Mastering Headshot Photography

Already a member? WATCH NOW

Master the art of headshot photography with one of the planet’s premier advertising and commercial photographers, Peter Hurley!

Mastering Headshot Photography isn’t about the technical aspects of lighting or gear, instead it’s all about learning how to pull expression out of your subject. It all comes down to the communication between you and your subject, and you’re the one responsible for making it happen. Join Peter in his studio while he works one-on-one with a variety of different subjects and teaches you his favorite tips and techniques for connecting with your clients, building their confidence in front of the camera, and bringing out authentic expression.

This is a must-see course for any portrait photographer!

Introduction (03:44) Join Peter Hurley in his studio as he discusses the most important aspects of headshot photography.
Andy (11:18) If you can capture the essence of somebody it takes the portrait to a whole new level.
Sarah (15:27) You need to develop your own routine to help you provide a flow to your sessions.
Ariana (13:09) If you are an actor or model then 100% of your branding is your image. Your job as a photographer is to help the subject put their best foot forward.
Joseph (14:49) We want headshots that make people feel or think. There are certain words that can help elicit expressions from your subjects.
Debbie (11:02) The photographer is responsible for the expression. Don't let the person go if you can't get the expression.
Shelly (07:36) Cameras are powerful, and when you are behind the camera you have all the power.
Reviews (08:31) Sitting down to review the shots with the client is an important part of the process.
Daisy (08:22) There is no stopping to this. You may master bits and pieces, but you are always learning and always growing.
Conclusion (05:20) Think about making a game plan and coming up with go-to things to do and say to make people open up in front of the camera.

Course Time: 01 Hours 39 Minutes

R. Brong

May 9 2013

This was an excellent course. I really learned a lot. Peter Hurley is crazy good!
G. Cadotte

May 4 2013

I'm, more than happy that you've got this guy onto your team. He's bringing magic in what he's doing and beleive me he knows is stuff. In my oppinion guys like him and Tim Wallace are among your top ten. Keep up your good work.
G. Samarco

Apr 25 2013

I've been a member of KT for about a year and this is one of the best videos I've watched. It was really fun to watch and Peter had great information to pass along in a very creative, easygoing way that made the videos just naturally flow.
S. Curzi

Apr 3 2013

Wow! This definitely is a GREAT course! Very well done, open and honest. I really appreciated the section with Shelly: "We are human, we have feelings that we have to work with and manage correctly and professionally." This course showed how to behave when things are not good for any reason. Again, a very good job.
D. Sobel

Apr 3 2013

This the first time I have seen a tutorial that deals with how to work with the subject to get expressions. There needs to be more of these types of lessons. It was great! I have books and other resources on lighting and also posing but not how to work with people to get the great expressions! I would love to see this on more formal portraits that also includes some posing guides
D. Nace

Mar 23 2013

This course is just terrific (I've watched some segments several times). Peter does such a great job of explaining how important it is to interact with your subjects and how he went about developing his style. Very encouraging- thank you!
A. Hair

Mar 19 2013

So easy to watch. Entertaining as well as informative. Peter has great Charisma with both his subjects, as well as his audience. The only dissapointment was when I clicked on Peter's link to view his other courses, and there were no others. Please do some more Peter - your work is great!
J. Tom

Mar 14 2013

Some awesome stuff here! I've learned a lot from Peter's class, and it's courses like this that drive me to continuously improve my photography. Keep them coming and I'm looking forward to the next course from Peter!
R. Valentine

Mar 13 2013

Peter Hurley is wonderful in the way he communicates with both his subject, and the audience (us). It was so refreshing to watch something totally non-technical but so very informal in this class. Great stuff! Five Star!
D. McKay

Mar 9 2013

This is what makes Kelby Training so worthwhile. This is also what will get me to keep coming back each year. It is not just about gear and setup, it's about working with your environment, training your mind to see and getting that decisive moment.
D. Zandbergen

Mar 3 2013

Very valuable and insightful. Thanks for sharing your epierence and insights.
M. Caplan

Feb 28 2013

Terrific tour de force demo on how to interact with your subjects, Peter! So much of the time we photographers and/or wannabe obsess over where to position the key/fill/kicker and forget there is a person there being hit with all of our deliberately-aimed photons! I did find it interesting that the final shot of Daisy on the tutorial showed her ear... which you were working so hard to cover! Thanks for the inspirational presentation!
H. Rudd

Feb 28 2013

This was a great class! I appreciate seeing art in action on KT and this didn't disappoint. It is so nice and refreshing to see Peter having honest and direct interaction with the clients. I can't wait till we get some more classes from this photographer.
M. Vedana

Feb 26 2013

I never thought there could be a training that can explain the most important thing in portrait photography: the human condition and it's handling! Respect for your skills! From Germany.
D.

