Who's in the Crew? - Spotlight on Charlie Abrahams

NAME: Charlie Abrahams - https://charlieabrahamsphotography.com/
https://headshotcrew.com/cabrahams

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Right in the heart of Boston in the Back Bay neighborhood across from the Boston Public Garden.


HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING HEADSHOTS? I really began shooting headshots after taking the headshot intensive in New York City back in December of 2016. When I first began my photography business in October of that year, my model was based on real estate and Matterport 3D scanning photography.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOOT? Prior to that I really was shooting quite a bit of landscape work along with sporting and event photography (probably similar to many other photographers looking to make the jump into a professional career).


WHAT IS YOUR LIGHTING SETUP FOR HEADSHOTS? Like most HSC members, I’m all in with the Flex Kit though I am still shooting with the first version, not the most recent Cine Kit. I will typically hit the backdrop w a couple of Profoto B1’s for white as well occasionally for dark grey.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE SPACE THAT YOU SHOOT IN. DO YOU OWN IT? RENT IT? OR LIVE IN IT? I have been shooting out of a friend’s studio in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston for almost four years now. I “rent” desk space there though it’s really just storage as I’m never there unless I’m shooting. Finding a cool space in the actual city of Boston is practically impossible. I’ve been on a waiting list for the two buildings I’m interested in for almost 3 years now.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER PH AND THE HSC? I took the Headshot Intensive (the 3-day version), back in December of 2016. I think I had been Googling headshot photography or something along those lines and Peter’s name came up?

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO JOIN THE CREW AFTER YOU FOUND IT? As I had mentioned, the intensive was Sat-Sun with the third “Intensified” day on Monday. I’m pretty sure I signed up on Tuesday on my way back to Boston.

WHAT IS ONE THING ABOUT YOU PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS? While working teaching sailing as a “GO” at a Club Med Resort I serendipitously met up w a group of models who had come down to the resort to shoot a catalog spread for two weeks. I was asked to do some test shots with them by their head stylist (see attached). This one shot was sent back to the wife of one of the models who worked for one of the largest modeling agencies in Paris. They loved what they saw, asked me to test some more when I was back in New York and that led to a 2 ½ year career as a model back in my early 20’s which took me throughout Europe and back to working in New York City. It was an amazing experience in hindsight that first introduced me to fashion photography. I definitely give some credit to that experience and my love of photography.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU? I believe you need a strong support system behind you to be successful. For me, that’s been my wife Jane for the past twelve years. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to take the leap of faith to start my business. Throughout the good times and bad she’s been there to lend an ear or give an encouraging word. She’s been my rock. Everyone needs to have a rock!