Brandin & Amanda have been shooting kid actor headshots in LA & Thousand Oaks for over 14 years. Whether your child is brand new to the business, or has been working professionally since birth, you’ll be in excellent hands! We direct and work with our model until we’ve gotten everything their agent/mgr is going to be expecting.
To see more of our work at our MxB studio FB page. Contact Brandin for more info! 310.622.5819
Choosing a kids headshot photographer isn’t easy. There are honestly several really talented photogs in Los Angeles that do a great job with kids. We work to set ourselves apart by offering “real world” locations for at least your child’s Commercial Headshot – since Commercial Agents tend to love that candid, fresh, “real” look. You’ll notice in the 2 pics above, the Theatrical Headshot is shot in our studio, whereas the Commercial shot in the braids and tee is shot just around the corner from our studio for that natural light breezy feel that’s so popular in commercials!
Next time you’re looking for a kids headshot photographer in LA, give us a call! 310.622.5819
There is a lot of information out there on what wardrobe to bring when shooting headshots for kids – everyone has a slightly different take on things. If y0u’re already signed with a talent agent, you should absolutely go with their preferences. If you’re shopping reps, you’ll want to follow as many universal rules as possible. For the most part, sticking with SOLID colors is safe. But, just bringing a bunch of bright tees can be an oversimplification. Make sure to bring wardrobe pieces with different “character” to them. Example: Solid pale beach blouse (ethereal). Bright solid pink tee (spunky). Faded Denim Jacket (earthy). They’re all SOLID in color but each has it’s own vibe!
Hope this helps the next time you book a headshots for kids photoshoot!
At Max Brandin Photography we’ve always been big on getting the absolute most for your money and time….which is why we encourage parents to consider combining their kid headshots session with a quick, fun, and easy family portrait session. Some simple coordinating of wardrobe & a few minutes put toward a little hair & makeup for mom & or non-actor siblings gives us the opportunity to get some spontaneous and beautiful pictures shot in a No Pressure setting…. We never charge an additional amount for a quickie family portrait added on to your kids headshot sesh.
((( “Quickie Family Sesh” is no additional charge and inlcudes 35 frames. If you’d like a more extensive family session added to your child’s headshot session, there is typically only a $50-$100 additional charge, depending on the size of your family and the location you’d like to shoot!!! ))) We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have, as well as consult you about hair/makeup/wardrobe. Just contact us at 310.622.5819 to book a kid headshots session!
If you are a parent with one or more children who act in Los Angeles or Thousand Oaks (or who just want to jump in for a quick shoot with their sister or brother) it’s a nice way to get a good bang for your buck by combining the shoots. Above you’ll see two siblings who ‘doubled up’ on their headshots and saved mom a lot of time. If you can find a photographer who can handle the kids, this is the best way to save yourself some time. The right photographer will know how to divide the time up evenly and allow all the children to have multiple outfit sessions (if desired) by themselves and then also include shots together as well. This way mom also gets some fun family photos for next year’s calendar!
For more info visit our site! Also check out our facebook page!!
When searching for the right photographer to take your headshots in LA & Thousand Oaks, the key is to find someone who knows how to take your personality and make it shine through the images to catch the Casting Director (agent/manager, etc)’s attention. Above you will find a great example of that, a spritely young actress with excitement in her eyes. Advice for the day of your headshots; be yourself. Noone knows yourself better than you, so let your personality shine through the images. Be unique, that is your key to success. Let your kid be goofy and fun in front of the camera when getting Kids Headshots done! Whatever is special to them will make the pictures special. Max Brandin photography can share who you are with just one picture. For more information visit our site.
Check us out on facebook!
When getting headshots for your teenager, you want to make sure that you shoot both looks that work for their younger age range and their older age range. For example, if they’re 16, they can probably still play 14 as well as even 18. So, get some shots that look younger and some that feel a bit older and even edgier. Headshots for Teens can be tricky because of this, so go with a photographer who has lots of experience shooting kids and teens headshots in LA & Thousand Oaks.
For more examples of kids and teen headshots, visit our FB page, or contact us through our site.
Female photographers Amanda Max Weber & Brandin Shaeffer have been shooting actors for well over a decade. Choosing a photographer who will know how to expertly direct your child helps you get an amazing variety in energy, smiles, serious expressions & smirks….key elements to making your agent or manager super super happy with the images.
Acting Headshots for Kids Los Angeles & Thousand Oaks – Specializing in Commercial, Theatrical, Print, Editorial, & Family Photography as well.
To view more samples of recent work, visit our studio Facebook Page. To schedule a photoshoot, call Brandin’s cel 310.622.5819 or go thru our Site Contact Page.
