Professional Headshots for Business and Actors | Headshot Photographer, Louisville KY

Gary B’s Headshot Survival Kit!

Gary Barragan — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

If there is one thing that being a part of the world class Headshot Crew has taught is that to be prepared for every situation. Whether that pertains to tricky lighting situations or having the tools to take your client’s headshots experience to the next level, it’s good to have a few essential tools under your belt, I call mine the Headshot Survival Kit. Every professional headshot photographer should have something similar, why? Because life happens. Client has a suit that attracts lint? No problem, I’ve got that covered. Dirty glasses? Nope, those things are getting cleaned before you even step in front of my camera. Collars that want to be free as bird and fly away? Wrong, this is headshot land not a Skynard concert. For myself even, did I drink too much coffee? Most likely, I’ve got myself covered with 5 Peppermint Cobalt gum. This is my first video insight into just one element of what sets my brand apart from others and in return, gets the clients some rockin’ headshots! Check out the video and then leave a comment of what you think it’s missing or what you have in yours! Cheers Amigos!

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Why are Headshots so Important?

Gary Barragan — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

It’s a question asked many times and it’s a question that can be answered many ways. But when it comes down to it, there is only one true reason why headshots are so important. They are important because they represent who you are as a person, they are your first impression in a digital world and they are the cornerstone of your brand awareness. Abbie Purdue, a talented model who’s work I’ve been following for sometime. While on set we were chatting about life and careers where she enlightened me to the fact that she is also a business communications major. Dual careered if you will, and if you have two careers then it’s probably a good idea to have a headshot for each. I personally use two different headshots. I have one for all my branding, social media and press submissions then I have a second one I strictly use for my LinkedIn. Now Abbie is as equally prepared as well, during our session we photographed her headshots creating a robust suite of range, from my hand painted Oliphant Backdrop to a high end corporate aesthetic. Perfect to cover her modeling career and her future career once she graduates. So now whether she’s attending a casting where she needs to bring a modeling 8 x 10, or applying for an internship, we’ve got her brand management sitting in a pretty nice position. Best of luck to you my friend!

“There is no denying the fact that a good headshot is a must for most career and growth opportunities that arise. When I needed new branding headshots, Gary was my only choice! As an experienced, skilled, and talented photographer, he not only helped me portray myself in the best presentable way but he also made the session relaxed and a lot of fun! As a trained photographer, he understands the subtleties of body language and expression and served as my guide and coach to help me collaboratively create some of my favorite portraits! I could not be happier with the beautiful shots. Thanks Coach G! You are the best.” – Abbie Purde

Ps… we have lots of fun on set. Because laughs, it’s good for the soul!

Let’s create your experience next! You can get more information by visiting my Headshots page. Cheers!

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Kentucky’s Newest Associate Photographer for Peter Hurley’s Headshot Crew

Gary Barragan — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

At the beginning of the year I set a goal to advance my headshot portrait work to a world class standard. I knew I would need to further educate myself in not just the art, but the technique as well. For the direction I wanted to go, I felt the best course of action was to study under world renowned headshot photographer Peter Hurley. Over this past year, I have been closely studying with him in person and through his online education group Headshot Crew, learning and growing, fueled by the desire to continue delivering the best headshots in the region. On Wednesday November 29th 2017, I put my portfolio in front of him to personally review and well… I’m proud to announce that I am now an Associate Photographer of his. What that means is my work has excelled above his standards and he can put his trust in me as an associate knowing that I will deliver some of the best rockin’ headshots in the world, while elevating our own market here in Kentucky. It’s an accomplishment I’ve worked my ass off for and I’m honored to reach this milestone in my career. To put this in perspective, there are less than 100 fellow associate photographers of his around the globe. So what does this mean to you? Two things. The first is knowing I care that much about my work with you, my amazing clients, that I’m willing to invest time and money to further hone my skill sets as an expert. The second is that if someone is looking to have Peter photograph their headshots but aren’t able to make it to NY to work with him but they happen to live in the Kentucky region, I am one of a select few he is able to recommend for their needs. I will still work independently under my own brand but you can think of it like this… remember when Yoda completed Obi Wan’s training and he became a Jedi Knight? It’s the same thing principal, except I use light strobes instead of light sabers. It’s a title I will proudly carry through out my career and I look forward to seeing you in front of my camera! Cheers!

