Braxdon {Headshots} North Royalton, Ohio

Copyright 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds

Braxdon's mom, Carrie, had been searching online looking for the perfect photographer to make headshots for her son to take with them to TheEvent in Orlando, Florida. Thousands of kids go here a few times a year to perform and audition before hundreds of judges, agents, casting directors and managers scouting for talent to cast in some of America's most beloved television shows on networks like Disney and Nickelodeon. 

Copyright 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds

These kids have to posses the skills and confidence to do this sort of thing; it's a hard career to break into. You have to "wow" a panel of people who have seen it all and aren't easily impressed. The best way to start is by getting awesome professional headshots that aren't your average studio headshots everyone has seen before. I'm fairly well-known in the Northeast Ohio area for being one the most sought after headshot photographers because I have a different style that makes people look real, and look cool. Because of this experience, Carrie contacted me and I had the pleasure of meeting her and working with her genuinely charming son, Braxdon, who is just 8 years old. 

Copyright 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds

How this idea suddenly came about for their family is hilarious. Carrie and her husband have one other son and a little girl as well. They were all packed in the car one day when a radio host announced TheEvent in Orlando.  Braxdon and his brother, ever sneakily, grabbed his parent's cell phone and sent a text behind his unsuspecting parents back! Soon after, they received a text back and his parents discovered what their boys had done; received an invite to perform in Orlando. There was no turning back after that, having seen how much Braxdon wanted to do it.  

Copyright 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds

This isn't just a pipedream for Braxdon, however. And his parents know it. Braxdon has that "it" factor. Cute kid with a big, toothy smile who can soak in commands and perform with natural grace. Aside from his adorable looks, he is extremely talented and involved in so many things it makes my head spin. He's involved in all sports school has to offer, including Karate. He is also a division, sectional and state qualifier in wrestling. Another interested fact is that he also completed Archery and Gun safety, and he's only 8 years old!  

Copyright 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds

Braxdon was a breeze to work with and we had a lot of fun together. We created quite a few different looks for Braxdon, ranging from sweet innocent kid, to tough guy on the streets. Nothing is forced, everything looks natural. This is what makes me love photography. Getting the most out of my clients, to give the best photographs we can possibly give. This was so much fun, and I wish Braxdon and his family the best of luck in their journey! 

Aaron {Actor/Promo Headshots} Akron, Ohio

Copyright © 2012 KellieAnn Reynolds
All Rights Reserved 

You can't pay to learn what I learned from this shoot. To start, it was the uneasy moment when he started crossing out sections on the contract. Obviously he didn't like some things. Okay, no problem. I'll wait and see. Then, the overwhelming moment came when I thought I was losing a job, to be the only one of its kind and therefore the first, all because of a contract.

It was the moment he said he needed some time, a week maybe, to think it over, and no, he didn't have any questions. But after some talking points, and establishing that the contract would remain in its original form, I felt it was best that he take any time he needed, no pressure. His girlfriend furrowed her brows at him, and mouthed, "I'm so sorry" across the table at me. I welcomed the learning experience. But, he surprised me when he agreed to the terms and signed the form and we moved into a pretty fun shoot! Out came the lights, camera, and a bottle of wine. Throughout various outfit changes, and while everyone else had some drinks, we shared our own ideas behind Pearl Jam songs, and had a good time.

During the shoot, I periodically showed him some of the exposures on my camera. He looked at my husband and said, "Wow, she really is good. These are great!" This is when I learned he hadn't even been to my website yet. The power of word-of-mouth is astounding. After the shoot, he gave me some additional feedback about my contract, and even though he grumbled about it at first (because he worked with countless contracts at a previous job) he confirmed that I have a good business model.

Daniel { Actor Headshots } Akron, Ohio

Dan is one cool cat. He is an Akron, Ohio actor, gas-station attendant, and shares an apartment with four girls. I met Daniel after a mutual friend of ours –who lives all the way out in Los Angeles, California– suggested me when Dan inquired about Ohio photographers who shoot actors headshots. After Daniel contacted me, he scheduled his shoot for the following day. That immediately told me he is super serious about his acting career. He is extremely dedicated to the craft, even being a member of the theater company Heads Up Productions based in Akron, Ohio.

During our initial consultation, Dan told me that he was a likeable, confident guy with a great sense of humor and wanted to express those traits in his photos. Right then I could tell that Dan knows what he wants and goes right for it.

Dan has probably studied and applied the three ancient arts of discourse to his life. He speaks clearly and concisely, looks you in the eyes, gives interesting feedback, laughs at your lame jokes and humors you with his own. He's a very free spirit. One of his favorite movies is Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain, which I cover in my loved-but-hardly-updated movie review blog: Reel Hard. Needless to say, Dan and I have a lot in common and get along really well. I wish him nothing but the best in his acting career.*

So far I have been fortunate enough that my husband Chris can accompany me on most of these shoots. He is usually there serving as my trusty assistant, but he is more than that, he is also a motion graphics 3D artist, but even more than that he is my best friend and brainstormin' buddy. :) Chris is currently working on a project that requires digital video cameras, computers, "and compositions and things with... molecular structures." So when Dan came along, we knew he was perfect for our project, and he has already agreed to jump on board with us to see where this 'ship goes.

And that's what I love about being a photographer. I love being an artist working with other artists. Every job is different and exciting. Strangers become friends. Art becomes life.

Keep On,
KellieAnn

* It's a surprisingly good year for actors living in Ohio. There are several movies filming here now due to enormous tax breaks offered to the already-rich Hollywood producers. And apparently since Michigan stopped offering these perks, the upcoming superhero film produced by Marvel Studios will start filming in Cleveland this fall. 'The Avengers' is directed by Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and DollHouse) and stars Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Helmsworth and Chris Evans. Meanwhile, chairman Wayne Hill of The Greater Cleveland Commission claims it will be the largest film ever made in Ohio.