Our actor & model above, Spencer, came to us from a music background, with an interest in branching out commercially ….which is obviously a great way to cross promote your talent if you’re a kid whose a double or triple threat. Nowadays, more than ever, agents are excited to take on new talent that has already proven themselves in another artistic medium, such as singing, songwriting & playing a musical instrument. The looks above show both sides of Spencer’s personality: Crazy fun Nickelodeon/Disney kid …..and total Teen Heartthrob. We’re so looking forward to what this young man will do next!!!
To view more recent samples of our work in headshots for kids & teens in Los Angeles visit our studio FB page To schedule a shoot visit our Site Contact Page, or give us a call! Brandin’s cel: 310.622.5819
Kids are mini-adults….and they are AWESOME. Out of every type of photography we shoot, kids headshots is our favorite – and that’s because kids are so present & alive. Every picture is gorgeous….or hilarious….or so touching it brings tears to your eyes.
For recent samples of our work, visit our studio FB page
To schedule a session, visit our site contact page, or call Brandin’s Cel 310.622.5819
kids headshots newbury park, thousand oaks female photographers Amanda Max Weber & Brandin Shaeffer
Brandin Shaeffer & Amanda Max Weber make up MaxBrandin Photography – shooting headshots los angeles, and 2 locations for your convenience 🙂 Brandin & Amanda have worked together since 2001, when they formed LA Casting Couch, becoming the first headshot photography studio in LA to shoot Color Headshots. In the past few years, we’ve begun to focus more on Kids & Teens, with results that have put MxB on the referral lists of dozens of agents & mgrs. If you’re needing help with wardrobe, character types (also known as “looks”), or even info on the best acting classes, MxB is happy to help you and your kid/teen move forward with their dream!
Shooting child actor headshots requires telling a story, just like when shooting adults. Kids are capable of so much depth, character & personality…so letting them “play” during the session is key to capturing the awesomeness kids have in them. With over 12 years experience ((25 years combined!)) Amanda Max Weber & Brandin Shaeffer will guide you and your child throughout the process in order to yield the absolute BEST headshots in Los Angeles & Thousand Oaks.
For recent samples of work, visit our studio Facebook page. To schedule an appointment, Brandin’s cel is 310.622.5819 Or go through our Contact page.
When you have kids under 10 yrs old, sometimes taking them to a park or the beach for a family portrait session can result in stimulus overload. This coupled with the need to be somewhat still for family pics can bring on a melt-down in little ones. Even the most well behaved children often surprise their parents at photoshoots. Any photographer who works with kids will tell you: kids can SENSE the power they have over the situation….and a monster can sometimes emerge 😉 A great way to combat this is to do an “At Home” portrait session. It’s low stress for obvious reasons….and can result in more playful canded pics, as well as beautiful traditional portraits. We’re big believers in getting BOTH.
For recent samples of our family portraits thousand oaks – as well as kids headshots visit our FACEBOOK page. For questions or to schedule an appointment, click HERE.
Max Brandin has been shooting High School Senior Pictures Los Angeles & Ventura counties for over a decade.
Female photographers Brandin Shaeffer & Amanda Max Weber combine a strong sense of traditional & classic with just enough edge to keep images current, yet timeless. Years of experience, experts in their field, and strong opinions have made them the first choice for high school senior pictures in Southern California.
The beauty of shooting editorial style senior pics is that we aren’t just doing a basic portrait – we get the chance to tell a story with each image. And each one of those stories captures a different side of our HS Senior.
~Brandin Shaeffer & Amanda Max Weber
To book your senior pictures (los angeles or ventura counties) CONTACT MxB through our site, or by phone: 310.622.5819
Stay comnected! www.facebook.com/MaxBrandinPhotography
The following are some suggestions on how to choose a Senior Portrait Photographer Los Angeles.
LA is absolutely covered in photographers that shoot Senior Portraits. It’s not surprising actually…there’s a higher than average concentration of artistic people in Los Angeles in general. But, that makes finding the right one even tougher! Below are some suggestions on things to look for when deciding who to book with.
You don’t necessarily have to shoot in the middle of LA. At MxB, we’re proud of our ability to shoot pretty much anywhere ….as far south as Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, & even Huntington Beach. We also have gorgeous locations in Newbury Park, Venice Beach, & Malibu. Of course, if you’re looking to shoot something with an urban vibe, one of our favorite spots is our family owned urban warehouse in Los Angeles, which is absolutely perfect for edgy Senior Portraits.
Lots of portrait photographers can get you really great images. The issue then becomes “how many millions will it cost to buy prints, canvas & an album?” Just keep in mind when booking your session, that no matter how much you love the pics, they won’t mean as much to you in years to come if they’re only ever seen on facebook & in a couple 8×10’s. We pride ourselves in having the absolute BEST & most inclusive print & product Collections of any photographer in Southern California…for the best prices.
