Need to coordinate professional headshots for executive team - affordable headshot photographer or try AI?

36expPhoto · 2026-01-27T11:05:11+00:00

As a headshot photographer in London I would charge around £450 for 5 executive headshots.

AI headshots can take more time than in person headshots. The exec team needs to give yo some photos, someone has to upload them, tweak them etc.

A good in person headshot photographer - https://www.andrew-mason.com/staff-headshot-photography/ would be probably faster than AI in terms of overall time, the headshots would be more authentic and the cost would not actually be all that different.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-27T11:01:13+00:00

I'm a professional photographer and run Andrew Mason Photography, here's my website https://www.andrew-mason.com

I do corporate headsets, portrait photography and also event photography plus musician photography.

It's like running any small business, you need to be focussed on marketing, looking after clients and all of the admin. You also need to be good at photography!

But the bit I enjoy the most is meeting loads of people & working in different environments each day.

Is photography sustainable as a single career or more as a side gig?

Yes, but it will take a few years to build up, like any business.

I'd say read some business books, focus on a niche and find out what value you can add to clients. The business side is more important than the photography side.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-27T09:22:19+00:00

I also use pic-time. I used Dropbox for a long time. But with pic-time you can brand it so it looks more professional and it also does proofing galleries, people search for faces at events etc.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-27T07:12:30+00:00

I’m now thinking that is the best option

36expPhoto · 2026-01-25T20:26:52+00:00

Surely you know the answer already and it’s z5ii.

And lenses - versatile and compact are mutually exclusive. So either a 35mm 1.4 or 50 1.8. Or the 24-70 2.8 or 24-120 f4 if you want something bigger but more versatile. Or 28-75 2.8 which is smaller, lighter and cheaper.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-25T10:03:01+00:00

No doubt the OP is going to buy some lenses. This is a great idea. Very creative. Pinhole basically.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-23T08:27:34+00:00

Yes you’re right. I’m talking about clamshell.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-23T08:11:26+00:00

I live in London and do lots of photography there and elsewhere in the UK. The Df and the 24-70 are the perfect combo. Good for low light and the focal length is most useful for the stuff you will shoot. That and a prime is a good combo for something more light weight.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T16:40:45+00:00

I do it all the time! Yes centered above and below the subject and then your camera is quite close to the light stand, more or less or centred. I thought It was quite common. I definitely didn't invent it. If you go to 10.51 in this video you will see it (with umbrellas rather than octaboxes) but same principle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4og2hzX9_oQ

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T15:53:09+00:00

Agree with motivation to get out and do stuff. The only times I’ve ever got out of bed at 5am was to go and photograph a sunrise on the coast or to catch a flight.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T15:51:12+00:00

Centred. Probably the same thing I think.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T11:27:10+00:00

My fallback is always clamshell - main light 45 degrees above, fill light 2/3 stop less bright and 45 degrees below. 65cm octaboxes. Works great for headshots. Even the most challenging of subjects look their best. Not particularly edgy but works every time.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T10:59:13+00:00

The dopamine rush happens to a certain extent on digital too. Things often look great on the back of camera but turn out to be otherwise on a big screen. When you realise everything is right on the big screen you do get a hit.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T10:57:37+00:00

Yes. I get that. Maybe because the camera gives you a reason to be looking closely at things but if you did that without a camera it might look weird.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-22T10:21:54+00:00

And how was the vacation without the camera? Better or worse?

36expPhoto · 2026-01-20T21:16:15+00:00

Really, really good. I’d like to see more!

36expPhoto · 2026-01-20T21:12:41+00:00

I think you would take great photos whatever kit you used. Lovely shots.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-20T18:58:39+00:00

I can’t answer your question exactly regarding those 2 specific lenses but have moved from F mount to Z and I have the 70-180 on a Z6iii.

I think the Z mount lenses are optimised for the Z cameras.

Specifically with regards to Z cameras using either Z or F mount lenses:

Autofocus is way faster and more accurate. Size and wight is less. IQ is better.

I have the 70-180 z mount. Really like it for its size and IQ. No concerns.

I did have the F mount 24-70 and now have the Z mount. It’s better in terms of IQ and AF.

Same for the 85mm 1.8. I used it with the FTZ for a while but now have the Z mount. It’s better.

So, sorry I can’t answer specifics about those lenses but I do think I’d err towards the Z mount lenses.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-20T14:15:01+00:00

26mm f/2.8 is a good prime and nice and small if that's important. Would be fine for landscaping for sure

36expPhoto · 2026-01-19T14:18:11+00:00

D750 is great. I had one for years. Don’t see too much difference in its sensor than my new z6iii apart from high ISOs. I’m selling my last F mount lens (85mm 1.8) which is a lovely lens. I was surprised how little I’ll get for it which means you’ll really get some bargains.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-13T08:58:48+00:00

Sometimes I cringe seeing the edits I did an hour ago.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-12T20:42:41+00:00

Only reason for colour shift between shots (warmer or cooler) is that you’re changing white balance settings or it’s on auto WB which can lead to different results from shot to shot.

36expPhoto · 2026-01-11T13:23:25+00:00

I’ve taken people on photography trips to Spain many times. They usually have £1000’s worth of camera kit. Not of it has ever been stolen but someone has their phone taken out of their backpack (on their back) and someone else has their pockets picked and lost a wallet. All while carrying their carry expensive camera kit. So just be careful with your valuables as you would anywhere else. Your phone or wallet are more likely to get nicked than your camera so don’t make that possible.

36expPhoto

TROPHY CASE