headshot photography mentoring
I help you build a meaningful and profitable headshot photography business.
A six-month 1:1 mentoring programme for photographers who are ready to do the work.
Why I love photography mentoring.
I started my business almost five years ago and quickly sought out as much education as I could, joining programmes, watching YouTube videos, buying online courses - everything I could think of to grow my photography practice and business. But the one thing that fast tracked my development the most was seeking out the advice of people who had been there before. People who had seen and done everything I was struggling with. In that time I have built a multiple six figure photography business that allows me time to breathe, and to create beautiful work that I’m proud of.
That’s why I developed this mentoring programme - I want to help you build something successful thtas aligned with your values.
The starting point for all my mentoring is discovering your values and helping you grow a business aligned to those values. Because of that, I always start our mentoring with a value setting workshop - this helps me get to know you, but also helps you discover your own motivation. This is a fundamnetal part of starting any business - and I help you through this process.
I love helping photographers develop their own style, create a beautiful portfolio and build an aligned business that helps them live a life they love. These mentoring sessions are aimed to help professional portrait and headshot photographers create work they are proud of and that sells! We will work together over a few months - the timeframe is dependent on your needs - during which time I create a bespoke mentoring programme that addresses the things you’re struggling with.
Email studio@tomtrevatt.com to book a Discovery Call
What we work on.
Every mentoring programme is bespoke — built around what you actually need, not a fixed curriculum. But across six months, most mentees work through some combination of the following:
Value setting Before we can make meaningful decisions within our businesses we need to understand our values, what drives us and how we want to show up in our businesses. I run a value seting workshop to help you figure out how to build a business that aligns with your values, not just repeats what you;ve learnt from other people - don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
Your creative voice and photographic style This is usually where we start. If your work doesn't feel distinctly yours yet — if you're still shooting in someone else's style, or producing technically competent images that don't excite you — we work on developing a genuine aesthetic that comes from your own sensibility and influences. This is the part most photography education skips entirely.
Portfolio development and image critique We look at your existing work honestly. What's strong, what's not, what's missing, and what your portfolio is currently communicating to potential clients — which is often different to what you think it's communicating. I'll assign you tasks and shoots to build the work you need.
Business, brand, and positioning Who are you for? What do you charge and why? What does your website say about you? How are you finding clients, and are they the right clients? We go deep on the business side of your practice — pricing strategy, marketing, how to articulate what makes your work different, and how to build a brand that genuinely reflects your values.
Studio and space How you use your studio — or your home studio, or a hired space — has a bigger impact on your work than most photographers realise. We look at your setup practically and creatively: lighting, backdrops, props, workflow, and how the character of your space affects the character of your images.
Reading and looking Good photography comes from looking at a lot of photography. I'll point you toward photographers, books, and bodies of work that are relevant to where you're going — not just the obvious names, but the ones that will actually shift how you see.
The deeper stuff Some of the most valuable mentoring conversations I have aren't about photography at all. They're about what kind of business you want, what kind of life you want, what success actually means to you — and whether the way you're currently working is moving you toward or away from those things.
What does the journey look like?
The Journey
Every mentee's journey is different, but across the programmes I've run, here's what tends to shift:
A clearer creative voice. Most photographers finish the programme with work they'd describe as genuinely their own for the first time — a consistent aesthetic, a distinct approach to lighting and posing, a portfolio they're proud to show.
A stronger, more aligned business. That usually means better pricing, a clearer sense of who their ideal client is, a more effective website, and a marketing approach that doesn't feel like shouting into a void.
More confidence — in the studio and outside it. Knowing why you make the creative decisions you make changes how you work with clients, how you present your work, and how you price it.
A studio and workflow that actually serves them. Several mentees have significantly rethought their studio setup during our time together — and found that the right space, configured well, changed both the quality of their work and the experience they offer clients.
A sense of their own values. This one is harder to quantify but comes up again and again. Knowing what you stand for as a photographer and as a business makes every other decision easier.
The Process
The discovery call Everything starts with a free, no-obligation 45-minute call. I use this as an opportunity to give you something genuinely useful - whether we go on to work together or not. We'll talk about where you are, what's not working, and what you're trying to build. I'll give you my honest read on your situation. If we both think it's a good fit, we go from there.
The planning session If you decide to proceed, we schedule our first session, a Value Settting Workshop. Ideally in person, this session is two hours long and involves a deep dive into your personal values and how to incorporate them into your business. Is honesty important to you? Then you should incorporate that into your business model. How about compassion? Then, working closely with people should be part of how you operate. We conclude this session by mapping out what the programme looks like for you specifically. What we'll focus on, how we'll measure progress, and what success looks like by the end of six months.
The programme itself We meet regularly throughout the six months — typically every three to four weeks, via video call. In between sessions, I'll set you tasks: shoots to complete, images to find, things to read, changes to make. You do the work; I hold you accountable and give you honest feedback on what you produce.
Sessions are focused and purposeful. I take notes, track your progress, and adjust the programme as you develop. Nothing is formulaic.
After the programme Several mentees have stayed in touch and come back for one-off strategy calls or further mentoring after the formal programme ends. You're not dropped at the six-month mark.
On the investment Mentoring with me is a meaningful financial commitment. I'll be honest about the cost on the discovery call — and I'll only take you on if I'm genuinely confident I can give you a return on that investment. If I don't think it's the right fit, I'll tell you, and I'll try to point you toward something that is.
Email studio@tomtrevatt.com to book a Discovery Call
testimonial
Anasta Fo
I had a 3-month photography mentorship with Tom, and it was a really fulfilling journey. He helped me shape my offer, challenged me, and gave me lots of ideas on how to improve it
What was most valuable was seeing his perspective and absorbing his mindset around photography and business. He also helped me rethink my home studio and gave me completely new ideas on how to use the space, which was very insightful. I’ve now moved to a new home studio and set it up using his recommendations and tips, and I love it. He was even open to a video call long after we finished working together to help me with some technical things around the new studio, which was very cute.
I would highly recommend working with Tom, whether as a mentor or a photographer. He’s an amazing and inspiring person!
