New York Headshot Photographer - Todd Estrin

Todd Estrin Photography - New York Headshot Photographer, specializing in portraits for actors. Todd has a very unique approach that separates him from other New York Headshot Photographers. Instead of a result oriented approach, Todd focuses on the process.

"Actors come to me for headshots. They say they need something confident, sexy, quirky, commercial, dramatic etc. I tell them to throw those ideas away. If the goal is to embrace who you are and ultimately capture your essence we need to start with where you are now, not an idea of who you think you need to be. You are much more interesting than an idea."

This approach lends itself to a real authentic experience in front of the camera. Here is what some people have said about working with Todd:

"Taking headshots, in my opinion, tends to be a daunting, arduous, albeit necessary task. I was dreading this photo shoot, but with in the first few minutes of meeting Todd, he put me at ease. During the shoot, Todd helped me to relax more by assuring me that he wanted to capture ME, and not some idea of what I'm supposed to look like. This was an invaluable part of my photo session with Todd; he never attempted to impose a particular 'look'. He worked with me and created images that genuinely reflected me... This photo shoot was a joy, and I feel that Todd truly honored and captured the authentic me."

- Kristin Anderson

"Todd captured the truest version of me.  Our session was a collaboration that came from a willingness to be open and seen, on my end, as well as his. I followed his lead, and I now have the most honest head shots I have ever taken. I couldn't be happier!"

-Frances Eve

"Working with Todd was such a welcome change from past photo shoots I've done. He has an actor's mind and knows exactly what to say to draw you out and help you connect to your most authentic self. The experience ends up being really collaborative; I look at my pictures and truly feel like I was part of their creation, which is amazing."

-Oliver Lehne

If you would like to schedule a session with New York Headshot Photographer Todd Estrin, email him or visit: https://www.toddestrinphotography.com/.

My Purpose In Being A New York Headshot Photographer By Todd Estrin Of Todd Estrin Photography

How does one find purpose in life? This question has followed, and at times haunted me in every phase of my life. If asked, I would define myself as a headshot photographer. I love and am extremely grateful for this job; however this limiting title is not where I find purpose. To answer this question I must hit pause and rewind.

14 years ago I began my journey as an actor. Acting was my love. For three full years I filled every minute of my life with art. I attending theater, I went to museums, I watched movies that challenged my beliefs, I wrote poetry, I attending classes to help me express myself fuller. I was hungry to learn what it meant to be human. I craved art and anything that expressed life. Acting was how I defined myself, but my purpose was not to act, it was to connect and fill myself with something deeper, something larger than me. I couldn't then, and today still cannot clearly define what "purpose" is. I do not know if the thing I am trying to describe has tangible properties. I do know though when I am connected to this purpose and when I am not. It is an unquestionable experience that lives in my body.

Six years ago I woke up to realize something was missing. After a series of life challenges and unmet expectations I reached a point in my life where although I still defined myself as an actor something was missing. I lost connection to that undefined spirit of purpose. I searched in many ways to reconnect. I invested my time and money into therapy, yoga, meditation, alternative classes and spiritual practices. During that time my purpose changed form. It was no longer something I experienced; it became something I was in pursuit of.

One year ago I went to Antananarivo Madagascar. I spent two months working as a teaching artist with a non-profit organization. I worked with a group of kids, teaching them theater and taking their photographs. Every day I would hear, "Toddy photo." I fell in love with each one of them. At the time I was not aware, but something was fundamentally changing in me during those two months. I was reconnecting to purpose.

Today I work with actors to take their headshots. What I do though is far more important than taking a picture. I help each of my clients celebrate who they are. Not who they think they need to be or who they wished they were; who they are. I love my job but more importantly I love connecting to people and helping them embraces and express their love for themselves.

If you would like to schedule a session, please visit my website, https://www.toddestrinphotography.com/ or email me at todd@toddestrinphotography.com

Getting A Great Headshot By Todd Estrin - Todd Estrin Photography

If you asked someone outside the entertainment industry what a headshot was, they would probably either look at you in a funny way or give a very simple response – perhaps: "It's a picture of you." This would not be incorrect; however, to an actor a headshot is so much more. In fact, it can be the jump start to your entire career. So given the sheer importance of a good headshot, how do actors get one that will "open industry doors?" To start off, it's important to note there is no formula to this question, no magic answer. Every photographer, actor, and casting director knows when they see a good headshot -- but few know how or what it takes to consistently get one. As a photographer I would be lying if I said my process is the only way, but I believe in my work. Here is a little about my take on the steps to getting a great headshot.

