Q & A

PHILOSOPHY

What is your overall philosophy when approaching headshots? I have to find a narrative, I am shooting actors in action. I am not shooting “caricatures” or broad types. I approach all of my work from a narrative point of view. What is the story? What is clients story? How would this client play this role/character? Very similar to Stanislavski’s “Magic If”. Now, I need something to say with the photograph. Nothing is more boring to me than a photograph of a face with no story. There needs to be a need and an emotion behind it.

How do you define character? It is not a character from a tv show, movie, or play. I think of character as the distinct qualities that make us who we are. Those qualities are revealed in from of the camera. I guess actors call it their “essence”. People cannot run from their inherent character when they play a role. They bring their own character to it. That is what makes us all unique.

Is it difficult to get a creative or artistic looking headshot? It depends on the approach. It is not easy with actor headshots because of all the industry limitations on what a headshot “should be”, but I am not really interested in “should be’s”. They are death to anything creative. When I meet a client for the first time and we are looking through clothing and talking “looks”, I am asking questions like who is this person? Why do they wear this? Who wears this cut, color, brand? This is how I start to come up with a narrative to help tell the story of each look. I try to blur the line between an actor headshot for casting purposes and a creative portrait.

What is your overall style? Honest. Straight forward. Sustainable. Trend resistant. The most often heard comment from casting and agents is that my photos look exactly like their clients, but with emotional depth and a story. I have photos on this site that are 15 years old. They still hold up over time.

Do you light everyone the same way? No. Absolutely not. My lighting helps the client tell their story. Again, what is the narrative and how do you tell that story. Some looks have more depth of light than others. More layers of light = More layers of character.

CAMERA GEAR

Do you shoot film or digital? For headshots I shoot digital. I still shoot all forms of film for personal work.

Which camera do you use? I shoot headshots with the Fujifilm X series and multiple lenses. I think I have shot every camera brand at this point. However, it really does not matter these days image quality-wise. The Fuji colors with Capture One processing fits my look. It also fits in my hand really well. It is a second skin to me. Sounds weird, but if you have to hold a tool all day it has to feel right in the hand. I can just focus on my subject and not the camera.

CLIENT BASE

Do you work only with established talent? Mostly. I would say the majority of my clients make their living as creative artists in the entertainment industry. Most of them are actors…but I always have a handful of clients shooting for the first time. I work well with actors getting shots for the first time. Sometimes they are better than the established actors. They just let it rip.

How do you shoot clients new to the industry? I shoot them as I would my established talent so they don’t look so green. I want everyone to look like they work and are successful doing it. New clients usually want to dress up more and think they have to push the looks by being “charactrery”. I think this comes more from the rep doing everything they can to get their clients seen and it filters down to the clients. I avoid this trap at all costs.

Do your clients have a type? Not really. However, I am not for everyone. If I don’t fit, don’t force it. It is not worth the money and the client should shoot with someone who will give them what they want stylistically. I can tell right away when they contact me. I will look at the imdb and know I am not right for them. If a client is over-retouched and leaning towards gloss and over soul, I know we will not match up well. Their history of choices tell me how they view themselves and the industry. I lose some work, but in the long run I stay true and I won’t waste the clients time either.

Who are your favorite? My favorite clients present themselves honestly with confidence in front of the camera. They know they are enough. Clothing is simple and not an issue. They understand that all the aspects of the shot are helping them. They know they are part of a larger picture and they trust that. They also look beneath the skin.

BOOKING & RATES

How far in advance do I need to book? Generally, you want to book 3-4 weeks in advance.

Do you do “two for one” deals? No, but I usually have some sort of discount going on for actors.

Can I break up my payments? No.

What forms of payment do you accept? I accept cash, check, or credit card. My makeup artist also accepts Venmo.  I send a link to pay with credit card after the session.

What about a deposit? You will pay a $250 deposit against your balance. After you book you will get an email to pay with a credit card. If you cancel or reschedule within 5 days of your shoot, you will lose your deposit unless I can fill the spot from the waitlist.

Do you shoot on weekends? I do now and then. Check the schedule.

What if I cannot find the date I want? If you cannot find the date you need, then ask me. I may have a waitlist. I also travel quite bit to shoot, so I hold days back and then release them.

Will I get a confirmation or reminders? Yes. You will receive a booking confirmation as well as three reminders leading up to the shoot with session, studio and parking details.

LOOKS AND CLOTHING

How do you define a look?

A “look” is a change of clothing. I do not do multiple changes of clothing in a look because of the story we are telling and the lighting/background all work together. If you have any questions about this, please ask. Sometimes a client will shave mid-look or put hair in a ponytail and that is fine. That does not constitute a completely new look. It really does come down to the changing of wardrobe as a look change.

My agent/manager wants so many looks but I can only afford a few. What should I do? Talk to your reps and focus on what you’re currently going out for. Sometimes a rep will want to cast a wide net. This may not serve you or the session.

Can I do commercial and theatrical looks in one session? Yes, but I market myself for more theatrical headshots. Creative portraits for actors. You can see that on my site. I have shot thousands of commercial headshots, I just like the vibe of theatrical shots and it fits the way I like to tell stories. Very hard to tell a story in a commercial headshot.

