A Dedicated Post*

“It’s going to be fun!” Amanda’s email promised as we scheduled our photo shoot.

Now let me establish something first, neither Claire nor I love to have our pictures taken.  I know it doesn’t quite fit the actress/blogueuse “look at me” image, but we are both the type to slink to the back of the group photo rather than drape ourselves across the cute boy in front.  And finding a photo that Claire and I both love what we look like in?  Yikes, nearly impossible.  And yet, we wanted some new pictures.  We had taken wonderful photos in the spring of 2010 with Andy Hayato Riddle, but we wanted some photos that highlighted a slightly different side of ourselves, perhaps something a bit more colorful and, dare I say it, even glamorous.

My path had crossed with Amanda Rowan’s about a year ago and I always noticed her beautiful, colorful photos posted on facebook.  I did a bit more searching and found her website, at which point I was hooked.  Sure, you’ll notice quite a few famous faces when scrolling through, but it was the saturated colors, the attention to detail, and more than anything, the personality which really jumped off the screen for me.  I felt she could bring out exactly the qualities we were looking to highlight.

Actors needing pictures is nothing new, but we need more of them now than ever before.  Of course we need our up-to-date headshots, but now publicists and coaches suggest that we have “lifestyle” or “editorial” shots in our press kits as well.  The idea behind “editorial” photos is that when we send out press releases to publicize our latest accomplishment, we send these photos along as well. They look like they were created just for that magazine and are ready to run.  And that’s not even it, don’t forget “on set” pictures, and if you have a blog, you need some fun, on brand pictures for that too.

Within moments of walking in the door, Amanda had set us at ease.  She rifled through our piles of clothes with enthusiasm, swapping out what Claire was wearing for one of the other dresses, exclaiming “Yes, now you two are at the same party!” Before we even knew what was happening, she’d somehow gotten my perpetually unruly hair sleek and had Claire looking all glam-y with tousled curls and smoky eyes.  Not only does Amanda take beautiful pictures, but she’s a pro with hair and make up.  Before she had even taken her camera out of the case she had Claire and I laughing, and had us feeling prettier and more sparkly than we had in ages.

Then it was time to shoot and since by that point we had completely entrusted ourselves to Amanda, we were able to put our egos and insecurities out of our heads and just have, what can only be described as, fun.

After the shoot, I asked Amanda some questions.

What led you to become a photographer?  What is your background?

I was given a camera at age 12 and would take it backstage at my father’s concerts and document the shows. I would also plan photo shoots with my friends. We would look through magazines and get ideas for photos. These “photo shoots” became more elaborate when were were 16 and had our licenses. My best friend and I would drive to cool locations in the mountains of Marin County or the beaches outside San Francisco and use the natural beauty of northern California as our set. This was before facebook and even digital film. So we would take the film to the drug store to be developed and wait excitedly for the photos to come back!

The thrill of having an idea of what you want a photo to look like and having the technical ability to use a camera as an instrument to create what you see in your head is one of the best feelings I know. This feeling of creation and play is what still drives me to have photo shoots today!

I originally went to Tish at NYU for acting but by my 2nd year I was spending almost all my free time in the dark room developing film and learning to print. I graduated with a double major in acting and photography. By this time all my actor friends needed headshots and it was a natural progression for me to take them.

What do you aim to capture in your photography?

My photo shoot objective changes from client to client depending on their career path or what the photos will be used for.  For example if you are targeting TV in LA I will take a headshot that makes you look like a prime time actor who just walked onto set. If you are wanting great commercial shots, I will take photos of you looking like you are funny, trustworthy and happy in an ad for something. If you want press photos or blog photos, I will create an editorial look or sometimes we will take photos that look like movie stills. Lastly a lot of actors and musicians have been hiring me to take editorial photos for them.

As blogging and tweeting and facebook become more of a way for artists to promote themselves, it is vital that people have these magazine style shots of themselves on hand. We are moving beyond headshots and now it’s about creating a visual persona for artists.

I like that phrase, “visual persona,” can you elaborate on that a bit?  How does one find one’s visual persona?

First you have to identify your brand. Are you funny, sexy, smart?  When Kimberly Belle was launching her food blog in NY she asked me to take photos of her to create her brand.  We started by identifying what she is: a smart, beautiful woman who loves to cook.

With that in mind, we took playful photos of her being sexy in the kitchen in these retro aprons. We also took tons of street shots of her shopping in NY markets.  With the pictures we created a photo story of who she is, where she lives and how it feels. The writing in the blog is important of course, but a photo tells a thousand words.

