So refreshing to see a real photographer on here, talking gear, problems, and how to do what and what you need! So many get caught up in all this other garbage. Thanks for keeping it real!
Thanks! There is certainly no shortage of opinions from people who do not actually do the work - but that's true of anything I guess. Thanks for watching, glad you like the video.
Thank you for sharing all your information. I have recently been sent a proposal from a charter school and your video has helped my stress and self confidence. I appreciate you
That makes my day! It fun work, but certainly challenging. I'm glad the video helped you feel better about the job. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
@@lamkiska I post my galleries via Zenfolio and used to offer prints through them using Miller's labs but the demand for prints is basically non-existent these days. thanks for watching.
Good evening, fellow Atlanta Photographer. It is refreshing to know there is an Atlanta Photographer who shares in the type of photography that I would like to get into. Though I've only seen pt. 2; it was very helpful and I will be looking at part 1. Thank you and please keep up the great work you do.
Glad to hear that you found the content helpful. Thanks for the encouraging comment and thanks for watching... repeatedly! I was amazed when Part 1 went over 100k views!
Thank you so much for your in-depth share. This has been a Swiss army knife for me over the last two years. I've finally got the gear where i need it to be, the workflow on point, and my shoots have been a blast, i even pack a few chips in my bag. Thank you so much for the insight and for being so open with this vast amount of knowledge.
That makes me so happy - just to know that somehting I put out there is helping people get the work done and ENJOY IT - awesome. Thanks for letting me know. Have a good one!
Hello Matt, you're doing a really great job, thank you for all of this very detailed information. It will be great if you can create a video about calculation of the price - setup cost, cost per person etc.
It's not a topic that can be covered with any accuracy. The market is constantly changing and every area and situation is different. I typically charge a session fee that gets me on-site and a per image retouching fee - but even for me, those numbers vary wildly. My only advice if you're seeking new clients is to try and found out what they're currently spending and work from there. Either match that pricing or make them aware of ways you can improve on their existing workflow or increase the quality. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
I'm a headshot photographer (in NYC, doing mostly actors) thinking of doing more volume work like this and I found this video to be incredibly helpful! Good stuff. I hope Fritos sponsors you. 😆
I'm glad you found something helpful. Volume work can be enjoyable (and profitable) but it's a very different mindset from spending an hour or two with someone in a studio or at a cool location. You might want to check out Part 1 if you haven't already. The prodution value is terrible, but the content is pretty solid (if I say so myself). Thanks for watching and for the encouraging comment!
Thanks Trey. There are so many details that go into making these shoots a success. I feel like it took me a lot of trial and error to figrue out what works for me and I'm glad to hear that my experience is helpful to others. There's always more to learn. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh Guess not. You mention stealing Fritos. And they're placed all over your video. You also posted in two parts ....but you have no idea what I'm talking about? K :)
This makes me think of all the times I had my photo taken. I've been watching a lot of vids about portrait photography, etc. If I were to ever do this, it would be a long way from now. I'm pretty new to photography. Thanks for sharing how you do this! 🌟Fritos are pretty awesome.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. It's fun work but there are a lot of details to keep track of so it can be a little nerve-racking. Good luck in your journey. I've found photography and video work to be very satisfying and it's allowed me to meet lots of great people along the way. Have a good one!
I have watched several of your vids and love them. Thank you. I would like to know, do you print your photos or do you send them out to be printed. If you print it yourself, what is your setup? Thank you again.
I use Zenfolio for the my gallery hosting. When I was setting things up, they were the only service that offered really solid database processing for large galleries where I needed to send individual emails with password protection. With Zenfolio you can connect to a number of print labs (I use Millers). Clients can access their images through Zenfolio and then you set up print packages they can order that are then fulfilled by Millers. Honestly both Zenfolio and Millers have their shortcomings, but the system works and I've not seen any reason to change. Hope that helps.Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
@@MattSpaugh Hi Matt, what is your turn around time for a shoot of 100 people? Actually I have 100 but two finals per. One wearing a lab coat and one without. So 200.
Thank you for sharing your system. How do you structure payment for these types of shoots? Are you involved with print fulfillment? Can you please expound on what happens after the shoot? Thank you 📸🌞
I get a deposit of 25% for a customer to reserve the dates. I get the next 25% as soon as the shoot is complete and I know I have solid, usable images, and I get the balance when the images are delivered. Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
@@MattSpaugh hello and thank you for taking the time for a speedy reply. I wasn't interested in the terms, as much as how you charge for the job. You touched on it in another video, saying, 'each is different. ' 'Sometime the school pays for your time, sometimes you make money from printing, others the school makes the money, etc. ' I found what I was looking for. Thank you 📸🌞
That makes me so happy to hear. This type of work can be really challenging but also very rewarding. I love working with kids - especially the younger ones - year after year. Good luck in your endeavors and thanks for watching!
This was awesome! I used to work for a School Day photography company and you covered this really well in both these videos. Getting kids to smile is so rewarding and if you can get some awesome smiles from special needs kids, and the parents cheer and tell you that you're the best photog ever... well that's a huge bonus too ;-)
Glad you liked it. Check out Part 1 if you haven't already. The audio is terrible, but the content is pretty solid (if I say so myself). Thanks for watching!
Typically I just make multiple trips. The large Slinger bag has wheels, so that helps. For video gigs lately I've been using the Rock-n-roller R2 cart. I really like it. I should do a review of it. It's one of the few I've found that folds down small enough so it doesn't take up too much room in my car. www.adorama.com/mfr2m.html
@@MattSpaugh Great info thanks! I was wondering if it was worth buying a wagon similar to what you've mentioned on amazon for these types of shoots. For easy transport. Worth it you think?