Peter Hurley and myself

Associate Photographer

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10 Things an Actor Should Know Before Moving to Chicago by Michael Schacht

Gary Barragan — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Part of being successful in this industry is knowing when you’ve outgrown your market. Do you remember your first paid acting gig in Louisville? Were you performing in front of a full house at the Pamela Brown Auditorium? Maybe you had an ensemble part in a musical at Whitney Hall. Were you in short film with a budget, or maybe even a feature headed to Sundance? Louisville has a great acting community, but the larger the market, the larger the opportunities and sometimes to get to that next level, you’re going to have to pack up and go back to being a small fish in a big pond.

I’m Michael Schacht and I’m a headshot photographer in Chicago, Il. If you’re looking to step up to a larger market, I think Chicago is the obvious choice, but before you quit your day job and break your lease, I think it’s important that you be as prepared as possible for the move. Here are 10 things I think you should know before leaving Louisville to pursue an acting career in Chicago.

Did you know there are more plays produced in Chicago, than in NYC? They’re smaller productions, but our live theater scene is thriving. In 2016 there were 10 television shows and 7 major motion pictures filmed in Chicago.

Get to know the city before you move here. If you sign a 12 month lease in an area you don’t like, it’s going to be a long year. There are lots of things to consider, like proximity to public transportation, rental cost, and general neighborhood safety. Do not under any circumstances move to a suburb.
Polish up that resume. Are you currently waiting tables or making lattes between auditions and rehearsals? You’re probably going to be doing that here too. Honesty is the best policy. Tell your potential employers that you need flexibility so that you can continue to audition. It might take a little longer, but finding the right fit is essential to your success as an actor.
Learn to love commercial work. Being that we’re smack dab in the middle of NYC and LA, there’s a lot of commercial work shot here, and it’s often the highest paying work in town. You’re an artist, I get that, but suck it up and take the money every now and again so that you can afford to donate time on a passion project now and again. It’s great experience, and like I said, it generally pays well.
Network, network, network! Start networking now. Hop on social media and start making friends with people in the industry. Hit up actors, directors, even photographers. The faster you can earn a spot in this wonderful acting community, the faster you’ll have friends bringing you in on their personal projects and talking you up on their sets to their directors and such.
Chicago is nicknamed The Windy City. That has nothing to do with the awful winds we have in the winter and everything to do with the fact that we don’t stop talking.
Leave your car in Louisville. Between the trains, the busses, and uber, you’re covered. Parking spots and parking tickets are luxeries you’re not going to be able to afford at first.
Plan for things not to go as planned. It’s going to take longer than you think to land that first part, get that first job, make that first million.
You need an awesome headshot to hit the ground running. Not a good headshot, an awesome headshot. The kind of a headshot that makes a casting director do a double take. Your first stop is going to be the local talent agencies, and they’re not going to take you seriously without one.
You’re going to want an agent. An agent is going to have access to auditions that you just can’t get without one. A good agent is deeply connected to local film/tv/stage scene and they work for you. They don’t get paid unless they get you work. A good agent won’t put you on their roster unless they believe they can book you. Here’s a list of agencies worth reaching out to.

Recommended Agencies

Big Mouth Talent
www.bigmouthtalent.com
900 N. Franklin Street, #709
Chicago, IL 60610
312-421-4400
On Camera: Kelly McLaughlin
Kids: Brooke Tonneman

Bmg Talent
www.bmgtalent.com
456 N. May St.
Chicago, IL 60622
312-829-6361
Agent:: Jaime Henderson

Gray Talent Group
www.graytalentgroup.com
727 S. Dearborn Suite 312
Chicago, IL 60605
312-666-5404
Dawn Gray, Owner/Agent
Kiki Kapral, Julietta Sanchez

Grossman Jack Talent
www.grossmanjack.com
33 W Grand Avenue, Suite 402
Chicago, IL 60654
312-587-1155
On Camera: Bob Schroeder, Donna Simon,
Jess Jones

Lily’s Talent Agency
www.lilystalent.com
1017 W. Washington Blvd, #4F
Chicago, IL 60607
312-601-2345
On Camera: Stephanie Potakis

Paonessa Talent Agency
www.paonessatalent.com
1512 N. Fremont Suite 105
Chicago, IL 60642
773-360-8749
Owner/ Agent: Marisa Paonessa
Samantha Siroky

Shirley Hamilton, Inc.
www.shirleyhamilton.com
333 E. Ontario, #302B
Chicago, IL 60611
312-787-4700
President: Lynne Hamilton
Print Director: Laurie Hamilton
On Camera: Renee Keen, Morgan Manock

