Cheap Lenses Aren't Always a Bad Thing -

Shot with my back-up Nikon D-300 using a specially modified, $10 HOLGA (cheap, plastic camera from China, infamous and desired by many for its low quality and known manufacturing defects) FIXED FOCUS, f/8 50mm LENS.

Conventional wisdom says get the best (most expensive) glass you can afford. But in the real world, food and mortgage payments need to come first.

Challenge yourself. Leave the Nikon, Sigma, or other DSLR at home and stop by Walgreen's. Pick up a $7 disposible camera and walk Old Town, Zoo, or the BioPark.

Develop and print some 4x6s and see what you captured. Scan the best of the negatives and play with them in Elements, Lightroom, Photoshop, or your choice of editing programs.

This could be a fun and challenging theme and exibition for your camera club!

Keep Shooting -

Steve Snowden

http://www.route66photography.com/

Some Things Are Better Indoors -

We generally do our Headshot sessions outdoors using New Mexico's great natural light. But due to the Spring winds, we've been spending more time indoors in our studio working with some talented area models in improving their modeling portfolios.

One of my all-time faves is Celeste. We enjoy working with her for a lot of reasons. She knows makeup and hair and does a great job on both. Celeste can leave the studio for 10 minutes and return with an entire new look just by putting up her hair and changing her eye makeup. We've been working together for over 5 years and so has gained a lot of experience and confidence in that time. She's always ready to assist me in trying out some new studio lighting or locations. And, she uses Bare Escentials Mineral makeup because it photographs so well and applies so easily.

Celeste spent a few hours in-studio with us last month and we created some magazine and catalog-quality images for her. She's moving to California in about 6 weeks so we're builidng a strong portfolio for her to shop around when she gets to Los Angeles.

Here's an image we made with Celeste last October on location in the Cerrillos area.

Unlike our headshot sessions, we have a 3-hour minimum for modeling portfolio work.
If you're an experienced model wanting to update your personal or professional portfolio, email us for more information.

Till next time -

Steve

http://www.Route66Photography.com/

http://www.SteveSnowdenPhotography.com/

A Successful Studio Session

We usually do our headshot and portrait photography outdoors in the natural light but the New Mexico weather has been so windy lately we decided to do a studio session with a client we've worked with before. We photographed Sasha about a year ago but her hair and overall look had changed quite a bit in that time. Her Mom called and scheduled some studio time with us and we're all pleased with the results.

Sasha has participated in pageants and other events over the years and is very graceful in front of the camera. Her ability to take direction and her range of expressions is impressive.

Towards the end of our session we pulled out a box of props and hats and Sasha tried out a floppy sunhat for the camera. With her Mom volunteering to step in as an ad-hoc lighting assistant, we got some very nice images.

Some of the photos we made will be used in upcoming competitions, auditions and casting calls and we wish Sasha and her Mom the best of luck!

Steve Snowden

www.Route66Photography.com

Updated Headshots for Another SAG Actor Working in New Mexico

Another Good Reason to Update Your Headshot Portfolio

James Burnett contacted us a couple of weeks ago about updating his headshot portfolio. James is a working S.A.G. actor represented by THE APPLAUSE AGENCY. He has appeared in front and behind the cameras in a number of national TV productions including BREAKING BAD and IN PLAIN SIGHT.

James Burnett is a great example of an actor who realizes the importance of training and working toward his goals. He has his SAG card and plenty of great credits on his resume, but he wants more and he works for it. James is a a student of Steve Willmon at Ovations Film Actors Studio where James continues to study and hone his craft.

He was successfully being cast in 'clean-cut' roles like EMT, police, etc. James decided he would prefer to play roles with more character and grit. He grew out his hair and beard and contacted us to update his headshot portfolio with his new look.

Both James and his agent loves the new look and we're all planning on seeing James in some exciting new roles very soon!

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It's advisable for all working (and aspiring) adult actors to update their head shot portfolio...

1. Every 12-18 months

2. Women - If you substantially change your hair style or change your hair color more than a couple of shades. Blond to a Redhead? Definitely get new headshots!

3. Men - If you substantially change the length of your hair or grow or cut a beard or moustache.

4 . If you gain or lose more that 10 pounds.

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It's advisable for all working and aspiring child/teen actors to update their head shot portfolio...

1. Every 6 - 12 months

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The weather is getting warmer and lots of new productions are getting ready to come to New Mexico! Now is a great time to update your old headshots with a fresh new look! Be ready for the next set of casting calls.

We are scheduling into early March right now. Visit our website at http://www.route66photography.com/ and then call us to schedule your session.

We also work weekends and can work around your busy school and work schedules.

Thanks -

Steve Snowden

www.Route66Photography.com

505.401.6358

Kevin Spacey - Advice to Aspiring Actors & Actresses

If you consider yourself to be an aspiring actor or actress, or if you're a working actor or actress -
Watch this clip from Kevin Spacey and see if you are doing what it really takes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-stA68drYSk

Steve Snowden
www.Route66Photography.com

Headshots for working actors, actresses, and models.

Modeling Scams

Thought I'd follow up yesterday's blog posting with a link I found while surfing around the Screen Actors Guild website.

http://www.modelingscams.org/modelingconventions.html

If you're an aspiring model and/or actress, there is lots of valuable information on the web that will educate you on how to avoid the many scams out there and the people who run them.

Don't be rushed into paying thousands of dollars for a crash course in acting or modeling. You don't need to pay thousands of dollars to travel across the country to attend a modeling convention to maybe 'win' a plastic trophy.

There are wonderful actor and modeling agencies right here in New Mexico. Get a nice portfolio of headshots and start sending them around. Read the local casting calls and go to some auditions. Try your hand at local theater.

There are several reputable acting schools in Albuquerque that are owned and operated by experienced actors and models who are now sharing their knowledge about the business. Many welcome you to sit in at no charge to classes that interest you.

Here's the bottom line. The hard cold truth... A legitimate agency only makes money when YOU make money. They earn a commission / a percentage of your earnings. That's the ONLY way a legitimate agency can stay in business. So, they have a reason to keep trying to find you work. That's how they earn their commission.

If they make their money by having you write them a check for a promise of future work.... that is unethical and in some places illegal.

Do your homework. Take advantage of the Google search engine. And stay smart -

Best,

Steve Snowden
www.Route66Photography.com

Info from SAG / Screen Actors Guild

According to the Screen Actors Guild, a legitimate talent agency does not charge an advance fee for registration, resumes, public relations services, screen tests, photographs or acting lessons.... consumers should always pay the photographer and the printing company directly for any work done.

This is excellent advice!

This is traditionally a slow time of year for filming but don't let that slow you or your goals down. Keep up with your acting lessons and practice, practice, practice!

Also some good news for fans of "IN PLAIN SIGHT", filmed here in Albuquerque. It has been renewed for 2 more seasons... and they will be shooting both seasons back-to-back starting in January 2011, about a month away. That means shooting on "IN PLAIN SIGHT" will go on for almost ALL of 2011. Lots of opportunities for local actors and actresses.

I'll be posting links to upcoming casting calls as they are available.

Happy Holidays to everyone and we hope to see you on the tube or screen soon!

Best,

Steve Snowden
Route 66 Photography
www.Route66Photography.com