@@jaiel.p it really comes down to the individual and the timing. I'm pretty fit for my age (ha) and don't mind making multiple trips as long as I have plenty of time for set up and getting test shots. I will say that of the carts I've used the Rock-n-roller R2 is the best by far.
Hi Matt, I wanted to share an update with you. I had a high volume headshot project for a children's program recently, and your headshot video series proved to be incredibly beneficial. I decided to invest in the wagon and it really worked out for me. While it may not be ideal for stairs, it was a valuable asset for the project. Thank you again for the videos. I appreciate your advice!
Thanks Peter. "Part 1" got such an incredible response that it only seemed natural to follow it up with something more in-depth. I really do hope to produce a part 3 at some point to explain my retouching workflow, the setting up of galleries, etc. It's funny, I keep trying to push my channel more toward video content but the headshot videos get such positive response, it can't be ignored. Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for watching! I hope you're well.
If done right, where attention to detail and having problems covered before they become a problem, is really the service provided that someone with a camera taking snapshots does not do is the main difference between a pro and a hobbyist. Taking care of all potential problems is not exciting but it is an essential part of what you are being paid for. For example, running a power cord or cable across the floor is common but there is a 1 in 200 chance of someone tripping over it so a pro will use a cable cover so a hard tunnel market with stripes 1-1.5 inches high over the cable and taped down, might never be needed but one case where it was needed can ruin your reputation and balloon up your insurance costs. Taking time to set everything up and test it before the clients arrive reduces the stress of the client and photographer. Having backups of everything that could interrupt the flow of the session is insurance that a problem is erased at the cost of taking 2 seconds to swap it out. Need a strobe or flash? No, two. Scanning the scene before the client arrives and thinking of what impression would be left if any of the needed items was not functioning. I test everything as it goes into the bag and as it comes out on location. If it becomes a habit it is done with the flow and does not add to the setup time. Don't just test a strobe/flash whether it fires but to some test shots of your assistant. You can then focus on connecting with the subjects which makes or break portrait sessions. Most of my work is with professional stage and film actors, and ballet and opera singers and if you make them feel comfortable and create what you discussed as the goal, word or mouth referrals are surely going to follow. All my work in that specialty was due to one actor I did free sessions with, who I met on a club dance floor16 years ago and 90% of my current work was a result of her becoming influential in stage, cinema and TV. So interaction with clients is the more trusted source of work than any other promotion. I shoot regularly for the second most family ballet theater in the world, stills for a very popular national TV police drama, that girl from the dance floor has been the female lead for 6 years, and led in 14 feature films. We created a side business of teaching stage actors how to transition to cinema in regular multi-day master classes featuring well-known casting directors and film directors. For me, this is a hobby turned to income since I retired from another field where attention to detail was key also. That was in music recording as a studio owner and recording engineer. Attention to detail was key there and in my 3 studio complex from the 1970s to 90s recorded 197 gold and platinum albums. Any field benefits from solving problems before they occur because the product itself reflects the ease and flow of creative processes. The first real income from photography was taking snapshots in the 70s of relaxed breaks during 3-4 month-long recording sessions, that ended up on album covers or liner notes. I got royalties, small per album sale, but when an album sold millions, one casual snapshot of an artist having a serious talk in a dark corner with the album producer became a featured image on the cover and bought me a beach home on Maui. I moved from the USA in 2000 in retirement but ended up creating 4 businesses that became successful because of attention to detail as a key reason for success. All in seemingly unrelated fields. My background was in electronic engineering where details matter and benefited in other fields that were often viewed as feel or emotions but actually depended on ATD: attention to detail.
Cheap and good. Mine came with a gray muslin that is like, 12' x 20'. It's awesome until packing time - and getting the wrinkles out. Thanks for watching!
I've done some that way. Most are a combination of a base guarantee with print/digital sales on top of that but honestly, it's all over the place. Print sales are in my area are in decline or non-existent. As far as digitals go, I've literally seen people post photos they've taken of the thumbnail on their computer screen. The bar for quality is certainly not what it once was. That said, it's still worth the effort in most cases. My favorite is the mom who shows up on shoot day and runs up behind me to take a photo... "how those strobes workin' for you there, mama?" Thanks for watching.
Yes, I always use a stool for kids and sometimes even for adults if I need to work quickly. Take a look at "High Volume Headshots" which is Part 1 of these videos. I break down the placement of things and you can see the actual stool that I use. The biggest thing for me is to have a stool that has a rectangular seat - not a round one - so you can automatically get the shoulders at an a angle. Here's a link to the original video: ua-cam.com/video/G9ZeVmcYgx4/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for these videos! What software do you use to deliver the galleries to the school and the parents? And is that the same software you use to sell prints to them?
I'm glad you're finding my content helpful. I use Zenfolio for posting my galleries and for handling my print sales. Zenfolio is not the most intuitive resource IMHO, but its ability to process CSV files makes it ideal for this type of work. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great video. When batteries corrode in a camera or other device don't use steel wool and grease; white vinegar and a toothbrush will always do the trick. I collect the toothbrushes from hotels that I never actually use for tooth brushing.
FWIW, the grease I'm using is dielectric grease, it's made for electrical contacts. It stops corrosion and ensures max power transfer. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Honestly, it's mostly word-of-mouth. I do have a website for my headshot photography which gets me most of my business, but referrals are a big part of staying busy. Thanks for watching!