Stewart Talent
www.stewarttalent.com
58 W. Huron
Chicago, IL 60610
312-943-3131
Theatre: Sam Samuelson
TV/Film: Todd Turina
Kids: Jenny Wilson

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Excellent Personal Branding begins with Investing in Yourself by Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0000

I can remember clearly like it was yesterday, being told that I am my own brand. Grow it by nurturing it with love and strength, just as you would any other relationship you care about. Folks invest in me for their personal branding with the absolute best headshots and portraits to represent their brand, so it’s only right that I invest in myself as well. This is an extremely important step for brand growth in today’s vast world of online presences, everyone needs a solid image that represents who are as a person, not some selfie that you took outside on the street. You see, personal brand management starts with me, your professional Louisville headshot photographer, as it’s my job to capture that perfectly told story of who you are and how you plan to convey that story to your own audience. Understanding this responsibility, I know I have an obligation in continued education to further better myself, this will be a staple of my brand until the day I decide to hang up the camera. Last weekend I did exactly that, by traveling up to Chicago to attend the 3 day Headshot Intensive work shop hosted by world renowned headshot photographer Peter Hurley which was hosted at Michael Schacht’s 312 Elements studio. In order to be the best, you learn from the best to keep your talents honed and maintain a leading edge for your clients.

Headshot by Peter Hurley

It’s one thing to learn the technical aspects of any job, but it’s a whole other level to really get into the nuts and bolts of it, and this is exactly what we did. I didn’t attend the Intensive to learn how to take a headshot, I went to better understand the art of human expression and emotion which in return led to the most valuable lesson of the weekend… trust. Building trust, specifically in myself with setting goals and plotting out a course of action to make these goals attainable. Although I’ve been doing headshots here and there for a couple years now, it wasn’t until this past January that I decided to make it a cornerstone of brand. Since then I’ve managed to carve out a slice of the market and establish myself as one of Louisville’s best headshot photographers by repeatedly delivering robust sets of professional headshots and personal branding portraits for actors, entertainers, models and business professionals. I take pride in the work I do for my brand therefore I am always striving to better myself, the Headshot Intensive was simply a natural course of action for me.

Throughout the weekend, we covered a wide range of topics, such as the artistry of headshots, the vast ranges of human emotions and the personal growth through setting goals. It was weekend built on fun memories, learning experiences and sprints through the rain! Yes rain! The first day of the Intensive was hit hard with rain and during dinner it seemed to hit the hardest. One of the mentors there, Mike Sansone, was on crutches due to an injury, had he walked back he would of been drenched, so I decided to run to back to the studio, grab my car and swing back around to pick him up. Nothing like a harrowing rescue to get the adrenaline going right? lol

Peter Hurley instructing on how constant light interacts with the human face.

Throughout the weekend, we were assigned different tasks ranging from shadowing Peter while he photographed other people to walking nearby streets in search of strangers to photograph. Each of the tasks assigned had their unique purpose, shadowing Peter allowed us an intimate opportunity to see how he works with his go to lighting (Westcott Flex Kit constant lighting where I use Profoto strobes) and how he interacts with client to extract genuine emotion. We each have our own style and technique and it was rather interesting to see how others applied their own to different situation. Photographing strangers on the street challenged our people skills and seeing how quickly we could get someone comfortable enough to give
a true expression reactive to our techniques. Being we were outside on the streets, we were also challenged with searching out the best available light for environmental portraits, or headshots that are commonly referred to a cinematic headshot.

By the middle of the second day we were in the midst of a headshot party with multiple stations set up. I brought my entire headshot setup so I was able to replicate in Chicago what I normally back home in Louisville KY for my clients and their professional headshot experience. It was a moment of excitement as I photographed several people there and seeing their reactions as we reviewed the images on screen, a key part to my workflow. I want the people I photograph to feel on top of the world with what we are capturing and by providing a method for them to see how my coaching really dials in the best expression for visual impact.

Michael Schacht, Chicago Headshot Crew Associate and Mentor

As the weekend came to end, I had a lot of information to process and absorb but walking away that new insight on trusting myself to setting goals beyond the immediate future made my time in Chicago worth every single penny. Furthermore, I’m walking away with the friendships of three individuals who are inspiring leaders and genuine humans I’d gladly break bread with any day. Peter Hurley, Mike Schacht and Mike Sansone, again thank you for all the guidance, laughs and memories you provided during the Intensive. See you guys at the top!