We include professional hair & makeup with EVER session, because it’s just so so important. Not only do pros do a flawless job, they leave you with more energy to focus on being a model. It’s just too exhausting to spend half your time making hair & makeup changes…and then have to go right back out & keep shooting. You need that time to sit & relax and let our people work their magic!
For more examples, visit our PORTFOLIO and our FACEBOOK page 🙂 And if you have any QUESTIONS please feel free to contact us through our site’s contact form & we’ll be happy to help you book Max Brandin as your Senior Portrait Photographer Los Angeles!
One of the absolute coolest things about shooting Senior Pictures Los Angeles is that there are just so so so many places to shoot. Most of our Seniors want several looks & they want each of those to be shot in a unique location. However, driving from location to location is a time & energy killer – it’s no fun for anyone. The best bet is to find ONE spot that offers lots of possible areas to shoot in. Choosing that main location is really determined by the vibe you want for your Senior Pictures. Want something funky & edgy? Venice Beach has super awesome alleyways with tons of color & textures to play with – – – plus the buildings offer shadow from the mid day sun, meaning, light is always pretty perfect 🙂 Then, for the last look of the day, we just walk a few steps and BAM! you’re on the beach! a great way to end any Senior Photography session. Want something classic & pastoral? Just get out of the main city part of LA & find a hiking trail! The canopy of trees in most hikes gives perfect shade from the sun for soft light – which is imperative for getting gorgeous Senior Pictures.
See the image above of our model getting her makeup touched up? While she was getting a little tweak to hair & makeup, our photography assistant was setting our light perfectly for the romantic glow you see in the black & white image. Little touches like back lighting make the difference between just “so-so” images, and images that are amaaaaaazing. Having our hair/makeup artist present while we shoot is also a huge bonus, since she makes little changes as we go to get the MOST out of the day. And it’s not such a bad thing to be treated like a supermodel for the day 🙂
For more examples, visit our SENIOR PICTURES LOS ANGELES PORTFOLIO and our FACEBOOK page 🙂 And if you have any QUESTIONS please feel free to contact us through our site’s contact form & we’ll be happy to help. And remember, yearbook deadline comes fast….book your Los Angeles Senior Pictures today!
Hayley is one of our 2013 MxB High School Senior Reps & shot her senior pictures with us a few weeks ago at our Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks location. When Hayley arrived we quickly realized her eyes were going to be a main focal point for these senior pictures ….since they’re a vivid crystal blue. In order to get the most out of crystal clear eyes is to use natural light. Shooting indoors in a studio can produce beautiful shots, but very often there isn’t enough “constant” light to open up the iris of the eye & brighten it. When your subject is outside during the day, there is usually enough light to cause the pupil to get a little smaller, opening up more of the eye color for your camera to see. That’s definitely part of the trick to getting vivid eyes in a portrait. Another big part is making sure your shutter speed is at the right setting to allow that sunlight to brighten the eyes. Of course, if you’re using a simple “point & shoot” type camera, there may not be a way to control shutter speed….but that’s ok. Point & shoots usually have very good automatic settings & will naturally set a good shutter speed for your picture. Just take a moment to look at the eyes & make sure they’re getting enough light to brighten & open up without blinding them LOL. One more consideration to mention when shooting in natural light is to be careful of “blowing out” your subject’s skin. Even olive & darker skin tones can be lit too brightly causing them to photograph too pale or (as is in the case of very dark skin) to have blown out harsh shine on the skin. If your camera has a histogram, learn how to use it (it’s pretty easy 🙂 & if you don’t have histogram, just take a test shot & see if your subject’s skin is looking more like white paper than actual skin. Balance that with the amount of light needed to get vibrant glowing irises & you’ll end up with some gorgeous natural light pictures!
For more examples of SENIOR PICTURES visit our portfolio and our FACEBOOK page 🙂 And if you have any QUESTIONS please feel free to contact us through our contact form & we’ll be happy to help. ….and remember, yearbook deadline comes before you know it…book your Senior Pictures with us today!
A couple weeks ago, we posted a blog on kids headshots featuring our favorites from Natalie’s shoot….but, NOW her Agency Choices have come in & these are the finished product after removing a few stray hairs & cropping for Internet Casting. Natalie came to us from a pretty big & well known commercial agency, so we knew they’d appreciate some variety. Fortunately, Natalie has a great look for camera, since she can sort of morph into so many character types within an instant. With that long vibrant red hair & piercing blue eyes, we knew we could create several options for her reps. Below are some tricks that we used to change up the images as we shot – they’re simple concepts that you see used all over film & television….and there’s no reason you can’t use them too!
