​Have you ever been to JFK? It's a mess - so crowded, no parking, and it seems like no one has any idea what they're doing. And on your way there, no matter where you're coming from, you're always going to be stuck in a ton of traffic.
 
I had a 3pm flight scheduled, and I'm generally someone who HATES feeling rushed, so I like to leave for airports at least three hours before the flight is scheduled to take off.
 
I was dragging my luggage along and saw a cab and hailed it.
 
I got in, and it turned out to be some weirdo guy who had no idea what was going on...

​"Where are you going?" he asked.
 
"JFK," I replied.
 
"Oh, JFK! Okay. Can I turn the meter off?"
 
What? Why would he want to turn the meter off?
 
That made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Aren't cabs supposed to always have the meter on so you know you're not being overcharged?
 
"I'd prefer you keep the meter on," I said.
 
The cab driver then proceeded to explain to me that it's a flat $52 fare, and if I could pay him cash, it would be really helpful so that he could keep a larger share of it.
 
Well, I personally don't know the rules, and I really felt uncomfortable doing that, but instead of going with my gut and sticking to my first decision, I said okay.
 
We started driving, and then a couple minutes later he turned back to me and asked another question:
 
"Which way would you like me to go?"
 
Hmmm... I have no idea... Whichever way is fastest, no? Maybe the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel?
 
Instead, I opened my mouth and what came out was the following: "I trust you, just go whichever way you think is best."
 
The cab driver now looked as confused as I felt.
 
Dammit. Why did I just say that?
 
...
 
After about 25 minutes, I noticed we were somewhere in the middle of Chinatown near the Lower East Side.
 
What in the hell?
 
"Where are we?" I asked.
 
"I don't know," came the reply.
 
Oh my god.
 
Suddenly the cab driver randomly started cursing and yelling out the window at some pedestrian.
 
Another few minutes passed, and he looked back at me and said, "Don't worry, I will reach JFK for you."
 
This was NOT good.

Another hour passed, and we were still nowhere near the airport.
 
We were stuck in standstill traffic and the cab driver seemed to be mumbling to himself angrily about drivers who didn't know how to drive.
 
Oh, the irony.
 
Another thirty minutes passed, me feeling horribly worried the whole time (and experiencing the awful feeling of having drunk too much coffee).
 
FINALLY we got to the airport. Luckily I still had about 30 minutes until the flight took off, but the security lines were INSANE.
 
Well, long story short, I made it just in time to my plane and was one of the last people to board.
 
 
 
So why am I telling this ridiculous story?
 
Well, besides learning that I can't always trust cab drivers to know where they're going, I also learned another important lesson that day:
 
Being decisive and not letting people control what you say and do is crucial in life.
 
Throughout your time on this planet (and especially in your acting career), you're going to run into hundreds or even thousands of people who will try to tell you that what you're doing isn't the best decision, and that you should change your thinking or strategy.
 
Don't just follow someone's advice without first thinking hard!
 
You need to consciously choose who to listen to and why.
 
If a casting director says you need a new headshot because the background is too dark or a friend mentions you're not getting enough work because you don't have an agent, that does NOT mean you suddenly need to pay for new headshots or spend the next three months looking for an agent! 
 
Think about what your goals are long term and when people give you their advice, write it down in a safe place to consider when the time is right. The more you just trust random people without truly asking yourself whether what they're suggesting is going to fit within your long term plans, the more you're bound to stay stuck.
 
And hold the same standards for me too! Just because I'm giving you tips doesn't mean you should take action on what I say immediately if it doesn't fit within your goals.
 
I think I'd like to sum up this email with a simple quote by Raymond Hull:
 "He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away."
​

 - Martin

​Earning money on the side is NOT about being scammy, but about providing real value.
 
You're not TAKING from people, but GIVING to them when you decide to start a freelance business.
 
You're helping people solve their problems, and they might pay you $100 – or 4 hours of their time if they make $25/hr – for something you've spent YEARS learning to do.
 
Good trade when you think of it that way, right?
 
Well, today I want to talk to you about how I started a photography business that serves THOUSANDS of clients each year... and I NEVER had any formalized photography training.
 
Yes, you heard that right.
 
I built the #1 rated headshot business in NYC (according to Google & Yelp), and never took a single photography class (except some super basic little Photography 101 class in my first year of college). I do not have a degree in photography.
 
My family was not in the photography business, nor did they have ANYTHING to do with the entertainment business. My mom raised my sister and me, and my dad worked in finance.
 