Purchased the Frameworks Heavy Duty adjustable stand. I am in heaven. Exactly what I was looking for. It’s sturdy. Solid item. I also have the frame works desktop mic stand/boom arm. I didn’t realize they made stands. Thanks Matt. ✊🏾#iamyourcameraguy
New to indoor photography with lights, and wanting to purchase the gear you use. The phottix 40x90 softbox with grid you use in this video isn’t available anymore, what you recommend buying in its place? Also what do you use for a guide on pricing a digital image? Thank you so much in advance.
I have actually moved to the Glow EZ Lock 12x36 softbox for my hair light. It is a bowens s-mount so I'm using a bracket to hold the flash. Links below. As far as pricing goes, I charge a session fee that is a flat fee that gets me and my equipment on site, and then I charge a per image fee on top of that. Those fees can vary greatly depending on number of individuals being photographed, location distance, amount of retouching required, etc. Glow 12x36 Soft Box: www.adorama.com/glsbez1236.html Bracket: www.adorama.com/glbdsm02.html
@@MattSpaugh I guess my question is do you charge the same for a digital as for a print? Now days people want digitals. Thanks so much for being so helpful with answering my questions.
@@tarrinmonson4066 the only people who want prints anymore are schools - and even then, there are very few people that buy them (in my experience anyway). I charge to take the photo, retouch, and provide a digital file. I sell prints separately through Zenfolio (which is where I host my galleries). i have my account linked to Miller's Lab who does the fulfillment on the print orders. I could do a whole video on that process (and maybe will one day). It can get a little complicated sometimes. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
Which chair/stool do you have?? also to mention you used tape??? to mark the stool position Im thinking of using making tape or duck tape to mark exact placement
For the record, I only use a stool when doing students - and that is just so I can keep them in a consistent spot and at a consistent angle. When I photograph adults, I almost always have them standing. Adults tend to slump down when seated. As far as the seat goes, often times I will just grab whatever is handy on-site. I do have a cheap-o that I got from target a couple of years ago. The main characteristics I like are a height of about 24" and a seat that is rectangular. The rectangular seat helps keep your subjects shoulders angled the way you want them. I'm not sure if this link will come through, but it's basically this one. Mine is black: www.target.com/p/halifax-farmhouse-wood-counter-height-barstool-threshold/-/A-54605634 Probably way more of an answer than you were looking for but I hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
I have actually considered it. In many ways, I have my own way of doing things so I don't feel like I could offer a range of alternatives that would meet different people's needs. Your comment is pushing me to reconsider though! Thanks for watching, glad you liked the video.
@@MattSpaugh I totally understand! Your way of doing things from a headshot A-Z volume perspective is valuable to a lot of people including me. It's where the $$$ is and that's exactly what ppl want and need. I personally have paid $500 for a course that was good but the system you have and knowledge is worth more in my opinion. I'll definitely be in touch in the future with a proposition.
@@tyebinuyo532 Thanks Tye, that's really encouraging. I started making an outline for a course. I'd really like to include insights on how to get clients, pricing, insurance and an in-depth look at post processing. It would be a lot to cover but January is usually a slow month for me so maybe I'll make it a priority. Thanks again, I'm glad you found the video(s) helpful.
I second this. Just found your channel today (doing realtor headshots for the first time ever) and your clear delivery style works well. I’d buy a course from you. You already have all the equipment you need. 😁. Maybe make a mini course to start and see what happens.
Hey Matt,.. I totally liked your video which is packed with tons of information! Thank you. I'd have one question open if you don't mind: For the AD200... how many batteries do you need for a day of shooting? I saw that you have the AD-B2 to use two of them as your main-light. This is the same setup I have. But as I never needed to shoot a whole day with them I was wondering how many batteries you have with you :) Thanks a lot in advance!
One battery will last me an entire day (around 250-300 flashes at 1/2 power). Although I used to use just one unit, I've switched to using two just in case one fails. With 2 in the bracket, they're running at around 1/4 power each and will easily last all day. All that said, I still keep an additional battery with me, and I usually put the batteries that I'm using in the charger during lunch. Hope that helps, glad you found the content useful. Thanks for watching.
Fantastic videos and information! You mention getting an assistant to “ wrangle” and requiring someone to be with you all day… would that be the same person or are you wanting two different people? Thanks!
I'm glad you found the content helpful. I usually just have one person to help out - someone provided by the institution. Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
Thank you so much. I am setting up in Kent UK. I may have to travel into London via train. I can't carry all of that so I have one A200pro, pop up backdrop and reflectors for corporate. Thinking about backdrop.. What brand is your backdrop stand? What colour should you use? Paper or muslin? How big should you go? Many thanks again
When I have to travel light I use a 5x7 white fabric pop up backdrop and the 25" Glow EZ Lock softbox without a grid. A single AD200 will totally do the job. The backdrop I use only folds down to about 22" across, so it's still a bit big, but very portable. If you have some type of rolling bag to strap the stand to, you can make it work. I don't know if this link will be of any help, but this is basically the setup I use. www.amazon.com/Fovitec-Photography-Pop-Out-Backdrop-Included/dp/B07W7WGLS4
Great stuff, thanks for sharing! Very interested in learning more about insurance. Also, Fritos, 2 for $1... nice lol. How do you deal with kids that won't cooperate?
