Spring is in full swing and although this cloudy weather has got us all wearing scarves a little late in the season, we're happy to have a cool reprieve before beach season kicks into high gear.
We've also got some exciting news to share!
Those of you who have shot with Kelsey here in Los Angeles all know how to find our somewhat conspicuous location nestled on the 2nd floor of 633 N. La Brea. And though we've always loved the hustle and bustle that comes with being located along a famous stretch of Hollywood, we thought it was time for us to stand out from the busy crowd. We wanted to make our studio easier for new and old clients to find. And so, without further ado, we are pleased to present to you.....our new signage!
Sure, it's just a sign, but we like to think of it as an arrow pointed straight at you-- our clients'-- hearts. We hope this takes away any confusion you may have experienced when trying to find us, and we hope this will help you point new clients our way. It's just a step, but it's in the right direction. Now come in our direction and make an appointment to visit us today!
Wherever you may be, we hope you're getting to enjoy some beautiful weather like the kind we've been having here in LA lately. There's been lots of sunshine, plenty of beautiful breezes and just enough rain to bring out the spring blooms! Although Kelsey had to leave our sunny shores for a trip to Dallas last week, she enjoyed her stay in the Lone Star State and brought home some wonderful images and a few stories, too.
For those of you in the Dallas area who tune your radio dials to KHKS 106.1, you can check out Kelsey's brand new shots of the Kidd Kraddick team on their website. Kelsey and Kidd have been friends for many years now, and it's always a pleasure to shoot such a fun and dynamic group of people. Sneak a peek at the screen capture below, along with a shot of Kelsey and the gang!
And to all you kids out there who loved last year's Aliens in the Attic, check out Dallas native Ashley Boetcher's latest shot. You may also recognize Ashley from a slew of commercials she's got running at the moment.
Here's an out of the blue question .... How many of you are football fans? If you raised your hand, then you probably already know about Texas Stadium-- home of the Dallas Cowboys. It's been standing for over 29 years In fact, it was standing when Kelsey flew in for her shoot last week, but by the time she left, it was gone. After all those years hosting football games, tailgates and some of the country's most famous cheerleaders, the legendary building was demolished to make way for a new stadium and a new era in Dallas. Now we know this doesn't have much to do with photography, but it has a lot to do with time; and if you think about it, photography and time are intertwined. We take a picture and it keeps a single moment alive forever. Though years of wear and tear might take its toll on a structure's walls, pictures will forever tell the story of its glory days. Many of the clients Kelsey met over this past weekend in Dallas had shared good times and even lifelong careers inside the stadium. Aren't they lucky to be able to remember so many happy moments through the photographs that captured them? With that spirit in mind, here's a few pictures of Texas Stadium as it used to be, and as it was in its last moments. So long old friend, and thanks for the memories...
Just a quick note today to tell you all about Stage Door, a fantastic production closing this weekend at Open Fist Theatre Company. The show stars many of our studio's talented clients, and according to the LA Times, the production is not to be missed! Check out their rave review of Stage Door at the link below:
Long before the curtain went up on this clever production, Kelsey was brought in to collaborate on marketing images. Because the piece has a period setting, the pictures also needed a vintage look and feel. With creative guns firing, Kelsey shot not only production stills, but character images that captured both the spirit of the show and the quirkiness of its 25 member ensemble. On the corner of this post you'll see a taste of those images. We hope you like the flavor!
And we hope you find time this weekend to see the show, although we hear tickets are almost sold out. For more information, visit Open Fist Theatre's website at: http://www.openfist.org/
If you've been enjoying any Primetime TV lately (Olympics anyone??), you've probably noticed the Verizon Palm Pre Plus commercial campaign featuring different lovely moms from eras gone by. You know...the nifty 50's mom with the chocolates and (our personal favorite) the stellar 80's mom with the post-its.
That lovely lady handling the sticky notes is our very own client, the fabulous Fabiola Cayemitte. Ms. Cayemitte was kind enough to take some time out of her busy auditioning schedule to answer a few questions about her shoot with Kelsey.
...But before we get to the interview, let's talk about how Kelsey and Fabiola first met.