But from a young age, I enjoyed taking photos for fun, and I wanted to shoot weddings.
 
When I was in high school, a friend of mine mentioned his sister was getting married, and asked if I had ever shot an event before because they were looking for a videographer.
 
I told him I hadn't, and that I'd think about it and get back to them.
 
I was scared.
 
What if I messed up?? What if I missed the most important moments, like the kiss?
 
What if my camera battery died in the middle of it?
 
What if I screwed up and ruined their wedding??
 
What if, what if, what if....
 
Well, suddenly and somehow almost miraculously, my mind switched.
 
Instead of asking "What if I failed...." I asked myself, "What if I succeeded?"
 
And in that moment, everything changed.
 
What if it went well?
 
What if they referred me to all their friends?
 
What if instead of backing away, I went all in and figured out how to properly shoot a wedding?
 
What if I could build a successful business?
 
...
 
As they say, "No risk, no reward."
 
So I went for it.
 
I pushed through my fears and said yes, and I shot that wedding.
 
And sure, it wasn't perfect, but they got a HUGE discount ($400 for the whole video PLUS editing), and they loved it.
 
And they DID tell their friends.
 
And over the course of time, I slowly built my business into what it is today.
 
And no client EVER asks me about my photography credentials and certifications.
 
Remember this:
 
 
If you LOVE doing something – and it helps people in some way – you owe it to yourself AND the world to share it and turn it into a business.
 
 
Like my friend Mitch Barrett, an actor who created an amazing business coaching CEO's to reach higher success. Check out an interview I did with him here to learn how he built that business and how you can build your own.
 
The truth is, if you do what you love and help people in the process, not only will you earn more money, but you'll also enjoy life and feel fulfilled.
 
You'll be doing good in the world, earning money for it, and living a happier life.
 
Watch the video below (originally made for actors, but anyone can use it), where I outline the EXACT steps you can take to find your first paying client.
 
And next week, I'm going to be announcing an in-depth workshop I'll be running in November on creating a freelance business, so be on the lookout for my email Monday morning!

​Imagine living in a world where money was non-existent and everyone could just do what they loved no matter what. What would you do?
 
I know what I'd do - I'd probably spend a few months traveling the world and seeing all kinds of cool places, enjoying great food, and meeting cool people.
​

​
I'd then turn my attention to film directing and possibly look into shooting an awesome horror film I wrote years ago called Footsteps.
​

​
What would you do? Take a moment and think, and write your answer down.
 
Keep your answer in mind for when your acting career really starts taking off!
 
Now unfortunately, the nature of the world would make it completely impossible for money not to exist.
 
Why? Because most people wouldn't want to serve others for free.
 
For instance - me wanting to travel the world... what kind of pilot would fly back and forth every day without being paid?
 
And wanting to try all those delicious foods around the world? Who would be willing to make them if they're not being paid?
 
The truth of the matter is that most things would fall apart if money weren't involved!
 

So that's why I want to talk a bit about money management today. I'd like to introduce you to what I call The 20/30/50 Rule. Here's how it works:
 
First, I’m going to assume you already have some sort of part-time or full-time job that earns you a specific amount of income each month.

Now you need to figure out how much money you make each month on average. Even if it changes, find your baseline income. Let’s pretend you have a part-time job that earns about $1,500 a month and you also make at least $300 per month from acting.

This means you bring in $1,800 per month on average.

Now, take that $1,800 and subtract your monthly required living expenses. Let’s say you have $700 rent each month, and then another $700 in utilities, food, etc.

If we subtract your monthly costs, $1,800 minus $700 minus $700 equals $400 left over.
​
Take that $400 and divide it up into percentages, 20%, 30%, and 50%.

• 20% goes towards savings. ($80)
• 30% goes towards fun money. ($120)
• 50% goes towards your career. ($200)

Take this money and put it into separate accounts or sub-accounts (or just keep track of the totals) so you know how much you can spend (you can use apps or bank account automations for this, just Google it).
 
Try not to spend it each month unless you absolutely have to - the goal is that you save it up over time so you eventually have plenty of money lying around when you need it.
 
If you strictly follow this for a year or two, not only will you have plenty of money to further your career, have fun, and have a safety net for slower times, but you’ll also have built a savings mindset that will help you greatly in the long run!
 
After just one year? You'd have $960 in Savings, $1,440 for Fun Money, and $2,400 for your Acting Career.
 
And if you kept going for 5 years? $4,800 in Savings, $7,200 in Fun Money, and $12,000 for your Acting Career.
 