1. Do your research. If you are new to NYC, Google "best New York headshot photographer". Start to build a list of about 10 photographers.


2. Go through your list. Everybody has their favorites, but if you trust yourself, go with your gut. Narrow your list down to five.


3. Contact your top five. Send each photographer an email. Keep it simple. Introduce yourself, ask about their process, and find out their rates and available packages.


4. Select two photographers who meet your needs and set up a phone call or in person meeting. Any photographer, at a minimum, should be willing to give you at least ten minutes on the phone.


5. Make your decision. It is crucial that you work with someone who feels comfortable and with whom you vibe. You are hopefully going to be opening yourself up during your session; this initial conversation with your photographer should give you an idea if this will be possible. Don't worry about what your head says; your heart will know who is right for you.

Those are the 'steps' you need to do. Now that your decision is made and your session is scheduled, the hard work is done and the fun work begins!

Whether you're experienced in front of the camera or not, your photographer will make sure you look good. He or she will be able to position and light your body and face in the angles that will accentuate your better physical qualities. All of that is craft that any photographer can learn; the real art of headshots is in bringing you to life. If you are someone who knows they need some help coming to life in front of a camera, you need to make sure this is one of your photographer's strengths. If not, you are setting yourself up for an uncomfortable session. My advice to all actors is to let go of trying to 'be' anything. Stop caring so much about showing confidence or trying to emulate what is sexy, commercial, or dramatic. Allow your essence to be seen and work with your photographer to help capture that essence in a picture. Your headshot session should be an enjoyable experience, one in which you get the space to explore who you are. It should feel a little exposing, but after all, isn't that why you act?

If you'd like to set up a headshot session please email me at todd@toddestrinphotography.com or visit my website at https://www.toddestrinphotography.com/.

Todd Estrin is a noted New York photographer specializing in headshots for actors. His studio is located in Brooklyn, NY.

Process of Headshots by Todd Estrin, Todd Estrin Photography

My name is Todd Estrin. I am a photographer from Brooklyn, New York specializing in headshots for actors. Here is my process.

First off, I hate the word "headshots." It immediately signals to the actor, "I am looking for a result. Time to be confident/dramatic/commercial/sexy."& This is the opposite of what I am trying to do. In my sessions we explore, and through this exploration of self we find you. Not the "you" that you wished you were, but rather who you truly are.

Actors are constantly told who they need to be, who they look like, or what their essence is. This is all done in the name of getting work, but the big problem is that nobody can tell you who you are. You are perfect exactly the way you are. Let go of who you think you need to be and the world will fall in love with you.

This all sounds very seductive and romantic. Practically speaking, however, it all starts with a willingness to be seen. I define this willingness as a desire to have your inner life, in the present moment, seen. This means that if you feel sad, you explore that sadness. If you feel angry, you don't judge that anger; you walk directly into it. If you feel confident, you own that confidence. This is the start to exploring you.

Actors have trouble being seen for a multitude of reasons. However, when you stop judging how you feel and just walk into it, two incredible things happen:

1. You become extremely present, curious, and grounded in the moment. Nothing matters except what is happening right then in that moment between you, me, and the camera.
2. Your energy and state of being will transform. Sadness can turn into confidence; anger can become open heartedness. If you honor and respect where you are, if you can stop fighting with or judging yourself, you will find yourself in a new state of being. You can't be present and simultaneously hold onto moments at the same time. That just isn't how it works.

What does it mean to explore self? This might seem like a mystical, hippy-dippy question. There is an actual tangible way to do this, however, and it starts with the heart. The heart is the brain of your inner life. It will provide you with everything you need to be fully alive and authentic; you just need to listen. But how do you listen? Start with slowing down and allowing yourself to be curious. If I asked you to explore the word ‘mother,' you might imagine your mother, you might even try to picture her in your head, and you may find yourself asking, "How do I feel about my mother?" This is not, however, what listening means. Listening is feeling into your heart and trusting whatever comes up.

