Peter Hurley's Headshot Intensive

Aside from a basic knowledge of how to operate your camera, any skill level is welcome. Photographers arrive at the Intensive from every stage of the journey, from seasoned pros refining their process to curious beginners building a headshot business from scratch, and Peter meets you where you're at. Don't sweat the technical side either: Peter walks you through his tethering setup and his complete lighting process early on, so the real work of the two days is direction, learning how to handle any human who steps in front of your lens.

Bring a mirrorless, DSLR, or medium format digital camera, and make sure you know how to use it, because you'll be shooting from the moment we dive in. For lenses, focal length matters in headshot work. On full frame, 85-105mm is the sweet spot (Peter personally rocks the Canon RF 70-200mm locked in at 92mm for that signature look). On a crop sensor, around 70mm does the trick. On medium format, aim for 100mm or longer. Primes make life easier while you're learning, but if you're unsure, bring whatever you think might work and we'll sort it out together at the workshop.

A laptop is a must. You'll shoot tethered, review your images, apply post-processing, and take notes. Bring a flash drive or external drive too, since Peter delivers your images digitally. And while you can shoot handheld, Peter strongly recommends a tripod that reaches at least 6 feet with a ball head. His personal go-to is a Feisol paired with an Arca-Swiss P0, and you can ask us about exclusive HSC discounts on both before the workshop. All lighting and studio space is provided.

Yes, and it starts as soon as you register. You'll get access to the Intensive Pre-Workshop: homework plus exclusive video content Peter has put together to get you fully dialed in before day one. About a week before the workshop, you'll receive a logistics email with all the location-specific details. Give it a look and confirm you're good to go. Beyond that, make sure your camera and tethering software are ready to roll, and get a solid night's sleep. It's called the Intensive for a reason: we hit the ground running at 10 AM and keep the energy high through dinner.

Yes, and attendees often call it the game-changer of the whole experience. On Day 2, Peter personally photographs each attendee. He coaches, directs, and shoots you exactly the way he works with top CEOs, actors, and celebrities. You'll walk away with killer images of yourself and, just as valuable, you'll know firsthand what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the Hurley Method. That perspective changes how you run your own sessions.

The Intensified is an optional third day of advanced training, capped at just 5 photographers. It's open to anyone who's completed the Headshot Intensive, whether you take it right on the heels of your two days or come back for it down the line. You'll spend one-on-one time with Peter applying everything from the Intensive, with a twist: using his acting chops, Peter takes on the role of a client you're photographing for personal branding, jumping between that persona and himself to give you concise feedback on your shooting and coaching skills. It's a fun curveball to navigate, and Peter's there the whole time to help you get the most out of it. You'll need your BFAS (earned in the previous two days or at a past Intensive), and you must shoot tethered, preferably into Capture One.

If you've been around the Headshot Crew for a while, you know Peter loves making up acronyms. BFAS stands for Bachelor in the Fine Art of SHABANG'n, the degree every graduate of the Headshot Intensive earns. It comes with a badge on your profile, and it's what Peter means when he says something requires a BFAS: Intensive graduates only.

Meals aren't included. Each day breaks for lunch around 1 PM, and you're free to explore local spots on your own or join the group. After Day 1 we head out for a completely optional group dinner, a great chance to decompress, swap stories, and get to know your fellow headshot slingers. Traveling with someone? Bring them along. Companions are welcome to join us for meals, and if they're down to model during practice sessions, even better.

If you're traveling to the workshop and not sure where to stay, check the event page for your city to see if there's a recommended hotel. If nothing is posted, contact the studio and we'll  let you know if we have any recommendations. 

 If you're coming to a NYC workshop, three solid options sit within walking distance of the studio on 26th Street:

• the Hilton New York Fashion District
• the Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave Chelsea

• the Renaissance New York Chelsea

  All three put you in the heart of Chelsea with great food and transit nearby.

Payment is due in full when you register, and because seating is so limited, all sales are final and non-refundable, so make sure you're committed before locking in your spot. That said, we know life happens, and we do our best to accommodate. Let us know at least two weeks before your Intensive and we'll happily credit your payment toward a future workshop date. If the workshop you can't attend sells out and your spot is filled from our waitlist, you can choose between a refund minus a 6% administrative fee or a direct transfer to the incoming student. Tickets are also fully transferable, so you're always welcome to send someone in your place.

Yes. Returning students taking the 2-day Intensive again can ask Peter for an alumni discount code. It applies to the Intensive only, not the Intensified, since that session is capped at 5. Every workshop also reserves one of its twelve seats specifically for a returning alum, and many students come back multiple times to keep their skills sharp.

We're here for you. Contact the studio anytime, or give the studio a ring at 212.627.2210. Peter also answers all of his own DMs on Instagram @peter_hurley, so don't hesitate to reach out there. We want you to feel confident and fully informed before you step into the room.