Are you motivated to save yet? You should be. And those numbers could be way bigger if you continue working on increasing your income each month.
 
And even if you don't think you have enough to save, just start with $20 each month and split it up ($4 Savings, $6 Fun Money, and $10 Career). After a few months of doing this consistently you'll feel motivated to start saving more!

​It's something few actors will say out loud, but many are thinking deep down, especially if they've been in the industry a few years.

​
It makes sense though!

​Once you graduate and you're out in the real world, it's not just performance and living a character anymore.

Now you have to market yourself. You have to find your brand and type, and you need to figure out how to network.

But that's not the part that makes it so difficult - it's what all of that means and feels like.

​Someone once told me that in order to book more work, it felt like he had to "whore himself out."

Excusing the language, I think what he said makes perfect sense.

Who in their right mind wants to "sell" themselves? You didn't get into acting because you wanted to feel like some used car salesman, did you?

And on top of that, the industry keeps telling you to "figure out your type and brand."

So not only do you have to sell yourself and network, but you can't even play the roles you want anymore because the industry keeps boxing you into only one specific character type!

It's no wonder so many actors choose to perform in student films and community theater for free - in those projects, they get to make character choices they believe in and they can often run with a role however they want.

Well, if there's one thing I want you to take away from this article, it's this:

There IS another way.

There is a way to love acting again, while also getting booked solid with paid roles that you love.

How, you ask?

By finding a brand you're truly proud of. A brand that - rather than boxing you in, opens up more opportunities to you.

Read on to find out how actor Tyrone L. Robinson went through this process and reached his ultimate goal of becoming a Broadway actor... in less than four weeks.

How Tyrone L. Robinson Made His Broadway Debut
​
Tyrone L. Robinson was working as a professional actor for almost 20 years. He had a long list of credits but felt stuck because he was always being offered the same, 1-2 line roles in film, TV, and theater.

At the time however, he believed he had a clear grasp on his brand because he was being called in for police officer and detective roles frequently. He told me an acting coach said his brand was: strong, burly detective.

I took him through a series of very specific questions, and after about thirty minutes we came up with this:

African American strength, compassion, and pride.

And that's when everything changed.

Well I guess you probably expected a statement like that coming from a headshot photographer.

But I mean it seriously, and I can explain!

You see, years ago when I first started City Headshots, I was afraid to show my face.

Oops, did I really just admit that?

Yes, I did.

Why was I afraid? Well, because I looked like I was 15 years old (I was actually 20 at the time – though ten years later I'm now 30 and I STILL look 15).

This is the photo I used for the first few years of running City Headshots:

Even though I used that picture, people DID still book with me for photos, but day after day I was always greeted by the same confused look:

"Wait, how old are you?"

Awkward, I know.

There was always a certain level of distrust people had because they thought I was too young to be experienced enough to take their professional headshots.

They kept saying they thought I would be older, or that I "sounded a lot older on the phone."

I always had to work hard to gain back their trust during the shoot, and even after a great session, I still had some people who felt like I did a "bait and switch" on them (probably also because I was shooting out of my apartment at the time).

It was definitely awkward, and every once in a while someone would ask why I didn't just show my picture on the website?

Well, eventually I saw the "light" so to speak, and I posted a professional headshot where you could see my face clearly:

Well, at first bookings went down.

What the heck? DOWN?

Yes, bookings dropped for the first couple of weeks. But I noticed something interesting:

The questions about how old I was stopped completely.

In fact, my clients suddenly seemed way more trusting of me, and a few people even complimented me on my headshot!

And after a few weeks, I noticed the number of referral bookings I was getting began to increase!

And guess what? After a few months, I was shooting WAY more people than I had been originally.
​

Well simply put, I learned I should take my own medicine and use a pro headshot myself.

It's truly embarrassing to admit that I was afraid to use a professional headshot and yet I constantly recommended them to my clients each day!

But that story really showed me how important it is to have a high-quality photo that shows your face clearly and lets people get a sense of who you are.

Not having a photo or using one where you don't look approachable (or can't see your face clearly) will decrease people's trust in you (even if in the short run it feels good to hide your youth, imperfections, or anything else you're self-conscious about).

But we still need to go a step further: What's the difference between using simple photos taken by a friend (where you can see yourself clearly) and modern, high-quality professional headshots taken by a professional headshot photographer?

​Does it really make that big of a difference, and if so, why?

Note: This article is primarily written for business and LinkedIn headshots. If you're an actor, read this: Actor Headshots – The Ultimate Guide.