Interested in developing or refreshing your personal branding or headshots?

Contact me to book your session.

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Yes, Headshots need Retouching and the Philosophy Behind It // Louisville Photographer Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

We are all born equal and perfect in our own unique ways, there is no doubt about that. If that’s the case, then why do our headshots and portraits need to be retouched? Well, there are two primary reasons for this, the first is to correct any slight imperfections and the other is for creative aesthetics. I’d like to focus on the first reason, which comes from circumstances out of our control such as blemishes, fly away hairs and in some cases your clothes (wrinkles or lint). Sure there are steps and tips you can take to help with your skin, I actually talk about here, and even hiring a professional make-up artist can do a world of justice but sometimes human nature simply has other plans for us. This is where my retouching comes in. My process is what is considered the natural method, where I am only removing these imperfections. It’s not the high end retouching you would see in beauty and fashion magazine. By doing so, I’m able to retain the organic appearance of your skin and features, a key point in a true headshot. Then to just to give it that extra pop, I will go in and subtly enhance the highlights and shadows in key areas of the image, we call this dodging and burning. By applying this technique I can add a bit of depth to the image, which in return creates visually pleasing effect to the human eye.

Now, to touch (see what I did there?) on the second reason, creative aesthetics, I will start by saying this is more for actors and models. Venturing into subjective territory, should I go this route, I will tend to apply a color grade to compliment the mood, or I might take the dodging and burning up a notch or two, it really depends on story we are trying to tell. As an actor or model, this where we can really have our fun as we explore capturing character or theatrical headshots. This is all determined while we are in the studio after we’ve captured what is needed for your commercial headshots.

It takes a headshot specialist to know and understand how to properly retouch these types of images, and through my experience and perfected lighting I’ve mastered this technique. Think about it like this, on a scale of 1 to 10, once the light is dialed into you, we will see 10s all through the session coming straight of the camera. Then once we’ve selected the best of the best from those 10s, I will then taken the to the next level, an 11 and create the most visual impact for viewer, which is what we want when people see your headshot. In the real world, there are only few seconds before someone thumbs the scroll or flips to the next 8 x 10, we want to stop that, grab their attention and get you hired. Below are a few examples of natural retouching where you can see how I’ve applied the techniques, then there is one example of a creative retouch. My goal is that after reading this blog, people will understand the philosophy behind why images are retouched. Leave your thoughts below and thank you for taking the time to read this! Cheers amigos!

Examples of Retouched Commercial and Theatrical Headshots

Skin imperfections such os blemishes or dry patches.
Fly away hairs.
Dodging and Burning.
Wrinkles and attire adjustments.

Actors Headshots – Hair and Make-up by Pam Butler of The Beauty Patrol

Hair and Make-up by Pam Butler of The Beauty Patrol

Talent Headshot

Personal Branding Headshot

Examples of Retouched Headshots with Creative Aesthetics

All of the above key points.
Color Grading.
More Dodging and Burning.

Modeling Headshot

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Star Wars “Hand of the Empire” / A Portrait Documentary by Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you come across opportunities that are made of dreams… It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, and I’m also not hesitant to work with the right charities, and in this instance, the Force has led me to this film. Rumors began to whirl about this project and I decided to submit my previous production photography work, I could feel the anxiety building, it’s like the Emperor’s grip was reaching in, no wait, maybe it was Vader’s. None the less weeks went by as I was stand by and then I got the message… the Empire accepted my bidding (Yes, there will be lots of fan boy Star Wars references here because well you know, it’s a fanboy thing). I was tasked to photograph behind the scenes and promotional content for “Star Wars Hand of the Empire”, a fan film benefiting Norton’s Children’s Hospital. But let’s take a step back for a minute on why this came to be. In 2016, Executive Producer Ken Daniels met a child by the name of Phil Parks, and he had a wish. This wish was to have a Storm Trooper kit for himself, unfortunately he passed away from brain cancer. Ken went on to explain this on day one of filming, and with a somber yet genuine inspiration, we all went in head first. Not only was this one of the largest film sets I’d been on, it was also brought to life through a pure culmination of donations ranging from skills and time to location hospitality and food as well as logistical and financial support. The hours were long, the heat was unreal, and the ticks, well they were definitely from the Dark Side!