Ahhhh yes, the photo of the uncooperative child. I've found there are usually two reasons, either they're shy or they're obstinate. If you can get the shy ones to relax, you can usually get a decent shot. If you can make them laugh and click the shutter right before or after the laugh, you're almost guaranteed something that will be passable. For the obstinate ones, I will try reasoning with them, "hey kid, I'm trying to make living here - cut me some slack" or "your mom's the one who's going to be upset, not me". At the end of the day, there are some children that you are just not going to get a good picture of. The school I was photographing in the video had really well-behaved, well-adjusted kids. There were only two or three that just wouldn't play ball - so I figure that's a really good average. Hope that helps, thanks for watching and I'll see what I can do about getting some more insurance information out there.
Awesome video. I’m a wedding photographer trying to add the headshot market. I have all the lenses you are using but I was told to use a 50mm for this. What’s your input on this?
50mm is considered "what the eye sees". As your focal length decreases, say 24mm, your image is going to be more distorted: things closer to the camera get bigger. As the focal length increases, like 90-100mm, the image gets compressed, so the facial features closest to the camera are less emphasized. A more compressed image is more flattering for most people. I hope that's not overly simplified (or stuff you already knew). A longer focal length also means you're further away from your subject which I find to be good with most people - especially kids. Shooting at 90-135mm means I'm usually about 6 feet away. It gives everyone 'room to breathe' I always say. Hope that helps and thanks again for watching.
The only dumb question is the one you don't ask! I really have no idea how many headshot photographers get other people to do their headshots but we all probably should! How else can we know exactly how someone feels when they're in that position? I used to always do a ridiculous test shot of myself on every shoot and used those as my headshots for a long time. I actually shot the one I use now, but I may look into hiring someone! Thanks for watching.
Thanks! I'm guessing you've seem part 1, but if not, check it out. The audio is terrible but it goes more in-depth with my camera set up and workflow. Thanks for watching!
Oh and, anyone who is getting this type of work does not need a portrait photo tutorial, or if they do, there's only about a million of them on UA-cam. What people do seem to need is practical information about equipment, logistics and getting repeat business.
So refreshing to see a real photographer on here, talking gear, problems, and how to do what and what you need! So many get caught up in all this other garbage. Thanks for keeping it real!
Thanks! There is certainly no shortage of opinions from people who do not actually do the work - but that's true of anything I guess. Thanks for watching, glad you like the video.
EXACTLY. THANK YOU.
Thank you for sharing all your information. I have recently been sent a proposal from a charter school and your video has helped my stress and self confidence. I appreciate you
That makes my day! It fun work, but certainly challenging. I'm glad the video helped you feel better about the job. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
OMG - the Fritos! That alone makes you my official volume photography guru!
I have no idea what you're talking about... I never went near those Fritos...🤣
Would love to see a video about the post production part where you delivery galleries and set up the purchase of prints for the families. Great videos
I have plans to try and make one but it takes so much time. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaugh it would definitely help me. Thanks in advance.
@@MattSpaugh Do you provide printed copies or do you send digitals via pic-time or another system like pic-time?
@@lamkiska I post my galleries via Zenfolio and used to offer prints through them using Miller's labs but the demand for prints is basically non-existent these days. thanks for watching.
@@MattSpaugh thank you so much for responding.
I like the case and I like orange 😊
It's a really great case for the money. I tend to overload mine though and it gets a bit unmanageable at times.
Thanks for watching!
Good evening, fellow Atlanta Photographer. It is refreshing to know there is an Atlanta Photographer who shares in the type of photography that I would like to get into. Though I've only seen pt. 2; it was very helpful and I will be looking at part 1. Thank you and please keep up the great work you do.
Glad you found it helpful - thanks for the encouraging comment and thanks for watching!
I am rewatching this year by year to keeps reminding me what must and not to do. Thanks for infomative video.
Glad to hear that you found the content helpful. Thanks for the encouraging comment and thanks for watching... repeatedly!
I was amazed when Part 1 went over 100k views!
Awesome videos!! Thanks brother!
My pleasure - glad you found something helpful on the channel. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for your in-depth share. This has been a Swiss army knife for me over the last two years. I've finally got the gear where i need it to be, the workflow on point, and my shoots have been a blast, i even pack a few chips in my bag. Thank you so much for the insight and for being so open with this vast amount of knowledge.
That makes me so happy - just to know that somehting I put out there is helping people get the work done and ENJOY IT - awesome. Thanks for letting me know. Have a good one!
Hello Matt,
you're doing a really great job, thank you for all of this very detailed information.
It will be great if you can create a video about calculation of the price - setup cost, cost per person etc.
It's not a topic that can be covered with any accuracy. The market is constantly changing and every area and situation is different. I typically charge a session fee that gets me on-site and a per image retouching fee - but even for me, those numbers vary wildly.
My only advice if you're seeking new clients is to try and found out what they're currently spending and work from there. Either match that pricing or make them aware of ways you can improve on their existing workflow or increase the quality.
I hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
I'm a headshot photographer (in NYC, doing mostly actors) thinking of doing more volume work like this and I found this video to be incredibly helpful! Good stuff. I hope Fritos sponsors you. 😆
I'm glad you found something helpful.
Volume work can be enjoyable (and profitable) but it's a very different mindset from spending an hour or two with someone in a studio or at a cool location.
You might want to check out Part 1 if you haven't already. The prodution value is terrible, but the content is pretty solid (if I say so myself).
Thanks for watching and for the encouraging comment!
Very useful with refreshing informations
I'm glad you enjoyed my video. Thanks for watching.
Thank You, I am an old Man, and do not do this type of Work. I do admire the work You do to capture photos like this especially School Children.
Thanks for watching - it's fun work.
You are refreshing, delightful, informative, and awesome to watch and learn from. Thank you!
Thanks Abby - you made my day!