When you have long hair to work with, remember that you have SO many options at your disposal. Notice above, the pics with straight hair tucked behind the ears….immediate “Good Kid / Teachers Pet” So simple! Then take a look at the green top images – the surfer girl waves give her that “All-American Kid” look that’s so so popular. For the blue crushed velvet top, we started with fresh curls & pulled them forward on one side to show off all of her thick amazing hair – these felt very “Period Piece” to me & obviously Natalie would be amazing cast in one of those “Sense & Sensibility” type roles 🙂 For the shots in the turquoise tee we loosened up the curls to give her a totally girly “Disney” look. For the black tank top, we brushed our fingers through the curls to make a more relaxed casual look & get a perfect serious “Theatrical” shot. These tricks work not only for kids headshots, but also for grown ups 🙂
If you have any QUESTIONS please feel free to contact us through our contact form & we’ll be happy to help. For more examples of KIDS HEADSHOTS IN LOS ANGELES visit our portfolio and our FACEBOOK page.
We just finished up some final touches on Briana S.’s agent favorites. So, these will be the images she uploads to sites like Actors Access, LA Casting & the kid on the block, Casting Frontier.
Briana is in a really interesting age for casting – she’s still in her early teens, which means the other actors in her age range are starting to to develop some serious technique & on-camera skills. For kids 10 years & under, casting is often more concerned with the child’s look, their raw talent & their ability to take direction. Most young kids haven’t had a ton of acting coaching or experience, so everyone’s on pretty equal footing. HOWEVER, when kids start to hit the 13 & 14 year age range, if they’re serious about acting, they really should start taking a weekly class or at least get a couple on-camera sessions with a coach a couple times a month. Since they’ll be going up against kids who HAVE had some training, getting them to know the basics, such as “eye lines” for camera, how to hit a mark, & how to properly highlight & deconstruct their sides is pretty important. Most parents don’t have the time (or money) to spend on a ton of coaching & classes – but, making sure your child has at least the basics gives them a fighting chance – and helps ensure they won’t lose a role over something silly like basic audition etiquette. Another pitfall to watch out for, however, is not knowing what kind of class you’re putting them in. Is it more along the lines of a theatre/drama type class than one that specifically prepares them for on-camera acting technique? If your child is very shy & could use some help opening up in social situations, or if your child is more interested in community theatre, then the theatre/drama class is PERFECT. However, these classes aren’t going to help much if what your kid needs is some basic film/tv skills to nail an audition & get the role.
We’ll be posting on our favorite acting teachers in upcoming blogs, and we’d love to hear your ideas & comments on your favorite acting classes & coaches!
View more examples of our kids headshots
View more examples of our adult actor headshots
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The beauty of shooting editorial style senior pictures is that we aren’t just doing a basic portrait – we get the chance to tell a story with each image. And each one of those stories captures a different side of our HS Senior. Above, you’ll see 4 very distinct sides of Jameela captured in very distinctly different settings. Our Los Angeles Warehouse Location gives us the freedom to shoot everything from industrial, to sleek/modern, to romantic, to Cosmo Girl.
We started the shoot with a totally industrial feel – using the work trucks in the back of the warehouse to shoot around. This went perfectly with Jameela’s casual plaid shirt & jeans….but, we had our makeup artist bump up the hair & makeup to give the pictures more of a “Guess Girl” feel…proving that girls can be tough & still pretty 😉
Next we moved to our Cosmo Girly Girl in Hot Pink, on a white background. We kept the hair & makeup very young & fresh and encouraged Jameela to just be silly & have fun – there’s plenty of time to do fierce….and we don’t ever want to leave out our silly side in a photoshoot!
Third, we had our makeup artist give the eyes a bit more of a smokey feel so that we could head out to the train tracks. We thought the white dress mixed with the gritty tracks would be a beautiful juxtaposition, and giving the eyes a bit of edge was a fun way to keep the shots from being overly traditional. A nice mix almost always works out better than hitting the same notes over and over.
Our last look with Jameela was our chance to show the side of her that’s becoming an adult. The belted sweater looks like a fabulous outfit to wear on your first day interning at a fashion magazine or art gallery. Jameela did an amazing job of being very present with the camera & letting it capture her serious side.
If you’d like to do a shoot like the one above, begin with charting out 3 to 5 sides of YOU that you’d like to show. Then begin putting together wardrobe that reflects those aspects. When you arrive at your shoot, we’ll lay your things out & put together a game plan to make your dream photoshoot happen!
To stay updated on our shoots this summer in los angeles, & see more pics to inspire your shoot, “Like” us on www.Facebook.com/MaxBrandinPhotography
For more examples of SENIOR PICTURES LOS ANGELES visit our portfolio and our FACEBOOK page 🙂 And if you have any QUESTIONS please feel free to contact us through our contact form & we’ll be happy to help. ….and remember, yearbook deadline comes before you know it…book your Senior Pictures with us today!