Maybe it's the smell of that specific rose perfume she always wore, or that memory of her making Thanksgiving dinner in your childhood home. Or maybe it is just a feeling of warmth in your body. This is your heart speaking. If you don't judge what comes up, your heart will provide the fuel that will bring you alive. So this work becomes a dance between a willingness to be seen and an exploration of self.

During our time together, I will shoot roughly 1,500 to 2,000 pictures of you. Yes, that is a lot. I do this because you never know when we are going to find that one image where it all connects, all the stars align, and you are truly captured by the camera. The great news about shooting so much is that if we love only .5% of your photos that means that you will leave with six to eight beauties. Not a bad shoot. The point here is there will be a lot of bad pictures; let go of that need to nail them all. If you notice your mind is drifting, or you're feeling disconnected from your true self, that's okay. This is how exploring works. I don't want to see 2,000 shots of you trying to be perfect. What I want is just YOU: authentic, in whatever form that takes.

A huge part of being authentic means letting go of who you think you are or how you want to look. I don't care how Robert Dinero expresses power, or Viola Davis' version of sorrow. Stop trying to do it how they do it. Take a chance, let go of how you think it should look and be the only thing that you can be: you. Authentic, spontaneous, and full of surprises. To quote the wonderfully inspiring Brene Brown: "Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are."

I tell people that I am 10% photographer, 40% acting teacher, and 50% therapist. During our session together I will offer all kinds of techniques, exercises, and suggestions. These are all just different ways for you to explore self by using your body, your senses, and your heart. If you explore with those three things, I promise that you are going to be extremely happy with the results.

I have discovered in my life that it is very easy to hide. I have also discovered that we all want to be seen. This work is very personal and important to me. I absolutely love what I do.

If you'd like to schedule a session with me, please email me at todd@toddestrinphotography.com or visit my website: https://www.toddestrinphotography.com/.

Factors In Becoming a NYC Professional Portrait Photographer

Having a good online headshot or portrait is no longer a need it is an essential part of life. Whether it is for business, online dating or anything in-between, having an online picture that stands out has become a very competitive field for photographers.

Today, with advancement in technology, the field of portrait photography has scaled to newer heights. Without the correct equipment a photographer is at a disadvantage. We live in a technological era and all photographers today must not only be masters of their craft, they have to be masters of the cutting edge equipment. When pairing technical skills with the right equipment, professional photographers set themselves up to capture an excellent portrait of a subject.

With competition at its highest, the New York Headshot photographer must not only be a master of craft and have the newest technology; they must also be able to direct their clients in a way that provides clients with an opportunity to explore self in front of the camera. Creating the right environment can be a tricky thing, but if you want to capture a portrait that has “lookability” each photographer must figure out their own personal way of working and unique style that will bring their subjects to life in the most honest way possible. Hopefully this will create the right ingredients necessary to allow each client to feel comfortable and seen in front of the camera. There are so many factors to consider but on a basic level, when combining the right equipment, craft and working environment the photographer is now ready to create something special with his or her client.

As noted, to be a Professional Headshots Manhattan photographer you must have the right camera equipment to capture stunning portraits. Does it need to be the most expensive? The short answer is no. It is good for photographers to know that DSLR cameras have advanced in a way that allows even inexpensive camera’s to have the ability to capture a beautiful image. If the photographer understands how to work with light and how to direct their subjects, the result, with a more inexpensive camera, can still provide an image that will allow for professional work.

Some factors professional headshot photographers must consider are locations and backgrounds ideal for subjects. It is worth noting that there are no perfect backgrounds. All professional photographers must find their own unique style that sets them apart. If lifestyle backgrounds are your thing, go for it, find the way in which it works. Others will opt for solid background colors. There is no right or wrong. Explore and find what fits your artistic esthetic.

There is no formula or science to becoming a Professional Portrait Photographer. The best advice is always shoot subjects every day. The more you work, the better you get. It is easy to forget this and get caught up in reading articles or watching videos, but the real learning happens when working with your clients.

Being a NYC Headshot Photographer requires a tremendous amount of talent, hard work and a desire to work with people. Competition is fierce but stay true to yourself and your art and you will find your way.

Todd Estrin is a Brooklyn based headshot photographer specializing in working with actors. Understanding how actors inherently think has allowed for honesty and vulnerability in the room. He is original in his approach to finding the real you.