Another friend of mine is an emmy award winning writer who recently started a blog. She is a writer and reviews film and books and basically writes about writing. She approached me for a shoot to create her visual brand. She wanted photos that would make the reader feel a personal connection. We shot her in her home in San Francisco. Here is an example that i love because the emmy is just out of focus in the background! So intentionally unintentional and I love the look in her eye.

Are there things about your style and technique that make shooting with you a unique experience?

First I look at the makeup, the lighting and the wardrobe. All these are huge in creating a professional, beautiful photograph. Once these technical elements are in place, we just play! It is important that my clients trust that I will make them look their best so that they can relax. I remember my own stress about taking headshots as an actor. People telling me to “just be myself”. The worst advice!  As a photographer, I try to overcome this right away by making my clients feel that our shoot is easy and relaxed. Once you are relaxed shooting is fun…. The photo shoot becomes our set and and our playground. I direct my clients as if we are shooting a movie and they are the star.

I can’t tell you how many actors have come to me and said, ” I hate getting my headshots taken!” or “I take horrible headshots.”  And than after the shoot they say…. “We’re done? that was so fun! i love my photos!”  Or even, “Wow, thats me?” when they see the photos.

I produce the shoots from start to finish. We choose locations, lighting, wardrobe, hair and makeup.  When not on location, I use a beautiful studio space in Hollywood  called Tough Guppy.  After the shoot I edit down the photos and do final retouching as well. One stop headshot shopping! Its a process but at the end you will have photos that you love and that give you a competitive edge.

Do you have advice to actors that they could use in their preparation or while on a shoot in order to get the most out of the experience and the best pictures possible?

My best advice to actors getting ready to take headshots is to really think out what you are going to wear and to not assume that you already own the right pieces. You need to feel like you could walk into nbc and book a seres regular wearing what you are wearing in your shoot. If you don’t own that outfit, go buy it or borrow it. I am not above the old stylist trick of returning the wardrobe after a shoot. I worked as a fashion stylist for HBO for there web content. My mother was a fashion stylist and I am a professional shopper.  I even take my clients shopping on the cheep for our shoots if they want that extra help.

You often do the hair and make-up on your shoots.  Any tips to share about that?

Always even out the skin. Use a lightener or brightener for under the eyes. Benefit’s “Erase Paste ” is great for that. You want to use a brightening and concealing cream that covers dark circles but is emollient and doesn’t cake.

Use a healthy bright blush! Blush to me just makes women look healthy and pure.  Have lips that pop, not too glossy, and eye makeup that brings out the lashes and the eye line with out looking too heavy. Not too dark on the shadow.  Another fun trick to getting great hair looks through a long shoot is “dry shampoo”.  You can get big hair with out continuing to add hairspray or teasing your hair which eventually looks ratty.  I love hair that is lit with sunlight! I think it makes the subject pop and creates a natural glamour.

Can you elaborate a bit more on “editorial” shoots?  I think this is a new concept for most actors.

My editorial shoots fall into two categories.  The first is the “This is me!”shoot where we shoot you in your environment, with your pets, around your neighborhood,

doing things you love. At home with your art, playing x-box, dancing, what ev. We capture your real life in a fun heightened way. Here is an example, in this photo I am in my studio at home with Oscar, my french bull dog, and you get a sense of my visual esthetic and who I am through the art, my clothes, and everything I surround myself with.

Then we have the “Vanity Fair layout”. For this one, I always tell my clients to bring something that they love wearing but never have the occasion to. This can be anything from a cool vintage piece, to an evening gown. These are the things you would love to wear if you didn’t have to live/ function. So they are perfect to be photographed in! And I find almost everyone, especially actors, have at least one magic fun pice tucked away.  It could verge on looking like a costume, even better!

In this photo I am wearing lots of vintage costume bling and a vintage nightgown. I am standing in a rock formation in the desert of Joshua Tree.  Clearly I would not really were this outfit hiking, but the setting and the clothing and jewelry create a feeling about me.  This photo gives off the feeling of bohemian, back-to-nature beauty.

Any other projects our readers should know about?

I am working on a photo book that is a compilation of  portraits of children of rock and folk music stars from the 60’s and 70’s. Some of the pieces are exhibited at the music memorable gallery “MR. MUSIC HEAD” on sunset.  www.mrmusichead.com

Amanda would like to offer a discount to Minerva readers.  Let her know you found her via this site when you book a shoot and she will wave her $150 hair and make-up fee. RowanImagery.com

* This is a dedicated post.  Our dedicated posts are different than our usual posts in that they are either paid for or traded for with in-kind services. We will always clearly mark our dedicated posts as such.  As I wrote above, we reached out to Amanda about this trade and couldn’t have been more thrilled she said yes.