Feb 17 2013

"Mastering Headshot Photography", Wow, thanks for giving me a whole new way to look at portrait photography, awesome insight!
P. Hurley

Feb 16 2013

Guys I'm totally inspired to be the best photographer and teacher I can be because of the support I'm getting from all of you. Thanks so much for watching. Teaching this stuff has opened a whole new world for me and the by product is that it's made me a much better photographer. I'm constantly digging deeper into directing people in front of my camera and I've noticed a big change in my work since I started down the teaching path. I can't thank Kelby Training enough for inviting me in and producing this tutorial. So psyched!!! SHABANG!
C. Fahm

Feb 15 2013

I had heard that this course was amazing, but it was that and so much more. I learned so much about how to elicit true expression. Peter Hurley's enthusiasm is contagious.
F.

Feb 15 2013

Peter ... all the lights just went off in my head. Now. I. Get. It. Thank you!!!!!!!!
I. ZIV

Feb 14 2013

Excellent teacher and demo!
F. Heusequin

Feb 14 2013

Peter is The Best!
C. Skallerud

Feb 13 2013

An engaging, lively presentation! Exceptionally useful!
S. Jamasji

Feb 12 2013

FANTASTIC is the ideal term to describe the way the course is being conducted...to the point and easy to understand. I watched and followed instructions for four hours without stopping for anything and enjoyed every minute of it!
G. Tustin

Feb 10 2013

I love this set of films. It's obvious you need to make a connection with your client but not always easy. It's no good being technically brilliant if you don't make that connection. It's not natural to everyone so it's something else to think about. Even Peter makes notes on what works and he seems really confident. I have done two sittings since watching these films and my change of approach has given my work a huge boost.
W. Chinn

Feb 10 2013

Be prepared as the working tips comes fast and furious. This is seriously a fundamental course on how to make sure the person in front and behind the camera can get the best out of the session. Why does a photographer have to be verbal and interact with the various types of personalities in front of the camera? Yeah there are comments on how to work with facial flaws, but the important issues of how to relay the corrections to the customer is more important. Note the lighting setup doesn't have to change, it's the give and take between the people involved that is important. I've never seen a session review documented as well as this. Definitely a must viewing for all photographers trying to get the best portrait possible. Thanks to Hurley and Kelby for making this available.
A. Cordeiro

Feb 10 2013

Just amazing!!!
R. Glass

Feb 9 2013

Amazing tutorial and amazing photographs - Peter Hurley's "tricks" for engaging and bringing out the best in his subjects will be of use especially to those of us who are uncomfortable directing their subjects. I'll never ask someone to "smile" again - Promise!
D. Peresie

Feb 9 2013

I really enjoyed this whole presentation -- and looking at Hurley for the whole time didn't hurt either!
A. Depalma

Feb 9 2013

I really enjoyed the authenticity of the shots and of the photographer. I'm motivated to try these techniques!
J. Charette

Feb 8 2013

This was probably the most enjoyable course that I've seen so far. I have a decent mastery of the technical issues with photography, but this really focused on working with a model to a degree that I hadn't seen elswehere.
A. Scott

Feb 8 2013

Great course! I've been waiting for this one for months. Peter has a masterful technique that makes his clients feel totally at ease. I do believe that in another life he may have been a Quarterback for the Packers.
B. Deavin

Feb 8 2013

I've been looking forward to this course since I first saw it was coming. I'm not a headshot photographer, but I think everyone who has ever photographed a person can learn so much from this class, amazing, really interesting to see how Peter works differently with different types of people. Really excellent class, I look forward to more classes from Mr Hurley!
K. Holmes

Feb 8 2013

Excellent course!!!!!! Love how he establishes an instant rapport with the people he is photographing. It's insane how he gets them to blindly follow his lead even to the most extreme end facial expression. Would love to see more classes from him! Learned so much!
D. Chevalier

Feb 7 2013

I was very pleased with this course. Mr. Hurley completely passed on the technical and focused on sharing his approach to the emotional connection to his subjects. I found the shoots interesting to learn his approach and his personal style, but think I got the most out of how he does the reviews with the client. I also appreciated his frankness about how his attitude was influencing his subjects. I found the face pictograms online and will use this as I develop my own interaction style to go with my photographic style. Highly recommended.
R. Mandsager

Feb 7 2013

Great stuff! Really enjoyed it!
S. Strickland

Feb 7 2013

What an awesome course. He shows you how to interact, elicit expressions and bring the best out of your clients. His photography rocks!
V.

