Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Hamill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Greg. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Photography has always been a major part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are processing film with my Dad in our darkroom at home. I studied photography in high school and college but never intended on making a living off it. That is until I shot my first wedding for a friend whose wedding photographer backed out at the last minute. I knew from that moment on that I was going to launch my career as a professional photographer.
I started off shooting anything and everything I could including weddings, engagements, sporting events, and family portraits. Finally in 2013, I quit my 15-year career with a Fortune 500 company to pursue my life dream. It was a rocky start trying to get people to pay me to take their pictures but once I got on a roll, my calendar filled up quickly.
I specialize in modern business headshots. Headshots are huge today with websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and others. People make a decision about you based on your photo in less than a second so having a good headshot is imperative to having a successful career or business.
Standing in front of a camera and lighting equipment is overwhelming to a lot of people and what makes me successful is that I put my clients at ease and bring out their best qualities. What matters is the energy you project in your headshot. I have mastered bringing out that confident and approachable look when my clients are in front of the camera.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been easy at all. I moved to Texas in 2013 from Baltimore, MD leaving behind all the business contacts I had built up over the years. I basically started from scratch down here. I have attended more networking events than I can count, I have cold called offices all day for weeks at a time. It is difficult to find people who see the value in your work. One of the keys to my success is that when I find a person who sees the value I provide, I cultivate that relationship. My 15 years in marketing have given me a customer needs focus which helps me to exceed customer expectations.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Greg Hamill Photography – what should we know?
I am a one-man show and contract help when needed. I work out of my home and most shoots are at the client’s office or home. I have several energy companies that use me as their go-to photographer whether it is for ticketed events, updating employee headshots, or updating their marketing image portfolios.
My specialty is modern business headshots. Mine stand out from the crowd because I don’t use tie-die backdrops or vertical framing. I get in close to the client so that the photo is very intimate. I focus on their eyes because that it where 90% of their story is told. I also have been using Photoshop since the first release years ago. I try to capture everything perfectly in the camera but people want a little help that only Photoshop can give them and I enjoy doing touch-ups.
I am most proud of my newest venture which is the headshot photo booth. Companies hire me for trade shows to bring attendees to their booth. Headshots are a high-value giveaway and every time I have done the headshot photo booth, it has been the hit of the trade show with lines over 2-hours. I only have a few moments, max, with each person and I have perfected getting a great shot of them in that short time and emailing it to them immediately after. It’s a win-win for the company that sponsors me and for the recipients of the headshots – the convenience and value make these booths very appealing.
The headshot photo booth also works for promoting small businesses. I have done several events where coffee shop, for example, offers complimentary headshots while customers are grabbing coffee. I have been told by customers they have driven over an hour to come to one of these events just for a new headshot. It benefited the coffee shop as they got loyal clientele and their sales increased.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I would not be anywhere near as successful as I am without the help of my wife, Sheana. She has been my biggest supporter, even at the beginning when the money was not coming in. My childhood friend, Justin Novak of Justin Novak Photography in San Diego, has helped me understand the business of photography and how to run a profitable business. Without his guidance, I would not have made it to where I am. In terms of education, the best teacher out there is David Hobby, who runs a website: stobist.com. I learned everything I know about using off camera flash and lighting from him. He is probably one of the most respected photographers in the industry and the way he teaches is very comprehensive. One of the most valuable things I learned from him is that you don’t need to have the most expensive gear to create beautiful images.
Pricing:
• Basic Modern Business Headshot Packages start at $250.00 for (2) high resolution fully retouched images.
Contact Info:
• Website: www.GregHamillPhotography.com
• Phone: (832)942-8336
• Email: greghamillphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: @greghamillphoto
• Facebook: @greghamillphotography
• Yelp: Greg Hamill Photography https://www.yelp.com/biz/greg-hamill-photography-katy-2
• Other: LinkedIn Greg Hamill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greghamill/
