Headshot Photography Session FAQ
+ Do you provide or recommend a hair/makeup artist? Can I bring a makeup artist?
I no longer directly provide makeup artists for shoots, it’s too hard to guarantee 110% satisfaction with makeup. Additionally, with new California Labor Laws and Federal Labor Laws it's debately illegal to provide makeup services at a price I set to makeup artists that are independent contractors (an EXTREMELY common practice in this industry). HOWEVER, I do have a list of recommended Hair/Makeup Artists. Prices range from $125 to $400. This allows you to find the right fit for you, it also allows you to find the person that is within your budget. My list includes makeup artists that I know do a great job, they all have different styles which in turn gives you the flexibility to get the right look for you. If you book your own hair/makeup person, make sure you show them my portfolio or some reference pictures for what you want, it will help them understand the vibe LOT.
Doing exceptional hair/makeup is a WAY tougher job than you’d expect. Finding a really great makeup artist is absolutely worth the investment and it’s really essential for you to contact and create a relationship with them yourself. The IDEAL situation as an actor is for you to already have your go-to makeup person, but I realize that's not common. You do not want to spend a ton of money for headshots only for a hair/makeup person to make a questionable style decision that may ruin the photos. I highly suggest that you find the makeup person that is the right fit for you- maybe even do a test run. If you look closely at my portfolio, you’ll see that most of my shots use minimal makeup that is very obtainable to do yourself. This is really what separates an actor’s headshot from a modeling headshot, and trust me, there really is a massive difference.
I do recommend makeup artists for a few situations:
If you have bad skin and you need makeup coverage to cover discoloration
If you’re someone who feels more like themselves while wearing makeup (this is common and totally acceptable!!)
If you’d like your pictures to appear more glam and/or elevated
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!
+ 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
Headshots are very nuanced, so I don't give any "quick tips" because I feel like that gives a license not to be intentional about preparing. Remember, every part of your shoot is a small detail that serves a bigger purpose (the creative direction), and the guide teaches you how to put that together. That said, I typically won't answer any preparation questions until the guide has been read.
+ I'm very insecure about my appearance and the idea behind getting headshots stresses me out. Can you help with this?
When I shoot, the ultimate priority is that the environment be laid-back and fully supportive. I can pose you, help with expressions, support you, and try my best to get the very best from you. HOWEVER, this must be a FUN experience for you to get the best results. If you enter it with a bad or negative attitude from the start, I don't think I'm the right photographer for you.
I'm more than happy to make this a pleasant, fun, and empowering experience for you. Still, there are a few conflicting issues with the overall workflow of acting headshots that override anything I can do to make you feel fantastic. Let me explain.
My workflow is set up to create the best ACTING HEADSHOTS for you. Acting headshots are a tool that help you get bookings and because it's a tool, I'm a bit limited in my ability to use creativity to help you look better.
For instance, I can't use fun, dramatic, or creative light and shadows to hide things that you're insecure about. Acting headshots need to be shot mostly straight on and with even, pure lighting.
During the entire session all of the photos will be automatically on display AS WE TAKE them. This is essential for 95% of actors because we need to make corrections and adjustments. I listen to feedback and improve the lighting, backgrounds, angles, and overall look of the shot to match my client's branding goals. This is VERY tough for people who have deep insecurities.
The overall structure of my shoots also isn't great for people who struggle with self-image. All my shoots are timed but allow for unlimited looks. This is an AMAZING value proposition for most actors—it saves them hundreds of dollars, but if you need more time because you're battling with insecurity or self-image problems, this just creates additional stress.
The way I deliver the images ALSO isn't ideal for this type of client. I deliver ALL of the photos from the session in high resolution. The good ones AND the bad ones. This is what talent agents and managers want because what's good and bad is subjective. ESPECIALLY for the headshot use case where "bad" can be reinterpreted as "interesting". You'll have to see unflattering and unretouched photos of yourself. The benefit is that you get EVERYTHING.
There are a lot of photographers who shoot and don't show the images, don't collaborate with you on the style/lighting of the images and will only send you a few images from the shoot (and force you to get them retouched as well). This is really what you 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.
+ Do sessions require a retainer? Am I allowed to reschedule?
Every session requires a non-refundable retainer to hold the date. For all headshot sessions, I require a 50% retainer. The retainer will be forfeited in the case of a cancellation, lateness, or no-show. You may reschedule the session once with at least 5 days’ (125 hours from the appointment time) notice and apply the retainer to the rescheduled date. I cannot guarantee that a new session with be available for you and in some instances, the shoot will have to be canceled. Rescheduling without at least 5 days’ notice incurs a $150 rescheduling fee. 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.
The retainer may be refunded within 24 hours of the time of booking.
When you create the appointment, you must acknowledge that you understand all of these policies. I cannot provide a refund for people that did NOT read the FAQ and decide that they disagree with the policies after booking. If you are unsure about anything, please email me.
I reallllllly, really don’t like taking people’s retainers or charging a rescheduling fee, but cancellations/rescheduling are EXTREMELY expensive for me. I’m really disciplined about doing only two shoots a day and people plan their headshot sessions in advance, so it’s difficult to fill a spot. Rescheduling/cancellations create huge revenue losses- the rescheduling fee doesn’t even come close to covering those losses, it’s just there as a deterrent.