Can I shave during the session? Yes. Please bring all of your necessary supplies. We will not have supplies for you.

If I add or take off layers, does that count as a look change? Kind of. Ask me. You can take a jacket on and off, but limit that to one look only. You cannot layer on and take off in each look. I understand you want to get the most out of the session, but be respectful of the process. Meaning 4 looks cannot turn into 8 because you want to take a jacket on and off in each look.

Which colors are best on camera? Most colors work. Honestly, pastels can get crazy. They feel fake. Makes the photograph feel forced. It is more important that you’re comfortable in the outfit. Don’t be afraid to be bold. Take the opportunity to show YOUR personal style, but always make sure it supports your narrative/character.

What about glasses? You can take your glasses on and off. If you have lenses, please make sure they are anti-glare or pop the lenses out of the frame.

Can I take my tie off? Yes. However, most actors are doing open collar now for more versatility.

MAKEUP & HAIR

Do you offer makeup and hair or can I do my own? I recommend booking one of my makeup artists. They have been with me for years and are extremely collaborative and assist during the entire session. If money is an issue then I trust you to do your own…but only if you are 100% comfortable. You know your face and skin. You know what you like and what you don’t. You can do your own makeup before you arrive and adjust during the session. I do not allow clients to bring a makeup artist to the session. That said, if you are not comfortable,  I recommend booking one of my makeup artists. They have been with me for years and are extremely collaborative and assist during the entire session.

Do I need to bring my own products? No. However, if you love a specific lip color, favorite product or have any allergies, please bring what you need.

Will the makeup artist stay for the entire session? Yes. Absolutely. Second set of eyes on you.

Can I bring my own HMU artist? No. You are hiring me and my team who I have worked with for over 11 years. There is no need to mess with what works.  However, you can choose to do your own makeup and come ready to the shoot.

Do I arrive early for makeup? No. Arrive at your appointment time.

What is the difference between makeup and makeup with FULL HAIR? Makeup is just makeup. We can change/enhance the makeup slightly for each look. She will also make sure your hair is camera ready. She will not use hot tools or fully style it unless you booked the Full Hair option. 

What does Full Hair mean? The makeup artist will do one complete style on you. For example, some clients will come hair ready and she will do a completely different style for the second look. Also, some clients will come with hair not done and she will style it and then client will have the same hair for all looks. Some clients will put their hair up in a ponytail, which does not count as a full style change. If you want to add more hair changes she charges $50 per change. Please email me with any questions.

How do I pay the makeup artist? She accepts Cash, Venmo, or Zelle.

THE SHOOT

Can I bring a friend, significant other, or my Rep to the shoot? No. I have never had a shoot when an outside guest has added anything of value to the session. Honestly, it is usually the opposite. It is a distraction for me and there is just no need for it.

How long does the shoot last? Depends on the number of looks. Roughly 20 minutes per look plus makeup time.

How many images do I get? You will receive about 75-100 images per look. However, it is not an exact science.

Do I get to keep the original images? Yes. You will receive a jpeg digital download of the entire session.

What if I am late to the session? If you are late it will cut into your shooting time. I never like to rush through a session just because the client is late. I always get what the client needs. I don’t get rattled by a client being late. I find the client gets rattled and then tries to rush to catch up.

Can I arrive early to discuss clothing? No. Chances are I’m shooting another session or busy with another project. Arrive at your scheduled appointment time and we will have plenty of time to discuss everything, get on the same page, and set our flow.

Can I reschedule? Yes, of course, but you must not be within 5 days of your session, or you will lose the deposit. However, If within the 5 days, if I can fill the time slot with a client from my waitlist you will not lose the deposit. Remember, I only shoot headshots for actors one week each month so you may not be able to reschedule until the following month.

Can I lose my deposit? Yes, only if you cancel within 5 days. See above for rescheduling policy.

When do I get the images? What is the turnaround time? You will receive your high resolution images within three business days. 

RETOUCHING

Is retouching included? No. We charge $45 per image. A document will be sent to you a day after the shoot.

Do you do the retouching yourself? Yes. I own a retouching company, RUE. I work very closely with my personal retoucher. We have a light hand to make sure you don’t shock anyone when you walk in the room. So many clients lose work to over-retouched shots. It is shocking actually.

Do I get to approve the retouching? Yes. We will send you the retouched images for your approval. If you have any notes then we’ll make the appropriate changes. You will then be sent another round for approval. It is a process until you’ve signed off on the retouching.

What is the turnaround time? Two business days. 

SOCIAL MEDIA & THIRD PARTY USE

Can I post images? YOU ARE FREE TO USE ALL IMAGES FOR: self “promotional” purposes. This includes: actor and model headshots, all personal social media, personal websites and online casting services. If you do post to social media, please be respectful and @MENTION with photo credit. Not just a tag, please. I will do the same if I post your photo. @petekonerko on Instagram

How do I credit you? Please credit Peter Konerko. If posting on Instagram then @petekonerko. Please be respectful and @mention vs. tag. I will do the same if I post a picture of you.

The director/producer of a film I just worked with wants to use my photo in the film or marketing materials. Can they use the images? This happens more than you think. I’ve had all of the major networks, Amazon, Hulu and Netflix contact me for usage. Please have the production contact me directly to protect yourself and the photography.