I knew my time with the crew would be limited, so I had to capture what I could while on set. During the first weekend, I was stationed on Clipar, an agriworld reminiscent of Endor, the only difference was there were no Ewoks, there were those darn ticks. Following our lead troops, Cpt Quarrie, Sgt Saxon, Pvts Pizzo & Ramos through the bush, I was studying the light and figuring how to best capture these soldiers. I knew the Emperor had the utmost standards for them and I also knew if they didn’t like how I portrayed them, well, let’s say we all know Storm Troopers never miss with their blasters, right? I could not fail! Anyhow, I found a small nook off the beaten path were I pulled each of them to side to capture their portraits. I think they liked them, I mean I made it out.
My next assignment would be be to document our heroes Kanan Jarrus and Mara Jade and along with our lead protagonist Loto Tane, a mandalorian. So back on planet Earth, I was brought back to reality. I knew these characters needed to be portrayed in a noble and epic manner, there was only but one way to do this… modern portraiture in the studio. My style is heavily influenced by Annie Leibovitz and her work with Vanity Fair, so given I would be photographing characters from the Star Wars universe, I felt in my heart this was the only way that it should be done. We set a date, the Jedi and Mandalorian showed up, energies merged and the Force was with us once again. We discussed their personas and relationships with one another, I then formed a vision for the portraiture story and we got to work.
And here we are now, at the dawn of our work’s release… the trailer has debuted at 2,300 views (within 24 hours), the engagement has been overwhelming and I do believe we all have done right by Phil. Now, without further ado, I’m humbled to present the production photography and my portrait documentary for Star Wars “Hand of the Empire”, a charity fan film.
** Disclaimer – No Jawas were harmed during the making of this film.

Portraits of Jedi and a Mandalorian

John Wells as Kanan Jarrus

Kystabelle Dawn as Mara Jade

Jonathan Garlinghouse as Loto Tane

Crew
Executive Producer – Ken Daniels
Producers – Nathan Thomas Milliner and John Wells
Story – Ken Daniels, Nathan Thomas Milliner and John Wells
Director and Screen Writer – Nathan Thomas Milliner
Cinematographer – David P Bonnell
2nd Unit Cinematographer and 1st Assistant Camera – Jimmy Sanders
2nd Assistant Camera – Kristine Renee Farley
Sound – Brad Reinhart
Score – Joe Stockton
Special FX – Nick Taylor
Creature FX – George Crenshaw
Production Photographer – Gary Barragan
Behind the Scenes Photographer – Bill Spangler
Wrangler of Ticks – Barbie Clark
Stunt Coordinator – Chad Zigmund
Costume Designers – Barbie Clark and Gary Collins
Props – Don West and John Sandor
Speeder Bikes and Props – Derby City Pit Crew
Autumn Barefoot – Make-up
Melissa Majors – Hair
Stunts – Chad Zigmund and Logan Abell
Shaman of Luck – Pocket Storm Trooper

Cast
Kanan Jarrus – John Wells
Mara Jade – Krystabelle Dawn
Lots Tane – Jonathan Garlinghouse
Cpt. Quarrie – Darrin Dickerson
Sgt. Saxon – Don West
Pvt. Pizzo – Chad Zigmund
Pvt. Ramos – Clark Spalding
The Ronk – George Crenshaw
Clipar Leader – Gary Collins
Clipar Extra – Phil B. Fox

On Location at the Moon Clipar to document these TK’s

Darrin Dickerson as Capt. Quarrie

Don West as Sgt. Saxon

Chad Zigmund as Pvt. Pizzo

Clark Spalding as Pvt. Ramos

Star Wars Hand of the Empire Official Trailer

Behind the Empire Lines

A few outakes under the Emporer’s Nose

Special Thanks to Louisville’s Iris Pro Imaging for donating canvas prints to the family of Phil Parks at the film premier.

And there was just no way I going to leave set without throwing on a TK bucket! Because Empire Combat Photog. 🙂
May the Force be with you…

Canon and Profoto Technical Info

Studio Portraits
Camera – Canon 5D Mark IV with 50mm f/1.2L.
Key Light – Profoto B1x (StarKiller) with 2 x 3 OCF Softbox and Grid.
Primary Fill – Profoto D1 Air 500 w/ White Umbrella XL (diffused), extra diffusion with Lastolite 6 x 6 Skylight.
Secondary Fill (Camera Right) – Profoto B2 w/ 1 x 3 OCF Strip Box.
Hand Painted Backdrops and Floor Drop – Oliphant Studio.