+ 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. In order to give me time to edit photos and have a quick turnover, I only accept 2 bookings per day. 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! You can finance any part of your shoot using Afterpay (4 installments every two weeks). Use the scheduler to find an available time slot, then contact me separately to get a code to confirm the appointment without needing to pay a retainer. Unfortunately, the scheduler doesn't have that payment option built in. Another option is to pay the retainer via credit card/PayPal and the balance via Afterpay. You do not need to contact me separately to do this.
PayPal is also accepted- PayPal has a lot of built-in financing options now including loans and two week payments.
+ Can I see the photos as we take them?
Yes! The photos will be tethered over to a laptop 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.
+ 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 next day. Retouches take 4-10 business days from the time I receive your selections. 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.
+ 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). I can also create ambient studio looking backgrounds as well.
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. If you do need to get on the phone with me, send me an email and we can schedule a call, I’d be happy to chat! 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.
+ Do you play music during the shoot?
Yes of course! Feel free to send me any playlists or recommendations! My speaker is a little weird about connecting new devices so I normally just play it off of my phone. I just can’t blast anything loud because we need to communicate and I need to be able to fully focus!
+ 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 deposit/payment 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?
Typically no, unless the client finds it really necessary. The problem with calls is that I have too many clients each week to clearly remember all of the information that was said on the call. I very much prefer to discuss everything over email and clients are welcome to send me detailed introductions about themselves and what they’d like to accomplish along with reference/inspiration photos.
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?
Discounts are available for veterans, SAG-AFTRA & WGA members, and current students of select Los Angeles area schools (AMDA, LACC, USC, UCLA, Emerson, Chapman, UC Irvine only). The discount is 10% off any session and must be verified via ID. Students must be verified via ID and class schedule. Please contact me before booking to verify discount eligibility.
Returning clients receive 10% off any session; please get in touch with me before booking to verify discount eligibility.
Discounts can not be combined.
There are no discounts available for models/influencers unless your niche is clearly and specifically aimed toward helping actors learn and grow within the industry and only if you’ve been based in Los Angeles for at least one year.
Very rarely, I’ll run some specials on the website, but these are typically done to fill in scheduling gaps caused by cancellations. I would not count on waiting for these types of discounts as they’re usually rarely offered and only last for a few hours.
+ Can I provide feedback during the shoot?
Absolutely!!! 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.
+ Why is the retainer 50%?
Why is the retainer 50%?
There are four reasons for this.
First; it's extremely rare that I ever reschedule a client's appointment- even if I receive an offer to do a higher-paying shoot for a booked day, I'll keep the original appointment I have. In the last three years, I had to reschedule 4 or 5 appointments. In all those cases, I could give two weeks' notice or more. I've never canceled an appointment, and due to good health, I've actually never gotten sick and needed to reschedule an appointment (very thankful).
The 50% retainer is necessary to do this because I need to be SURE that clients will show up. It's happened to me that I've turned down high-paying jobs because I already had a client on the books, only for them to cancel the day before a shoot, and it's a humiliating feeling.
Second, I need the clients to take these shoots seriously, and the retainer has really helped in that aspect. When I had a lower retainer, I had way too many unprepared and uncommitted clients. When you read the guide, you'll notice that there are a lot of moving parts that create a successful shoot. The higher retainer helped people realize, "okay, this is for real now". I've had much better success rates with people reading the guide and being prepared with a higher retainer.
Third, I only want to work with clients that are absolutely serious about working with me and showing up and having fun. The retainer helped weed out some of the less serious people who preferred to cancel rather than show up to their appointment.
Fourth, high attendance rates allow me to keep prices affordable while taking on just two clients daily (which helps me focus entirely on each shoot and is also a non-starter). If I had more people canceling or rescheduling, I'd have to raise my prices to cover those losses, which is NOT fair for the people who care about being prompt and professional.
+ How can I use the images?
If you’re booking the Corporate Headshot Session or any of the Acting Sessions, for the most part, 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. This 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.
If you’re an actor, it’s discouraged to post anything that’s NOT retouched as this doesn’t reflect the true quality potential of the image, but again, if you want to you’re more than welcome to.
FOR ANY OTHER SHOOTS, especially 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 "Full Body Look"?
This is for anyone who needs shots that require me to shoot anything below the knees. 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 helpful:
If you're nervous and they're there to unconditionally support you and hype you up.
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).
+ 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 a maximum of two per day. 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.
You’ll see a lot of available times on my scheduler, but once two sessions in a day are booked I block off the rest of the times for that day. Sometimes, I’ll block off an entire week if there are too many total shoots in that week.
+ 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.
+ Why is headshot photography so expensive?
This is a great question and I totally understand why someone would ask this. However, I consider the prices at my studio to be extremely, cheap based on what I’m able to offer. Comparable studios have a sales average of $1,000 to $5,000. Comparable photographers have a day rate of $2,000. I wrote in detail about pricing in this article: “Why Are Professional Headshots So Expensive?”.
+ 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 at least weekly. 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.