8 Ways to Drive Your Photographer Crazy (What NOT to Do During a Shoot)

1) Tense Up

The best headshots and portraits are the ones that look natural. Sitting straight as a ramrod with a big plastic smile plastered on your face is probably going to end up looking as fake as it feels.

2) Ask to See Every Picture After It’s Taken

This slows down the shoot’s momentum and makes it take way longer than it ever should. The beautiful thing about photography is that the capture is instantaneous and can be deleted just as quickly. It’s way easier and more time efficient to take a large group of photos and cherry pick the best ones than to nitpick over every single one.  Remember, if you don’t like them, you can always take more!

3) Show Up Tired/ Hung-Over / Distracted

If you’re paying to have your headshots taken then why would you show up feeling any less than your best? Those dark rings under your eyes or that sick green hue reminiscent of the copious amounts of liquor you drank the night before are not going to turn out well in the finished result. Avoid this altogether by getting enough sleep and making the commitment to BE PRESENT.

4) Wear Large Logos and Busy Patterns

Is this photo session about you or your sponsors? Large logos in portraits beg the question of whether or not you’re getting paid to promote the brands that you’re wearing. Large logos distract the viewer from the true subject of the photo, YOU. The same goes for bright or busy patterns. That funky sweater might go over great with the ladies, but on print it might make people want to avert their gaze.

5) Expect the Photographer to do your Makeup in Photoshop

Going for the natural look is perfectly respectable; expecting the photographer to work miracles is not. If you are insecure about a particular aspect of your physique, come prepared for that. This will allow the photographer to limit their work to small touch ups that won’t leave you looking like a plastic doll.

6) Be Late

Being late is never advisable, but in a photo shoot, it can throw the whole session off. It takes a certain amount of time for the photographer and client to get comfortable with each other. Being late means that you’ll have less time to take the great photos that happen after the studio warms up.

7) Wear Unflattering Clothes

They say that the camera adds 10 pounds. That being said, if your clothes are hanging on you like a plastic bag, chances are that you won’t look your best in the photos. On this same note, wearing clothes that are too tight will also be obvious in the final prints. For the sake of your portraits, wear clothes that fit and that you feel comfortable in.

8) Pretend Like You’re Someone Else

While it’s great to step into a different character every once in a while, the day of your photo shoot is not the time to experiment with your identity.

Wedding Trends with Renee Strauss

On January 22 2015, I was the official photographer for Bella Nella, who offers beauty, makeup, massage and hair services for brides. They were showcased among an elite list of others at a unique wedding showcase, covered by "Wedding Trends" with Renee Strauss and aired on KTLA 5 News.

The wedding showcase featured the best of the best in the bridal industry, with a collection of luxury bridal brands, exquisitely designed bridal vignettes and an esteemed panel of wedding experts dedicated to helping couples make their wedding visions a reality. As a photographer, you have to be prepared for a long busy working day when covering events such as these, starting and ending at unusual hours. My working day began at 5am, which is normally the time I go to sleep! It was a long full day, and I worked until 12am the following morning.

This is part of doing what I do, and of course, as always, it was worth it. I'm happy to be working in partnership with the wonderful Bella Nella.

Tips for Actor Headshots

  1.  Go Professional

Spend the money. it's worth it. Go to a professional who is trained, understands lighting and takes headshots for a living. Don't approach a friend who happens to have a decent camera. Hiring a professional will actually save you both time and money in the long run while delivering top-shelf results.

2. Go for Personality Over Glamour

Casting directors expect you to look just like your headshot and will be unenthused if you show up looking totally different. Headshots are about representing your type; age, wrinkles and all. That being said, a professional headshot photographer can help you capture subtle aspects of your natural character that will set you apart from your competitors. 

3. Find a Photographer that Gets You

You have to vibe with the photographer. You'll be using these headshots for a couple of years. Ask for a consultation, get a feel for how they photograph your type, your ethnicity, gender, etc. Being comfortable in your photoshoot is essential to produce headshots that portray a depth of character that will inspire casting directors to give you a call.

"Alice in Wonderland"

I've been brainstorming for new photography concepts recently and this is the first of many to follow.

I teamed up with a makeup artist from London to design a shoot based on the fairytale concept of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. We collaborated with Audrey and Lenny Boutique in downtown, LA. They provided a stunning collection of vintage clothes and accessories for the shoot, allowing us to invoke the strange yet beautiful aesthetic for which Wonderland is so well known.

Our amazing stylist Roki Torres assembled some original and appropriately theatrical themed looks prior to the shoot and was there on hand to pull it all together. Model Chenelle Aaron Badgett was the star of the show. I am very excited to have worked with this team of creative and talented individuals who helped make the project a success.

Stay tuned for the final images, we're extremely pleased with them and worked on several different looks, all depicting different aspects of characters and themes of the Alice in Wonderland surreal style. I look forward to sharing them with you.