Feb 7 2013

A W E S O M E!!! SHEBANG!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you KelbyTraining for bringing us Peter Hurley!! I own Peter's DVD and I have attended a meet-up with Peter, but I can never get enough of him. I learn something every time I hear him speak. This course ALONE was worth my annual subscription fee. PLEASE do ANOTHER KelbyTraining soon with Peter-- show us even more actors in front of his camera, and maybe more about how he runs his business. I am a head shot photographer too, so while I do watch the KelbyTraining videos on wedding photography, landscape photography, fashion photography, etc., it's all well and good, but this...THIS!...this is what REALLY interests me. Thanks again to KelbyTraining and to the man himself...Peter Hurley!!!
J. Maddox

Feb 7 2013

Such a great course... I can never get enough of Peter Hurley.... Now its time to go shoot...
W. Machuca

Feb 7 2013

Peter has so much positive energy that it is infectious. He tells it straight up and is just himself. I highly recommend watching this.
D. Erskine

Feb 7 2013

This was great! Peter spent 5% of the session discussing technical matters and 95% explaining (by doing!) how to make your subjects show true emotion in the camera. Absolutely fantastic.
S. Hein

Feb 7 2013

Peter Hurley is boss. Thank you.
C. Hursh

Feb 6 2013

For me, this video is like the missing link...the aspect of my photography that just can't be fixed with aperture, format and lighting. It's not about the camera!!
R. Warren

Feb 6 2013

That was excellent! This guy is a master of his craft!
C. Tonge

Feb 6 2013

This course is the polish on the other Kelby training courses. It is no longer about cameras or lights or gear, it is all about people. How to see them and how to get the expressions that make them look their best, that make them look like themselves. It is exactly what I hoped it would be. It is going into my favourites list. I will be watching it again and again. Shebang!
R. Browne

Feb 6 2013

To the point, informative and inspiring.
J. Golden

Feb 6 2013

I have been looking forward to this seminar since Scott mentioned it was in the works and it was even better than I thought it be. Peter rocks!
I. Johnstone

Feb 6 2013

Big welcome to Peter, great catch for kelby training, the guy is a genius!!
P. Shepherd

Feb 6 2013

Fantastic! I have been waiting for this one to get released. Peter Hurley is inspiring and a great motivator. His approach to head shot photography is real world simplicity. His 90/10 belief is spot on and shows it really is about the people more than the tools.
B. Fredrick

Feb 6 2013

I never really liked doing head shots...your approach is great and even while watching I could feel myself smiling while you were working with your clients. Thanks!
H. Eriksson

Feb 6 2013

Very interesting indeed! This and Lackey's course really tells me what's it all about. I am really wanting to get out and shoot people now! Very nice course, thanks.
D. Mcphee

Feb 6 2013

I look forward to new stuff daily from KelbyTraining. This Peter Hurley video is real world and down to earth. Communication in the studio is paramount and this series brings that about 360. One of the best videos on KelbyTraining in years!
B. Wiley

Feb 6 2013

Great! Loved it!
J. Meade

Feb 6 2013

Peter Hurley's genius is reaching inside of someone and pulling out the best they have to offer and photographing it on their face. That's his true talent and if you adopt his approach using your personal style, you will take the best headshots you're capable of on a consistent basis. This video should be a primer for anyone who wants to kick their headshots to the next level.
F. Rodriguez

Feb 6 2013

Peter's class is awesome, I've learned so much watching him do his thing. Every session seems to be a human adventure full of happiness, emotion and expression. The result is stunning and portraits are gorgeous. Can't wait to see more. Peter you rock! Now, I'm really exited to go back to my camera and experiment what I learned.
E. Garcia

Feb 6 2013

Peter Hurley rocks the house at KelbyTraining!

LIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES

CAMERA, LENS, AND ACCESSORIES

GRIP GEAR

COMPUTER AND ACCESSORIES

UNLIMITED ACCESS

$199 PER YEAR $24.95 PER MONTH Subscribe Now NAPP Member $179/year, $19.95/month

Rent Course - $9.99
Watch as much as you like for 72 hours

Your Instructor

Peter Hurley

Advertising & Commercial Photographer

Peter is a New York and Los Angeles based photographer specializing in advertising and commercial work, including portraiture, fashion, beauty, editorial, actor's headshots, events and corporate...VIEW FULL BIO»

VIEW ALL OF PETER'S COURSES
VIEW PETER'S WEBSITE