Wow, your videos are great! So helpful! Love the Fritos in the camera bag, lol.
Thanks for the kind words - and for watching!
thanks for your videos ! I do that for 10 years here in Brazil, so helpful see another photographer tips
Thanks for the kind words - and for watching!
Really great video covering things that I don’t regularly consider - but are super important. Thank you for sharing the details!
Thanks Trey. There are so many details that go into making these shoots a success. I feel like it took me a lot of trial and error to figrue out what works for me and I'm glad to hear that my experience is helpful to others.
There's always more to learn. Thanks for watching!
Thank you! (I also appreciate the Fritos humor)
My pleasure - have a good one!
Love the camera angle.
Yeah, quite a jump in the production value between Part I and Part II.
Part 1 & Part 2 appreciated. So you did steal the Fritos... I prefer chocolate milk.
I have no idea what you're talking about... 😂
@@MattSpaugh Guess not. You mention stealing Fritos. And they're placed all over your video. You also posted in two parts ....but you have no idea what I'm talking about? K :)
awesome vids bro, thank you so much!
Glad you like them - thanks for watching!
Fritos - good one
If anyone asks, I never went near that 3rd floor vending machine... I've got witnesses!
Thanks for watching!
I love the bags of Fritos you have packed in all of the overhead shots of your bags. HAHA
I have absolutely no knowledge of how those came to be in my possession. 😂
This makes me think of all the times I had my photo taken. I've been watching a lot of vids about portrait photography, etc. If I were to ever do this, it would be a long way from now. I'm pretty new to photography. Thanks for sharing how you do this! 🌟Fritos are pretty awesome.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. It's fun work but there are a lot of details to keep track of so it can be a little nerve-racking.
Good luck in your journey. I've found photography and video work to be very satisfying and it's allowed me to meet lots of great people along the way. Have a good one!
You did take all the Fritos!!!
I've got an assistant that'll claim otherwise! 🤣🤣🤣
thank you so much, thanks from China, it's really useful for me to learn the method for school photography
Glad to hear it. Check out part 1 if you haven't already. Thanks for watching.
You didn’t take the Fritos, sure 😂 So funny 😆
Thanks for a good, informative video
Ha - glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this video.
My pleasure - glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
I am have the same backdrop stand kit. Cheap but it works. Love that bag. I gotta get one.
I use that Slinger bag on every single job I do. It's really versatile. Thanks for watching!
I have watched several of your vids and love them. Thank you.
I would like to know, do you print your photos or do you send them out to be printed.
If you print it yourself, what is your setup?
Thank you again.
I use Zenfolio for the my gallery hosting. When I was setting things up, they were the only service that offered really solid database processing for large galleries where I needed to send individual emails with password protection. With Zenfolio you can connect to a number of print labs (I use Millers). Clients can access their images through Zenfolio and then you set up print packages they can order that are then fulfilled by Millers.
Honestly both Zenfolio and Millers have their shortcomings, but the system works and I've not seen any reason to change.
Hope that helps.Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
Got the laptop stand link. Thanks, Brother! ✊🏾❤️
Great follow up to your previous part 1. Thank you Matt!!
My pleasure. I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching - and for the encouragement!
@@MattSpaugh Hi Matt, what is your turn around time for a shoot of 100 people? Actually I have 100 but two finals per. One wearing a lab coat and one without. So 200.
@@timprice6119 that would easily be a full day shoot. If possible, I'd try to get two days.
@@MattSpaugh thank you but how long would it take you to turn over the final product to them at 200 images?
@@timprice6119 Properly exposed, I could correct and retouch 200 images (comfortably) in a couple of days.
I appreciate this!
Glad you found it helpful - thanks for watching!
Those are the Fritos he stole from the snack machine in the first video! (Assistant was an accomplice apparently.)
You'll never prove it!
Thank you 🙏 I’ve been waiting for this exact information
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing! 👍
Glad you liked it. Check out part one if you haven't already. The audio is awful, but the content is solid - ha.
Perfect.
HA - thanks. At least its more listenable than part 1... that audio... whew.
Thanks for watching and for the kind comment!
Thank you for sharing your system. How do you structure payment for these types of shoots? Are you involved with print fulfillment? Can you please expound on what happens after the shoot? Thank you 📸🌞
I get a deposit of 25% for a customer to reserve the dates. I get the next 25% as soon as the shoot is complete and I know I have solid, usable images, and I get the balance when the images are delivered.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
@@MattSpaugh hello and thank you for taking the time for a speedy reply. I wasn't interested in the terms, as much as how you charge for the job. You touched on it in another video, saying, 'each is different. ' 'Sometime the school pays for your time, sometimes you make money from printing, others the school makes the money, etc. ' I found what I was looking for. Thank you 📸🌞
I wouldn't stuff crisps into a camera bag, even tho that protactic is quite sturdy :)
Great video!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos. This is greatly helping me realize where I can improve my process going into my business
That makes me so happy to hear. This type of work can be really challenging but also very rewarding. I love working with kids - especially the younger ones - year after year. Good luck in your endeavors and thanks for watching!
Saw part 1. loved it! ✊🏾❤️
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
Nice job Matt
Thanks Steve, and thanks for watching!
Great tips!!! I was recently approached by my kids' high school band about portraits...and this is a tremendous help! New subscriber!!!
That's great. It's good way to make a buck. I actually like interacting with students which is a plus. Good luck with it, thanks for watching.
This was awesome! I used to work for a School Day photography company and you covered this really well in both these videos. Getting kids to smile is so rewarding and if you can get some awesome smiles from special needs kids, and the parents cheer and tell you that you're the best photog ever... well that's a huge bonus too ;-)
Indeed! Thanks for watching.