We're excited to have the opportunity to take your new headshots!

In this guide we'll outline what you can expect and how to prepare.

Keep in mind that in order to make your final image look professional, we will be retouching your favorite shot.

In retouching, we'll change or blur the backdrop, adjust the brightness and color in the photo, and fix blemishes and flyaway hairs, plus whiten teeth.

Be aware that you'll be seeing unmodified photos at first, which will look unprofessional. This is because they have not yet been fixed up, so try to ignore the unprofessional background, etc., and choose the one you like best based on your own body position and expression.

Then we will finalize it and send it back for your approval.

​Take a look at the before and after image below so you know what can be done. As you can see, we can put any backdrop behind you and customize the lighting to ensure it looks realistic.

This is the most common option and doesn't require anyone to assist you during the shoot. We will take photos of you through your own laptop, and retouch it afterwards to ensure your final image looks highly professional.

To save time, it's important you set up properly beforehand and ensure your video chat service is set for "HD" if possible.


Positioning:

Note: Ideally, you'll need a laptop for best results – an iPad or smartphone is more difficult to hold in place without the help of someone else.

1. Find a table and chair and position them in front of a bright window. Make sure the window will not have direct sunlight shining on you.
2. Find some books and pile them up. Balance your laptop on top of them so the laptop is about three inches higher than eye level. If you don't have books, you can use a cardboard box or anything else you find.
3. Tilt the laptop down so your head is towards the top of the frame. We want to see some of your body in the shot (while also making sure your hair is not cut off).

Take a look at the image below to get an idea of what the setup looks like (note - the laptop should have been a few inches higher):

Technical Setup:

Now that you've positioned yourself, you need to make sure that your computer is ready for our video chat, on the highest possible video quality setting.

1. Install Zoom by using the link that was provided to you or clicking here. You should definitely do this before the start of the photoshoot because sometimes it can take a few minutes.
2. Make sure everything is working properly. Try joining the meeting link that was sent to you. It might say "Waiting for the host to start the meeting." If that's the case, you know you have the right link. You could try creating a new meeting to test and make sure your video and audio are functioning properly.
3. Ensure HD video is enabled. If your computer can do HD, you should because it will allow us to take higher quality pictures of you. But even if your computer can't do HD, your image will still look fine and work well on LinkedIn. Open up Zoom settings (towards the top of the screen), go to the "Video" tab, and check "Enable HD."

If you have trouble with any of these steps, feel free to email us at info@cityheadshots.com and we'll help you out.

If you have some available to assist during the shoot, you can get more body positions and a higher-resolution photo. This means you can use your final photo as more than just a small LinkedIn profile shot.

Positioning:

1. Position yourself facing towards a bright window, about 6 feet away. Make sure the window does not have direct sunlight shining on you.
2. Your friend should be standing with his/her back to the window, holding your smartphone. Make sure the smartphone is about 2-3 inches above your eye height. They should zoom in a bit by pinching so that you fill up most of the frame – but are NOT cropping off the sides of your body.
3. Tilt the smartphone down so your head is towards the top of the frame. We want to see some of your body in the shot (while also making sure your hair is not cut off). The image can be cropped at about your waist.

Take a look at the video below to get an idea of what the setup looks like:

Technical Setup:

Now that you've positioned yourself, you need to make sure that we are able to see you properly to guide both you and your friend during the shoot.

1. Set up your laptop somewhere off to the side so we can see both of you (similar to the position of the person who took the picture of the photographer and client above). You should have a place in mind to leave your laptop before the start of the photoshoot because sometimes it can take a few minutes to figure out where to put it. Note: putting it on the floor works just fine!
2. Install Zoom by using the link that was provided to you or clicking here. You should definitely do this before the start of the photoshoot because sometimes it can take a few minutes.
3. Make sure your Zoom link is working properly. Try joining the meeting link that was sent to you. It might say "Waiting for the host to start the meeting." If that's the case, you know you have the right link. You can try creating a new meeting to test and make sure your video and audio are functioning properly.
4. Try taking a test photo with your camera. To be sure that your smartphone is working properly and the image looks OK, try having your friend take a couple quick test shots so you can see what they look like. We'll guide you through the process when the shoot begins, but over-preparing is always helpful!

If you have trouble with any of these steps, feel free to email us at info@cityheadshots.com and we'll help you out.

After the shoot is finished, you'll email your favorite photo to us to retouch!

The only other thing to think about is what you'll be wearing for the shoot.

