Headshots with a Cat and Other Cool People

Whenever my talent agent contacts me with an opportunity to work as an extra, she reminds me to update my online casting portfolio with current headshots. As a fashion blogger, I have lots of current photos, but nothing like professional headshots. That is, until now.

Last month, I had the opportunity to work with Tina Witherspoon of T.Spoon Photography, along with Hair and Makeup Artist, Sharell Katelynn, to take those important headshots.

Tina the Renaissance Woman

Tina is one of those easy-going, multi-talented creatives that I love hanging out with, and yet our photo shoot was the first time I met her in person. I first learned of her work as a designer of the gorgeous clothing line, BOHO Republic, several years ago. Many of my friends own one of her easy to wear, always elegant obi dresses, but alas, they tend to run too big for my petite frame.

I did, however, manage to find a cropped velvet jacket handmade by Tina at her annual BOHO Republic sample sale at Sassafras. I paired it with my paper-bag waist trousers featured in a recent blog post.

Over the last couple of years, Tina has added the title of “Photographer” to her list of creative talents. She not only takes all the photos for BOHO Republic, but she also takes most of the fashion photos for Sassafras. In addition, she creates family photos, baby pics, engagement shoots, interior design photos, and so much more. You can see her portfolio on her website here.

Feel Good, Look Good and Hire a Makeup Artist for the Rest

As you might imagine, it was tough to decide what to wear for these headshots. Going in, I knew that darker colors and solid tops are best for drawing the eye up to the face, but it took me a while to figure out how to create something that was both professional and “me.”

Which is why I consulted early on with the lady who did my hair and makeup for the shoot, Sharell Katelyn. Sharell is also a multi-talented creative. She cuts and colors my hair, but in her days away from BANG Belltown, she’s a hair and makeup super-artist for magazines and weddings. She works with models on tons of projects and she knows the importance of feeling good and authentic in front of the camera.

When I spoke with her about my outfit conundrum, she reminded me not to go generic with my look–don’t just throw on the headshot uniform of a t-shirt and blazer unless that’s what made me feel best. Instead, she suggested I wear something that made me feel good from inside out–and to let her work her professional magic for everything else.

My Final Headshots Outfit

So, I picked a top and a pair of jeans I’ve loved for several years and asked Sharell to do my hair and makeup for the shoot. The outfit is simple, but that’s what I needed. The top is soft and lightweight, which helps keep my perimenopausal self cool, plus, I like the style of it. And the jeans are jeans. They always make me feel comfortable. These jeans are boy-cut, so they have room to move around (or sit on the floor, as the case may be). I rolled them up and added a pair of striped socks with some patent leather oxford shoes to complete the look.

It still took me a while to settle in and feel comfortable in front of the camera but for most people, that’s normal, especially when they’re meeting people whose work they admire and they want to impress. (Wanting to impress usually makes things worse!) Thankfully, both Tina and Sharell are easy people to be around and, eventually, I relaxed enough to get some usuable shots.

Stevie The Devon Rex Cat

The title of this post is Headshots with a Cat and Other Cool People. Tina is both a designer and a photographer, and Sharell is a hair and makeup artist, but neither have a resemblance to being a cat, other than being cool.

Enter Stevie the Devon Rex. Stevie is Sharell’s adorable, fuzzy-but-not-furry, little nubbin of a kitty. She was yet one more “person” I knew about before actually meeting her at Sharell’s apartment. I follow her on Instagram and squeal whenever a new photo or video pops up. And now I got to meet her face to face! It was love at first sight, for me anyway.

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Above photos by T.Spoon Photography. Hair and Makeup by Sharell Katelynn.

I nearly died when Stevie chose my tote bag to crawl into for a tiny cat nap. But the FOMO (fear of missing out) was bigger than her NFAN (need for a nap), so she burst forth from the tote and landed on a chair from where she could take it all in.

Had she stayed much longer in my tote, I might have taken her home with me!

Isn’t she adorable?

I wonder if my casting agent would notice if I used her photo for my headshots? I might get more jobs that way! But they’d be sorely disappointed when my mug showed up instead of Stevie the Devon Rex Cat.

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Linking up with Patti’s Visible Monday from Not Dead Yet Style.

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