On Location Portraits
Camera – Canon 5D Mark IV with 70-200mm f/2.8L II.
Key Light – Profoto B2 w/ White Umbrella M (diffused).
Fill Light – Ambient.

I give my utmost thanks to Ken, Nathan and John for bringing me on board.
Click on the HOTW Logo below for the official website!

Official Poster by Nathan Thomas Milliner

Visit the official site below.

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Defining the True Form of a Headshot by Louisville Photographer Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

What exactly constitutes a headshot? By definition, approximately 30% of a headshot’s frame should be taken up by your face with the remaining frame’s real estate split up between your shoulders and negative space… nothing more, nothing less. But now days, I’m starting to see this happen quite often, a headshot advertisement with an image that has the person’s arms or hands and in some cases 3/4th of a person’s body, this may leave you puzzled because you’ve just read the word “headshot”. That’s not fair to you, in fact it’s misleading, and once you understand what technically defines a headshot, you will better appreciate the photographers who specialize in providing this service. I’ve opened this education piece with the technical side of creating a headshot, but let’s not forget the art that goes into creating it as well. As your photographer, it’s my job to capture your best true to life appearance that allows for your confidence and personality to radiate. With those two elements combined (technical and art) we define the true form of a headshot. Now the work that goes into harnessing that confidence and personality is a bit far more complex but we’ll save that for when we begin our consultation. But for now, let’s just think of your headshot as the most up close and organic portrait of you. No arms or hands that can lead the viewer from your expression. No heavy or beauty make-up to mask your true self. No posing on a chair or table to completely switch up the aesthetics or the goal of what a headshot is designed to do. By sharing this you my friends, I hope to shed light on the value of what goes into creating a genuine image of who you truly are. Cheers!

Examples of Professional Headshots by Industry Standards

Actors Headshots – Commerical

Modeling Headshot

LinkedIn Headshots

Actors Headshots – Commercial

Cinematic Headshot

Corporate Business Headshot

Examples of styles that are mislabeld as headshots

Beauty Portrait – High end retouching, bare shoulders and both hands in the frame near her face.

Business Portrait with 3/4 Composition.

Lifestyle – Could of been a cinematic headshot but we have the introduction of her fingers

Portraiture, almost her entire body is in view, moody lighting.

Now that we have you up to speed on what is a true headshots, let’s take the next step and get you in the studio!

Book Your Headshots Now

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The Power of Clean and Natural Make-Up w/The Beauty Patrol and Louisville Photographer Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Thu, 11 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Ever since I cut my teeth on beauty and fashion, I’ve had an excellent grasp on what is considered clean and natural make-up by a qualified professional. With that knowledge, comes an in depth understanding of the value associated with an experienced artist. Now before I go deeper, I am not here to debate the types of make-up styles such as “Instaglam” vs editorial, that’s always going to be a subjective debate. What I am here to do is to talk about the results of using a beauty professional. Over the years I’ve developed a great relationship with one particular artist and her team, Pam Butler and the Beauty Patrol. We were recently discussing how to best educate our audience on said value and we felt the best way to do so was simply showing our un-retouched work. She and her team felt confident in the pieces I selected from the portfolio we have created over the years, ranging from lifestyle and fashion, to headshots and bridal portraits. In the style of photography I do, I always try to retain as much organic texture and features of the person as possible, and with Pam and her team I am easily able to do that. Through a combination of their artistry and my lighting, we are ultimately able to deliver a feeling of genuine beauty to the client. At the most, I am retouching natural skin imperfections and preforming dodge and burn techniques to bring a bit of depth to the image. The less time I’m working on the retouching, the more time I can spend on creative decisions such as color grading and treatments. As you can see below in the the image sliders, there is not much retouching done to the actual make-up itself, thus we’ve retained the organic beauty! Albeit some may look more involved but that is due to whether I was going for a high fashion treatment or simply a refined lifestyle aesthetic. Pam speaks highly of the photographers she works with and explains that she feels it’s her and her team’s job to make the photographer’s job easier… to which I reply if only she could see me doing a happy dance at my desk when I’m done retouching!