Here is a great guide on what colors and clothing work best for headshots.

​We're looking forward to your shoot! Feel free to email us if you have further questions :)

Strength...

Compassion...

Pride...

These three simple (but powerful) words helped my client Tyrone L. Robinson book his first ever Broadway role as King Agnarr in Disney's Frozen.

Imagine getting booked solid with acting work, and loving every character you played.

What if you no longer felt pigeonholed in the industry – but instead had a brand that opened up MORE opportunities to you?

​That's what Pride Words are all about.

For years, actors would email me asking how to find their brand without getting boxed in or typecast.

I was always at a loss because the more specific you are, the fewer roles you'd be able to play, right?

Well, whenever I would cast my own films, I noticed HUGE differences in performance level between actors who LOVED the characters they were auditioning for and ones who DISLIKED their characters.

I realized that the only way to do well in an audition was to love your character.

But how do you do that when the industry sometimes forces you to play characters you don't enjoy?

Well, in 2019 I finally discovered a process that could do just that: help actors LOVE the characters they were auditioning for, even if there were playing a character they'd normally dislike.

The process worked repeatedly for every actor I took through it.

So what was it that made the biggest difference?

​Adding three Pride Words into their brand.

We'll get into how to find your Pride Words in a bit, but first...

Want to know how to get acting work when it seems like no one is hiring actors? There are a few key strategies to use, and they all involve being more effective online.

​Scroll down to continue reading.

​
A couple weeks ago I got tested for Coronavirus at a drive-through site.

And it was definitely an experience.

I remember driving to the testing site and it felt like a war zone. There were huge signs everywhere warning you to keep your windows closed, military people coming up to your car and yelling to keep moving...

I actually had to show my phone screen to someone when they were taking down my information because it was so hard to hear with the car windows closed.

Finally we got to the place where they were going to do the test and these people in full hazmat gear came up to the window and allowed me to open it just a crack.

She reached her arm in and shoved something up my nose – WAY up there – and it hurt pretty bad.

I'm not 100% sure because I've been unable to get tested, but I believe both of my parents – plus my sister and I – have all had Coronavirus.
 
A couple weeks ago, my father had many of the symptoms - high fever, horrible cough, and he was struggling to breath.
 
My mom also had a cough and lost her sense of smell and taste. My sister had similar symptoms.
 
I myself had a light cough for about a week, and then suddenly I got a really high fever and horrible headache. This was about two weeks ago.
 
After a few days, I started feeling worse. My entire body was starting to feel tingly, kind of like I had been holding my breath too long.
 
No matter how many big breaths I took, I still felt lightheaded, almost like I was about to pass out.
 
Honestly, it was terrifying.
 
I remember deciding to lay down, hoping it would make me feel a bit better.
 
After about ten minutes, I still felt the same. I had to use the restroom, and when I stood up, I suddenly felt extremely dizzy.
 
It was like no matter how many breaths I took, I just couldn't get enough oxygen into my body.
​
Suddenly, remembered something I had learned from a health book a while back – that fresh air is crucial to the body being able to heal itself from diseases (especially respiratory ones).

Well, it was quite chilly that week, so instead of opening up a window, I decided to turn on some air filters I had in my apartment.

I set them to HIGH, and after a few hours, I started feeling a little better.

I called my parents and told them to try turning on their air filters as well.

My sister helped bring the air filters into my parents' bedroom and, just as with me, within a few hours my dad's breathing started to return to normal and my mom's fever went down a bit.

But as the day wore on and evening approached, all our symptoms just started getting worse again – especially the coughing and inability to get enough oxygen.
​
I was really scared I might suffocate in my sleep, so I decided to try leaving my apartment windows open that night.
​
Even though it was cold out, I didn't care – I left the heater on to keep my apartment warm since it was only 45 degrees outside.

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

"Here's to the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo.

"You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify and vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward.

"And while some may see them as crazy, we see genius.

"Why? Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the only ones who do."


That was from a 2007 Apple commercial. I've attached it below, and I definitely recommend watching it before reading the rest of this post:

I love it.

Steve Jobs, love him or hate him, was a genius. Why? Because he challenged his industry.

He was the first person to figure out how to make technology FUN!

He challenged an entire industry, and that's what made the difference. He thought about things from a different perspective.

Technology shouldn't just be some boring, corporate system designed to help make things more efficient. Technology should help make people's lives fun, creative, and artistic!

So today, I will be sharing seven ways Steve Jobs can help YOU as an actor "think different."