Who's in the Crew? - Spotlight on Cindy Quinn

NAME: Cindy Quinn - https://www.cmqheadshots.com/
https://headshotcrew.com/CMQHeadshots02

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Phoenix, Arizona

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING HEADSHOTS? The first headshot I ever took was in October 2012. We had just moved to Phoenix, Arizona from Beavercreek, Ohio. We didn't know anyone. I asked our realtor if she would let me photograph her. She agreed, grudgingly, and arrived late and annoyed because she had a big deal she was trying to close. Needless to say, the pictures were horrible. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't have the right equipment. I had no idea how to pose her. I had never used photoshop and I removed every wrinkle she had. She wasn't rude but she didn't rave about them. I've included images of my very first client edited and unedited.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOOT? I shoot families, pets, seniors, engagements, and boudoir. Boudoir photography is my favorite. My boudoir website is https://www.simplyelegantboudoir.com/ I have mentored under Jennifer Rozenbaum for many years (must be something about New Yorkers). I think it's working one-on-one with people that I enjoy the most. Making them look and feel beautiful is truly a gift. It's a wonderful feeling to watch my women clients leave the studio with a pep in their step and their head held high because I made them look and feel beautiful.

YOUR LIGHTING SETUP FOR HEADSHOTS? In my studio, my lighting setup is the Peter Hurley Flex Kit mostly in a triangle setup. When I have a young guy come in and he has a great look, I will use Peter's men's lighting setup. I now use Mike Sansone's lighting setup for on-location shoots because it's less weight to lug around.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER PH AND THE HSC? I was the 1,000th person to sign up for the crew for a free month at WPPI, 2017. The year Sue Bryce cut off Peter's hair. I stayed in the crew but I didn't do much until Headshot Mania in February of 2018. That's where I met Mike Sansone, Mike Schact, and many others who have helped me with my lighting a posing.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO JOIN THE CREW AFTER YOU FOUND IT? I never left the crew since I signed up at WPPI, Feb. 2018.

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU? Most people don't know I'm Canadian. I was born and raised in Canada. I'm a Canadian army brat. We moved every two years. I lived in England for 2 years in Surrey, near Guildford. Much later in life, I met and fell in love with my American husband (1999) while working on a project in Michigan for Blue Cross Blue Shield. We were both in IT in those days. I became an American citizen in 2003. I hold dual citizenship - Canada/US.

Funny story - While working fixing a woman's computers in Southfield, Michigan with a fellow Canadian tech, the woman said to us both "Have you ever noticed Canadian's are like aliens?" I'm not lying. Of all the people she could have said it to...she went on to say, "Have you ever noticed that they look like us, dress like us, walk like us. You can't tell they are Canadian until they say they are going "oat" for lunch". I don't have a poker face, so it was at this point she realized she had chosen unwisely to share this with me. Then when she found out that she had told the only 2 Canadians in the entire building of 600 people she said, "I won't be buying my lottery ticket today". Her face was the most brilliant red I have ever seen. Luckily, we became very good friends despite my alien tendencies.

WHAT'S ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? That I'm quiet and why when I first meet people, but after I get to know you well, you will wish that I was still that shy and quiet person you meet at the beginning. ;)