Awesome video!! Thank you!
Glad you liked it. Check out Part 1 if you haven't already. The audio is terrible, but the content is pretty solid (if I say so myself).
Thanks for watching!
Truly amazing video Matt! Thank you so much, it was very informative and fun to watch!
Thanks Ahsan. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
Great content!
Thanks for the help
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!
How do you transport all of your gear? Do you use a wagon? Thanks for the video by the way, SUPER informational. SUBSCRIBED!
Typically I just make multiple trips. The large Slinger bag has wheels, so that helps. For video gigs lately I've been using the Rock-n-roller R2 cart. I really like it. I should do a review of it. It's one of the few I've found that folds down small enough so it doesn't take up too much room in my car. www.adorama.com/mfr2m.html
@@MattSpaugh Great info thanks! I was wondering if it was worth buying a wagon similar to what you've mentioned on amazon for these types of shoots. For easy transport. Worth it you think?
@@jaiel.p it really comes down to the individual and the timing. I'm pretty fit for my age (ha) and don't mind making multiple trips as long as I have plenty of time for set up and getting test shots. I will say that of the carts I've used the Rock-n-roller R2 is the best by far.
@@MattSpaugh Thanks, Matt! You've been a great help I appreciate the interaction 👍
Hi Matt, I wanted to share an update with you. I had a high volume headshot project for a children's program recently, and your headshot video series proved to be incredibly beneficial. I decided to invest in the wagon and it really worked out for me. While it may not be ideal for stairs, it was a valuable asset for the project.
Thank you again for the videos. I appreciate your advice!
Extraordinary. Who knew that type of photography could be so demanding. Excellent job, as usual Matt.
Thanks Peter. "Part 1" got such an incredible response that it only seemed natural to follow it up with something more in-depth. I really do hope to produce a part 3 at some point to explain my retouching workflow, the setting up of galleries, etc.
It's funny, I keep trying to push my channel more toward video content but the headshot videos get such positive response, it can't be ignored.
Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for watching! I hope you're well.
If done right, where attention to detail and having problems covered before they become a problem, is really the service provided that someone with a camera taking snapshots does not do is the main difference between a pro and a hobbyist. Taking care of all potential problems is not exciting but it is an essential part of what you are being paid for. For example, running a power cord or cable across the floor is common but there is a 1 in 200 chance of someone tripping over it so a pro will use a cable cover so a hard tunnel market with stripes 1-1.5 inches high over the cable and taped down, might never be needed but one case where it was needed can ruin your reputation and balloon up your insurance costs. Taking time to set everything up and test it before the clients arrive reduces the stress of the client and photographer. Having backups of everything that could interrupt the flow of the session is insurance that a problem is erased at the cost of taking 2 seconds to swap it out. Need a strobe or flash? No, two. Scanning the scene before the client arrives and thinking of what impression would be left if any of the needed items was not functioning. I test everything as it goes into the bag and as it comes out on location. If it becomes a habit it is done with the flow and does not add to the setup time. Don't just test a strobe/flash whether it fires but to some test shots of your assistant. You can then focus on connecting with the subjects which makes or break portrait sessions. Most of my work is with professional stage and film actors, and ballet and opera singers and if you make them feel comfortable and create what you discussed as the goal, word or mouth referrals are surely going to follow. All my work in that specialty was due to one actor I did free sessions with, who I met on a club dance floor16 years ago and 90% of my current work was a result of her becoming influential in stage, cinema and TV. So interaction with clients is the more trusted source of work than any other promotion. I shoot regularly for the second most family ballet theater in the world, stills for a very popular national TV police drama, that girl from the dance floor has been the female lead for 6 years, and led in 14 feature films. We created a side business of teaching stage actors how to transition to cinema in regular multi-day master classes featuring well-known casting directors and film directors. For me, this is a hobby turned to income since I retired from another field where attention to detail was key also. That was in music recording as a studio owner and recording engineer. Attention to detail was key there and in my 3 studio complex from the 1970s to 90s recorded 197 gold and platinum albums. Any field benefits from solving problems before they occur because the product itself reflects the ease and flow of creative processes. The first real income from photography was taking snapshots in the 70s of relaxed breaks during 3-4 month-long recording sessions, that ended up on album covers or liner notes. I got royalties, small per album sale, but when an album sold millions, one casual snapshot of an artist having a serious talk in a dark corner with the album producer became a featured image on the cover and bought me a beach home on Maui. I moved from the USA in 2000 in retirement but ended up creating 4 businesses that became successful because of attention to detail as a key reason for success. All in seemingly unrelated fields. My background was in electronic engineering where details matter and benefited in other fields that were often viewed as feel or emotions but actually depended on ATD: attention to detail.
Ha! i think i have the same background stand. and yeah sure, it works.
Cheap and good. Mine came with a gray muslin that is like, 12' x 20'. It's awesome until packing time - and getting the wrinkles out. Thanks for watching!
Thank you
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching!
The normal for payment here in Ireland is to do it for free, give the school class group photos and sell packages to the parents.
I've done some that way. Most are a combination of a base guarantee with print/digital sales on top of that but honestly, it's all over the place.
Print sales are in my area are in decline or non-existent. As far as digitals go, I've literally seen people post photos they've taken of the thumbnail on their computer screen. The bar for quality is certainly not what it once was. That said, it's still worth the effort in most cases.
My favorite is the mom who shows up on shoot day and runs up behind me to take a photo... "how those strobes workin' for you there, mama?"
