The Roadmap
That Was Missing.
Most photographers already have what it takes to work as a digital imaging technician. The gear is largely there. The knowledge is entirely there. What's missing is the roadmap.
Behind the Lens is a practical guide to building a freelance business around on-set digital tech services and photo editing, written for photographers who already know their craft and want to add a second revenue stream working commercial day rates on their own schedule.
No filler. No theory. Just the specific gear, software, rates, and workflows used on working commercial sets. Written from the Chicago market, applicable everywhere.
"Matt has created a valuable tool for photographers who are looking to expand their skillset and step into a DigiTech role. It is also a nice reference for existing DITs looking to learn something new they may not have been aware of. It's clear a lot of real-world experience went into the project."
Josh Simons — Founder & CEO, Tether Tools13 Chapters.
One Complete Roadmap.
From the first test shot to running a full freelance operation, every step covered in practical, actionable detail.
- 01 Nobody Had to Ask
- 02 Two Revenue Streams, One Skill Set
- 03 The Cart
- 04 Tethered Capture: Setup to Wrap
- 05 Color You Can Trust
- 06 Files Don't Manage Themselves
- 07 Pricing the Invisible
- 08 Finding the Work
- 09 On Set
- 10 The Screen They Can't Stop Looking At
- 11 The Editing Side
- 12 Building the Business
- 13 The Quiet Professional
You already know the workflow. This book shows you how to package what you know as a service and charge day rates while doing it.
Add a second revenue stream between shoot days with volume photo editing. Flat-rate, repeatable, client-ready.
No gatekeeping, no assumed background. The gear list, software setup, pricing model, and outreach scripts are all here.
Available Now
on Amazon.
A physical reference you can take to the studio. Mark it up, dog-ear it, keep it in the bag. Built to be used.
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Matt Salo
Matt Salo is a Digital Imaging Technician and photo editor based in Chicago, IL. He works on commercial and editorial shoots throughout the city and the broader Midwest market, specializing in tethered capture, live color management, and on-set file workflow.
Behind the Lens is drawn from real experience on working commercial sets: the day rates, the clients, the gear decisions, and the workflow habits that make a DIT indispensable.