Now that we’ve covered all this, let’s travel a bit further down the rabbit hole, or should I say deeper in the skin. Pam has always been a gracious educator when it comes to her industry and there are a few things we’d like to touch on that you can do to further help prepare for your shoot! First up, Vitamins! Not only do they assist in maintaining a healthy body, but there are some in specific that can help with a natural glow to your skin as well such as commonly known vitamins E, D and C. However, the human body also has its own natural substances such as hyaluronic acids which replenishes and secures moisture in your skin. This natural acid assists with having a youthful appearance but can also be boosted with additional supplemental hyaluronic acid vitamins and creams along with having a good skin care routine of cleansing. Sleeping in make-up is never good under any circumstances, as it can block your pores leading to issues such as acne, dry or irritated skin and in some cases inflammation of your eyes and surrounding areas. By sleeping with your make-up on you are essentially introducing counterproductive effects to what your body’s hyaluronic acids are designed to do. If you have specific areas on your skin or face that you need to concentrate on then you may look at masks, scrubs and serums. There are several options out there on the market but Pam prefers Limelight by Alcone for her clients as it is an organic and chemical free brand with products for skincare as well as make-up. Pam also advises that make-up is subjective for most of our clients. What works for one person may not work for the next so her applications are customized to show the world the best true to life version of you while correcting any slight imperfections.

Lastly, we’d like to touch on a few additional simple tips that will not only help you prepare your skin for a photoshoot, but will also help with maintaining a healthy appearance on a daily basis! For instance, staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest can go a long way in keeping a refreshed look. This also helps with energy levels, so not only will you look refreshed but you will feel refreshed as well, which in return will naturally create an attractive energy. With summer around the corner, I know we all like to get a bit of sun but try not to overdo it, as skin can get permanently damaged through time. It’s recommended to use a minimum of SPF 15 when tanning BUT when it comes to photoshoots avoid any makeup with SPF (remember SPF blocks sun light, it will also have an effect on my studio light). It’s highly recommended to refrain from tanning (spray or sun) at least 3 to 4 days before your session. During the healing process of your tan, your skin may become discolored beyond a realistic correction with either make-up or retouching and could hinder our team from capturing our best work with you. Following even these last few simple steps will help you go miles in keeping your skin refreshed while exuding a radiant glow which in return will have you looking quite stunning on our set and that is what we all want!

All hair and make-up below are by The Beauty Patrol officers

Hair and Make-Up – Pam Butler

Hair and Make-Up – Alexis Mattingly, Talent – Alexis Gibson

Make-Up – Pam Butler

Make-Up – Pam Butler, Hair – Brooke Meadows, Talent – Heather Rous Weeks

Hair and Make-up – Louisa Kleinert

Make-Up – Pam Butler, Hair – Louisa Kleinert, Talent – Tiffany Cline

Make-up – Pam Jean Butler, Hair – Brooke Meadows, Designer – Tiffany Hutaburat, Talent – Kaylynn Paulin

From left to right, The Beauty Patrol is Louisa Kleinert, Brooke Meadows, Isidro Valencia, Pam Butler and Michaela Reeves. Not pictured is Alexis Mattingly.

You can contact Pam Butler here for any of The Beauty Patrol services or to set up your consultation.

If you have further questions for me on the photography side you can contact me at the button below!

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The post The Power of Clean and Natural Make-Up w/The Beauty Patrol and Louisville Photographer Gary Barragan appeared first on Professional Headshots for Business and Actors | Headshot Photographer, Louisville KY.

Creating not a session, but an experience w/Louisville Photographer Gary Barragan

Gary Barragan — Mon, 01 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

As a photographer, my job does not stop at understanding light or mastering the technical innards of my camera. In fact, that is honestly only the beginning, because truth be told, you can have the most beautifully lit set with the perfect combination of camera settings, but if the person you are photographing is not comfortable or if there is not a human connection, then all that technical work will of been done in vain. The years I’ve spent learning light and set technicalities are only aids in the end goal, to capture the person in front of my camera in their utmost genuine way. Whether it’s finding a common interest, suggesting an off the wall idea or simply allowing them to view the work straight from the camera to break them into a relaxed state of being, this is something that must be done. Through this method, I’ve discovered that each of my sessions have a few gems that contain a raw candid moment, and it’s these that I adore the most as they reflect the true uncut moments, creating an experience, not just a session. So even though, I may be cutting up and clicking away on the camera, I’m actually working diligently to create an experience that you will surely value. These moments below are just a few of what has happened in the past year. I look forward to creating many more, cheers amigos!

If you’d like more information on booking your experience, please feel free to reach out with the button below. I’ll be looking forward to creating your own unique set!