Thanks for watching.
For pre-school/elementary school shoot, would you use a stool? If so, any recommendations?
Yes, I always use a stool for kids and sometimes even for adults if I need to work quickly. Take a look at "High Volume Headshots" which is Part 1 of these videos. I break down the placement of things and you can see the actual stool that I use. The biggest thing for me is to have a stool that has a rectangular seat - not a round one - so you can automatically get the shoulders at an a angle. Here's a link to the original video: ua-cam.com/video/G9ZeVmcYgx4/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for these videos! What software do you use to deliver the galleries to the school and the parents? And is that the same software you use to sell prints to them?
I'm glad you're finding my content helpful.
I use Zenfolio for posting my galleries and for handling my print sales. Zenfolio is not the most intuitive resource IMHO, but its ability to process CSV files makes it ideal for this type of work.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Matt where do you get your desk top?
That came to me years ago from a woodworker pal. It's a slab from a tree that was cut down as part of a fire break.
Great video. When batteries corrode in a camera or other device don't use steel wool and grease; white vinegar and a toothbrush will always do the trick. I collect the toothbrushes from hotels that I never actually use for tooth brushing.
FWIW, the grease I'm using is dielectric grease, it's made for electrical contacts. It stops corrosion and ensures max power transfer.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
So how do you get the clients? Do you just advertise through social media/website or do you go up to the schools and introduce yourself?
Honestly, it's mostly word-of-mouth. I do have a website for my headshot photography which gets me most of my business, but referrals are a big part of staying busy.
Thanks for watching!
Purchased the Frameworks Heavy Duty adjustable stand. I am in heaven. Exactly what I was looking for. It’s sturdy. Solid item. I also have the frame works desktop mic stand/boom arm. I didn’t realize they made stands. Thanks Matt. ✊🏾#iamyourcameraguy
It's the bomb. I love it in use, I hate it when I have to carry it to a job! Glad you found something helpful in the video! Thanks for watching.
New to indoor photography with lights, and wanting to purchase the gear you use. The phottix 40x90 softbox with grid you use in this video isn’t available anymore, what you recommend buying in its place? Also what do you use for a guide on pricing a digital image? Thank you so much in advance.
I have actually moved to the Glow EZ Lock 12x36 softbox for my hair light. It is a bowens s-mount so I'm using a bracket to hold the flash. Links below.
As far as pricing goes, I charge a session fee that is a flat fee that gets me and my equipment on site, and then I charge a per image fee on top of that. Those fees can vary greatly depending on number of individuals being photographed, location distance, amount of retouching required, etc.
Glow 12x36 Soft Box: www.adorama.com/glsbez1236.html
Bracket: www.adorama.com/glbdsm02.html
@@MattSpaugh I guess my question is do you charge the same for a digital as for a print? Now days people want digitals. Thanks so much for being so helpful with answering my questions.
@@tarrinmonson4066 the only people who want prints anymore are schools - and even then, there are very few people that buy them (in my experience anyway). I charge to take the photo, retouch, and provide a digital file. I sell prints separately through Zenfolio (which is where I host my galleries). i have my account linked to Miller's Lab who does the fulfillment on the print orders. I could do a whole video on that process (and maybe will one day). It can get a little complicated sometimes.
Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
Which chair/stool do you have?? also to mention you used tape??? to mark the stool position Im thinking of using making tape or duck tape to mark exact placement
For the record, I only use a stool when doing students - and that is just so I can keep them in a consistent spot and at a consistent angle. When I photograph adults, I almost always have them standing. Adults tend to slump down when seated. As far as the seat goes, often times I will just grab whatever is handy on-site. I do have a cheap-o that I got from target a couple of years ago. The main characteristics I like are a height of about 24" and a seat that is rectangular. The rectangular seat helps keep your subjects shoulders angled the way you want them. I'm not sure if this link will come through, but it's basically this one. Mine is black: www.target.com/p/halifax-farmhouse-wood-counter-height-barstool-threshold/-/A-54605634
Probably way more of an answer than you were looking for but I hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
@@MattSpaughThanks for answering all my questions in such detail. Im trying not to ask something that has already been answered.
Yes i am interested in your knowledge of insurance
Got it. thanks.
Awesome content Matt! You should create a paid course!
I have actually considered it. In many ways, I have my own way of doing things so I don't feel like I could offer a range of alternatives that would meet different people's needs. Your comment is pushing me to reconsider though!
Thanks for watching, glad you liked the video.
@@MattSpaugh I totally understand! Your way of doing things from a headshot A-Z volume perspective is valuable to a lot of people including me. It's where the $$$ is and that's exactly what ppl want and need. I personally have paid $500 for a course that was good but the system you have and knowledge is worth more in my opinion. I'll definitely be in touch in the future with a proposition.
@@tyebinuyo532 Thanks Tye, that's really encouraging. I started making an outline for a course. I'd really like to include insights on how to get clients, pricing, insurance and an in-depth look at post processing. It would be a lot to cover but January is usually a slow month for me so maybe I'll make it a priority. Thanks again, I'm glad you found the video(s) helpful.
@@MattSpaugh no problem!
I second this. Just found your channel today (doing realtor headshots for the first time ever) and your clear delivery style works well. I’d buy a course from you. You already have all the equipment you need. 😁. Maybe make a mini course to start and see what happens.
Hey Matt,.. I totally liked your video which is packed with tons of information! Thank you.