It all started a while back at a local LA cafe, where Kelsey was having lunch with a friend. Kelsey's young daughter, Siara, was also dining and our favorite little lady was heartbroken when she discovered that the menu included no macaroni and cheese! A mac n' cheese meltdown seemed imminent until a charming waitress came to the rescue and went out of her way to keep both Siara and Kelsey very happy. Over a year later, a twist of fate would bring that waitress- Fabiola- through Catchlight Studio's doors looking for headshots. After recognizing each other, Kelsey and Ms. Cayemitte quickly scheduled a shoot and the rest is history.
Now, on to the interview! KES: Thanks for answering our questions, Fabiola! Let's start at the beginning. How did you find your way to Kelsey??
FC: I'd met Kelsey incidentally prior to our shoot when I served her and her daughter at my restaurant. A year later I came across these photos of this gorgeous actor and decided to look him up on IMDB and made an appointment with Kelsey. It was then at our first meeting I felt we had met. It took us some time, but her daughter had left such a sweet impression that I remembered serving them a year prior.
KES: Have you shot with other photographers? What was your experience in comparison to your shoot with Kelsey?
FC: I find myself to be a very attractive woman; however, all the photographers I've shot with in the past some of which included high end magazine photographers never captured my real beauty. I'd walk into auditions and the casting directors would look at these recent photos and comment that I looked better in person. And I'd have to wait months to be able to afford to re-shoot. This just seemed to be an endless cycle.
I explained all my frustrations about my past experiences to Kelsey. What I most admired is that not only did she 'listen' intently to my needs I notice she never made me any false promises. She focused on who I was as an individual and what kind of person I was portraying to the world as an artist and that would in turn be our goal. And guess what? She gave me exactly what I wanted and more. It took me hours to narrow down the perfect shot as she gave me too many options.
KES: What were your impressions of Catchlight Studio's staff?
FC: Kelsey and her team were extremely professional. But most importantly they were very warm. I felt like I was at home with friends I had known for years. The studio itself is inviting which enabled me to let my hair down and leave my inhibitions at the door. Which in turn exuded my essence and gave me some amazing pictures.
KES: How have your headshots affected your career?
FC: And so it began ~ the calls from casting directors, theatrically and commercially. For years I kept thinking I had a bad agent or I didn't have enough credits. Who knew it was not having the 'right' picture that would just get you in the door. Casting directors stopped doing the double takes from the shots to my face but rather ask who shot the photos. And what's so refreshing is that I know I won't have to retake the pictures for many years to come. Because of Kelsey I was called in for a Verizon National commercial which I booked with one of the biggest Ad Agency's in NYC. I'm so grateful because I realize had I not had the perfect shot that got me in the door to begin with, I would not have had the opportunity to even audition. This was a great investment, I can't thank Kelsey enough for her part in making me a bankable actress.
KES: Thanks Fabiola! We look forward to seeing a lot more of you- both in the studio and on the screen!
Welcome old friends, new friends and soon-to-be friends!
Here at Kelsey Edwards Photography, we are new to the blogosphere, but we're no strangers to Hollywood. You'll find us on the corner of Melrose and La Brea-- one of the most famous spots in one of the most famous cities in the world. For 15 years, clients have been coming back to our beautiful 3000 sq/ft natural light studio to experience Kelsey's unique brand of headshot photography. You can find out more about Kelsey, the studio, her headshots and our wonderful clients all on our website linked at the right-hand side of this page.
So why have a blog if we've already got a website?? Well, it's simple. Our website is about us, and we wanted a place to talk about you: the actor.
We know it's tough out there, and finding the right headshot photographer can make or break your chances to get inside that audition door. That's why, on our blog, you'll find everything from industry tips to headshot do's and don'ts, along with personal glimpses into our studio atmosphere and the professional success of our clients. Tune in regularly to be the first to find out about studio specials or Kelsey's trips to satellite markets in Dallas, Atlanta and Sacramento. We'll be posting videos taken during our headshot sessions so you can get a feel of what it's like working with Kelsey, and we'll be interviewing clients about their experiences in the studio and the auditions that their headshots landed them.
In summary, it's simple. We want to help you navigate a slippery industry, and we want you to feel like you know us before you ever walk through our studio doors. So join our blog (you can click the *follow* link on the right-hand side of the page), and come along as we offer you a glimpse into our working world. We're confident you'll like what you see!
