these in stock, replacing them, and having the space to store them. It also covers the cost of having the lighting equipment and space big enough to even accomplish these types of shots.

+ What is the "Curated Folder" add-on?

This folder is where I place my hand-picked favorite images from the shoot. I usually take anywhere between 300-1500 images per shoot, so it takes QUITE a bit of time to pour over that many images and narrow them down for you.

Typically I end up with 4-6 images per look, but I can do as many or as few as you'd like.

It can be overwhelming for people to see that many images of themselves. It's an excellent option for people who want to skip to the best shots. I've been doing this for a while, and I know what people prefer to see in images. It's excellent non-biased, professional feedback from your shoot.

+ Can I bring a friend to my session?

Yes! I am one of the few photographers that actually allow this. HOWEVER; there is a reason that most photographers don't allow guests; they can easily be a distraction and really take away from your experience in a lot of cases.

Additionally, I highly recommend not bringing an agent or manager unless they were someone who recommended me or is familiar with my process. They tend to be a complete nightmare during shoots, constantly telling their clients that they're not doing enough or asking for weird, over-the-top expressions (it really brings down the confidence of someone getting their shots done constantly being told that they're not good enough). This directly goes against my process- I prefer to give constant positive reinforcement and show the clients what they are doing well. I have exercises that help people who need it, and I'm very aware of how much I can get out of each person for their experience level. My process involves getting as many background and lighting combinations as possible instead of forcing expressions. Lighting and backgrounds do WAY more to tell a story than a forced, tacky expression. Agents and managers also tend to just stare at their clients, and it makes a lot of people really uncomfortable. If they have any requests I really want to know what it is, but having them there just never helps unless they're there to be positive and reinforcing.

Another type of person I HIGHLY recommend against taking is a parent who is not actively involved in your career. They typically deeply misunderstand acting headshots and end up giving ridiculous feedback that does more harm than good. Also, it depends on your relationship with your parents, but some people are just uncomfortable with their parents around and never fully open up or feel comfortable. Obviously, anyone under 18 needs an adult present.

To ensure that this doesn't happen here are a few tips for guests:

• Make sure they realize that they are not the center of attention. I've had clients bring guests that come in and talk to ME so much that the client literally gets left out.

• Make sure that the guest is ONLY there to support you. I've seen clients that bring guests that say things like "I don't like that angle on you" and it ruins the client's confidence or gets them in their head.

• Make sure the guest doesn't make you late or hold things up.

• The guest's input almost always slows things down and wastes time. Optimal results come from JUST the client and I communicating.

There ARE a few times when having a guest is actually quite helpful and I LOVE to have these people here:

• If you're nervous and they're there to unconditionally support you and hype you up and they know you well.

• If they have a role such as styling, touching up makeup, or helping you with posing. (I can help with posing but I am by no means a modeling coach).

+ I'm coming in from out of town, out of state, out of country. Will that be a good idea?

Yes! This is a point of pride for me and it happens quite often! I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever canceled a shoot with a client at the last minute. I take care of my body, I don’t drink often, and I don’t do anything crazy, and with that, I get to be extremely present. You can count on me to be there at your scheduled appointment time. I’m not going to decide that something else is more important for me that day. I think the closest to the shoot I’ve ever asked someone to reschedule was two weeks out, and that was with their express permission; they would not have been moved if they couldn’t. That said, if I do ever cancel or reschedule at the last minute, I can promise something very serious has happened, or that I’m very sick (I very rarely get sick, though), and I’d do everything in my power to compensate you for your lost time AND ENERGY. As I’d expect actors to show up for their appointment, I take it 20x more seriously for me to show up for you and also be on time.

+ Can I bring a pet to my session?

Yes! My dog Waylon will be here, so if your pet is nervous around other animals it's not a good idea. Also, Waylon is extremely social and playful so if you bring a pet they will probably be running around together and playing which can be distracting, especially during shorter sessions. Make sure the pet is trained and well-behaved. There is a lot of very expensive equipment and you don't want them knocking anything over because it will break.

+ How many headshot sessions do you book per day?

Typically I will book 2-3 per day. The 3rd would be the 30 minute session if I can squeeze it in. This allows me to give full focus on every shoot as a unique, high-end experience while also giving me free time during the week for other tasks including, marketing, networking, content creation, social media management, website development, community outreach, test shooting, and administrative work.

I do shoots only 3-4 days out of the week. I lean more on 3 days a week to avoid creative burnout. When I add a 4th day it's normally just a single shoot and sometimes just an hour session.

+ Can I wear glasses without it affecting the lighting?

The short answer is yes but there are some caveats to this.

If you have high-quality anti-glare lenses- it typically won’t affect the lighting. If it does, it’s usually easily photoshopped out

If you DON’T have anti-glare lenses, I can raise the lights above the glasses and shoot them downwards; however, this is really not optimal and affects the quality of the image. A go-around to this would be to find a cheap pair of reading glasses that match your frames and pop the lens out. It is 100% worth the extra effort to do this.

+ Do you accept tips? Is tipping necessary?

Yes, I accept tips, but it definitely isn't necessary. It's not expected for photographers either, but I have enough people who want to send a little extra after a great experience.

At the end of the year, tipping is usually enough to put a dent in transaction fees. Therefore, I don't charge any transaction fees for Credit Card or Paypal Transactions, saving clients between $15 and $50 per shoot.

+ Do you charge sales tax?

Nope! It's not necessary for this type of service.

+ Can clients write-off their shoot on their taxes?

Yes! You can typically write off these shoots if you use the photos for work. Examples include actors, models and self-employed individuals. Please let me know if you need any receipts or custom invoices.

Many employers offer reimbursement for headshots as well. Consult your employer if you think it may benefit your position.

+ Who made your website? Who does your SEO?

I do everything! I learned this all myself because I felt like it’s very important to be able to update the website whenever I want. Everything written on this site is all written by me. A large majority of the clients that book me are reading through every word on this site (as they should!), it’s very important that this information is coming directly from me. All of my policies and procedures were created by customer feedback and experience. If I ever feel like a session could have gone smoother, I change my policies to lay the groundwork for a better customer experience in the future. I’m very happy with the current process and the reviews definitely reflect that.

want to look for if you're worried about seeing pictures of yourself. They developed that style for a reason. While you get way less input and control over your image, it may be for the better if you want to feel flattered at the expense of the overall value and results of the shoot.

You might have noticed it's a bit harder than you thought to find the right headshot photographer. This is because the skill itself is VERY hard to learn. The expectation is AMAZING images, but there are quite a few limitations to achieving this goal because these need to be tools for the actor to get bookings, and there are a lot of guidelines and rules to meet industry standards. A good headshot photographer gets MAXIMUM results regardless of those limitations, and that's just really hard to do and takes experience. It helps going into the shoot if you're aware of that.