I'd have one question open if you don't mind:
For the AD200... how many batteries do you need for a day of shooting? I saw that you have the AD-B2 to use two of them as your main-light. This is the same setup I have. But as I never needed to shoot a whole day with them I was wondering how many batteries you have with you :)
Thanks a lot in advance!
One battery will last me an entire day (around 250-300 flashes at 1/2 power). Although I used to use just one unit, I've switched to using two just in case one fails. With 2 in the bracket, they're running at around 1/4 power each and will easily last all day.
All that said, I still keep an additional battery with me, and I usually put the batteries that I'm using in the charger during lunch.
Hope that helps, glad you found the content useful. Thanks for watching.
@@MattSpaugh thanks again for your detailed answer!! Highly appreciated!
😅🤣I thought it was funny how he had the Frito chips in all his bags!
I did NOT steal those Fritos...😅
Fantastic videos and information!
You mention getting an assistant to “ wrangle” and requiring someone to be with you all day… would that be the same person or are you wanting two different people? Thanks!
I'm glad you found the content helpful. I usually just have one person to help out - someone provided by the institution.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching.
Thank you so much. I am setting up in Kent UK. I may have to travel into London via train. I can't carry all of that so I have one A200pro, pop up backdrop and reflectors for corporate. Thinking about backdrop.. What brand is your backdrop stand? What colour should you use? Paper or muslin? How big should you go? Many thanks again
When I have to travel light I use a 5x7 white fabric pop up backdrop and the 25" Glow EZ Lock softbox without a grid. A single AD200 will totally do the job. The backdrop I use only folds down to about 22" across, so it's still a bit big, but very portable. If you have some type of rolling bag to strap the stand to, you can make it work. I don't know if this link will be of any help, but this is basically the setup I use. www.amazon.com/Fovitec-Photography-Pop-Out-Backdrop-Included/dp/B07W7WGLS4
Great stuff, thanks for sharing! Very interested in learning more about insurance. Also, Fritos, 2 for $1... nice lol. How do you deal with kids that won't cooperate?
Ahhhh yes, the photo of the uncooperative child. I've found there are usually two reasons, either they're shy or they're obstinate.
If you can get the shy ones to relax, you can usually get a decent shot. If you can make them laugh and click the shutter right before or after the laugh, you're almost guaranteed something that will be passable.
For the obstinate ones, I will try reasoning with them, "hey kid, I'm trying to make living here - cut me some slack" or "your mom's the one who's going to be upset, not me". At the end of the day, there are some children that you are just not going to get a good picture of.
The school I was photographing in the video had really well-behaved, well-adjusted kids. There were only two or three that just wouldn't play ball - so I figure that's a really good average.
Hope that helps, thanks for watching and I'll see what I can do about getting some more insurance information out there.
Awesome video. I’m a wedding photographer trying to add the headshot market. I have all the lenses you are using but I was told to use a 50mm for this. What’s your input on this?
50mm is considered "what the eye sees". As your focal length decreases, say 24mm, your image is going to be more distorted: things closer to the camera get bigger. As the focal length increases, like 90-100mm, the image gets compressed, so the facial features closest to the camera are less emphasized. A more compressed image is more flattering for most people.
I hope that's not overly simplified (or stuff you already knew).
A longer focal length also means you're further away from your subject which I find to be good with most people - especially kids. Shooting at 90-135mm means I'm usually about 6 feet away. It gives everyone 'room to breathe' I always say.
Hope that helps and thanks again for watching.
@@MattSpaugh thanks. I agree with having distance from the subject
@@GmanfromTexas especially if they cater lunch and it tuna salad!
@@MattSpaugh lol. Or FRITOS
@@GmanfromTexas Olé!
I wish the inside of all my bags were orange. Black makes it so hard to see all my black gear.
Ha - good point. I've never been a fan of orange I guess. It does make things stand out!
Thanks for watching.
No degreaser for your Frito-fingers?
Fritos? What Fritos? I have no idea what you're talking about.
That Intro!!!! HAHAHAHAHA Great info shared! thank you!
I did NOT take those Fritos and I have a witness to back me up on that!
lol the fritos!!
Love 'em!
What laptop stand are you using? I having a hard time finding a quality stand.
Okay. No such thing as a dumb question right 👀? How many photographers use other photographers to do their headshots? Is that common?
The only dumb question is the one you don't ask! I really have no idea how many headshot photographers get other people to do their headshots but we all probably should! How else can we know exactly how someone feels when they're in that position?
I used to always do a ridiculous test shot of myself on every shoot and used those as my headshots for a long time. I actually shot the one I use now, but I may look into hiring someone!
Thanks for watching.
Idk if you stole all the frito's but... there's some video evidence that you may have.🎉 great video!
Ha - thanks for watching!
I did not eat any fritos after watching this video.
🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for watching.
Super video, very informative. Thanks for sharing! SUB from Me!!!
Thanks! I'm guessing you've seem part 1, but if not, check it out. The audio is terrible but it goes more in-depth with my camera set up and workflow.
Thanks for watching!
Yep...that was great also. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Lol!!
This was kind of boring. Show us some of the photos you take. You're all talk.
So sorry to disappoint you. Watch part one, you'll probably hate it too, but it at least shows more photos.
Oh and, anyone who is getting this type of work does not need a portrait photo tutorial, or if they do, there's only about a million of them on UA-cam. What people do seem to need is practical information about equipment, logistics and getting repeat business.
And you’re a fool! This guy offers experience-based gems for free and you are disappointed because you want to be entertained? Amazing! 🤷♂️
@@andydragonfisher6900 I want you at my back next time I get in a bar fight.
@@MattSpaugh I’m there mate