The quality of our work did not just "happen." It is a product of my training under Peter Hurley, who basically revolutionised the headshot genre by making it mainstream. Peter is based in Manhattan (New York), where he photographs aspiring actors and models. His work with the entertainment industry has influenced other industries including corporate profile photos in the US. I thought that in order for me to become the best, I must seek out world class mentors and be trained by the best since he is on the top of the headshot food chain.
Back in 2014, I did an intensive-training workshop of his, which is three-months long. That training is not worth anything if there is no validation from the man himself. So for three more months, I contended to become an associate photographer of Peter and succeeded. To be an associate means my work is top-notch, world-class and passes his strict quality.
I have kept the same principles I learned five years ago. With the added marketing perspective from Bernie, our product has evolved to make sure that not only are they engaging headshots but they are all fit for the purpose of our clients. More often than not, their purpose is to get a better job or get sales for their products and services. A perfect example would be this client of ours, who made the career move from Auckland to Hongkong. We were deliberating between two photos. In the end, we all agreed to go with the look that will attract the audience our client is targeting within Asian companies - traditional, formal and corporate look.
To this day, I can still hear Peter's voice in my head saying that I should be consistently producing portfolio-worthy shots day-in and day-out. That is what we have continued to do for every single headshot shoot for every client who walks through our doors, be it for local use or beyond. In the end, the benefit of a world class headshot is that it attracts world class clients.