Hey there Thespians ! I am a New York and Los Angeles based headshot photographer.
My name is Timothi Jane Graham ( http://www.timothiphoto.com ) and welcome to my weekly blog !

I have been in the business of performance and media my whole life. I started off as a dancer in New York City, then became a globe trotting fashion model, next incarnation: actress of stage, film, television and voice over which ultimately led me to my true vocation as a photographer. I have been shooting the past 8 years in New York and LA and truly love what I do... creating great headshots. I have a different approach to creating a headshot which comes from my experience as an actress.. my understanding of styling and image as a model and my instinct for line, composition and the storytelling ability of the body through my dance experience.

A headshot is more than a pretty picture. It is your calling card..an invitation to the event that is you. In my experience as an actress I was always frustrated by the process of finding a great headshot photographer. Like most of you, I wanted to have a great headshot  that captures the real ME. When it was time to get a new headshot, I would go through portfolio after portfolio.. I saw lots of pretty ( and not so pretty ) hair, makeup, lighting but I could count on one hand the amount of times I was bowled over.. why ? because most of the photos I saw resembled actors that were in need of a job..not artists that had arrived.

Did you know that many agents in New York are lawyers and most have business degrees ?  They are  not artists but business people. Most do not understand the concept of stretch or range. I know as artists we are always in a state of growing and evolving.. but in the acting business you are a commodity.. you must learn to speak their language and show them the product..straight forward and simply.. many photographers like to create the clean canvas neutral headshot.. unassuming wardrobe, simple, makeup and hair, a brick wall, sunlit loft space or the wildly popular taupey rag rolled backdrop.. I completely disagree.. I think as an artist you must know how to deliver the goods but as someone in the acting BUSINESS you must know where you will make your money and your picture should shout that out loud and clear !! This is actually comforting to agents and casting directors. If you know who you are and where your money is and you are balls out about it.. they don't have to do the thinking and creating... and for noncreatives that makes them feel safe... and for YOU that means more auditions for parts you have greater odds of booking..
 
I know you're saying..but I have range.. I'm not a one trick pony.. and with a little luck and alot of hard work you will be given the opportunities to prove that.. but right now what you have is you..and YOUR quality.. smart actors know that and their audiences love them for it.. Angelina Jolie is by nature a globetrottin' femme fatale, a woman on a mission.. she flies planes, tattoos every inch of her body and is unabashed in her wants and needs as a woman... she is fearless..what kind of parts does she play ? a globe trottin' fearless femme fatale..a woman on a mission..that is her money and she sticks to it..why ? because it works... Tom Hanks is a decent stand up guy.. he's faithful, sensitive with an innocent quality.. what does he play ? think Forrest Gump, Big, Philadelphia Story.. there are some that cross these lines but nine times out of ten they came into the acting business sticking to their brand.. then at a certain point with enough success and some brilliant choices you can step outside of the box...but at the beginning its your brand baby..and the more your headshot captures that brand the better.

Over the next few months, we will cover the process of branding, look, choosing a photographer, preparing for the shoot, the shoot itself and then how to put together the layout of your headshot to make it work for you.. I will interview  New York actors, agents, casting directors, makeup artists and stylists and all the while you can email me at timothi@newyorkacting.com with any of your questions on getting a great actor headshot.. this is going to be an amazing and informative journey and I look forward to connecting with all of you.. y'all ready New York ?? good...now, lets work it out !!!

Peace and grooviness,

timothi jane graham


http://www.timothiphoto.com