Kwinten is the first Flemish photographer to be recognized as an Associate of Peter Hurley’s Headshot Crew

First Flemish photographer to achieve Associate status

Kwinten Verspeurt of Fotostudio Kwinten in Willebroek is the first Flemish photographer ever to win the Associate Status achieves within Peter Hurley’s Headshot Crew. He is only the second Belgian photographer to receive this recognition and is thus part of a select group of about one hundred specialized headshot photographers worldwide.

Headshot Crew was founded by American photographer Peter Hurley, the global authority on specialized headshot photography. His approach to photography and coaching has had a major influence on contemporary headshots. He has been a mentor and a major source of inspiration for Kwinten for many years.

A process that takes years

Associate status isn't granted lightly. It's usually preceded by an intensive process lasting several years. Photographers refine their knowledge of lighting and technique, but are primarily challenged in areas such as posing, body language, expression, and coaching the subject in front of the camera.

Those who are ready must first submit work of a high enough caliber to be admitted to the official selection. The portfolio is then reviewed by Peter Hurley and a large group of active Associates—often dozens at a time. Each image is critically discussed. Only those who demonstrate a consistent ability to produce headshots of exceptional quality achieve this status. Headshot Crew refers to its Associates as “the best of the best”.

The right image starts with coaching

For Kwinten, this recognition is the result of twenty years of photography and many years of specializing in professional portrait and headshot photography.

“A good headshot goes far beyond simply lighting someone correctly and pressing the shutter at the right moment. First, we need to know what kind of look someone needs. What image fits his or her role? What impression does that person want to make on clients, employees, investors, or future employers? Then it’s up to me to bring out exactly that look through posture, body language, gaze, and expression.”

According to Kwinten, that coaching is what makes the biggest difference between a traditional portrait photo and specialized headshot photography. “A difference of just a few millimeters in posture, a subtle change around the eyes, or a slight shift in the jawline can completely transform a photo. My job is to notice all those small cues and coach someone very specifically until everything is just right.”

The bar remains set higher

Once a photographer has achieved this status, the journey doesn't end. To remain an Associate, a photographer must maintain their Platinum status: continue to train, showcase new work, incorporate feedback, and keep raising the bar.

“For me, becoming an Associate doesn’t mean you’ve made it. On the contrary. You find yourself among photographers who are all incredibly perfectionistic about their craft. So you’re constantly challenged to get better.”

“To me, Peter is the gold standard in headshot photography. I’ve studied his approach to observing, coaching, and photographing for years and learned directly from him. It’s truly a great honor that I was able to submit my work to him and to other top photographers at Headshot Crew and thereby earn Associate status.”

True Recognizability in an AI World

Kwinten, together with Tine (stylist and assistant), applies the expertise gained from Headshot Crew to help entrepreneurs, business leaders, management teams, and entire company teams—from SMEs to international brands. LinkedIn, company websites, press articles, and online profiles are often the first places where people encounter you.

“People usually look at your profile picture before they’ve even spoken to you. And you only get one chance to make a first impression. So it has to be spot-on the first time.”

With the rise of artificial intelligence, authenticity is becoming even more important. Today, it takes just a few minutes to generate a professional-looking profile photo. But the easier it is to create a perfect image, the more valuable it becomes to see someone as they really are. “If your customer later meets someone other than the person they thought they were seeing online, you lose all credibility and trust. The more communication becomes automated, the more important it is for an organization to show that it is run by real people.”

View Kwinten's profile at Headshot Crew, or discover our Process for Business Portraits.