Who's in the Crew? - Spotlight on Shea Swinford

NAME: 
Shea Swinford - https://headshotcrew.com/sheaphotography

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW? 


I was raised in San Francisco, California (Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood) with my twin sister. I currently live in Kansas City with my 4 children ranging in age from 13 to 21.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING HEADSHOTS?

I have been shooting portrait-style family photography for 21 years as Shea Photography and honed in on my corporate headshot business just 4 years ago when I joined the HSC and branded a business as The Headshot Studio. Branding 2 photography businesses certainly has its challenges but has proven to be lucrative for me in my market.

WHAT IS YOUR LIGHTING SETUP FOR HEADSHOTS?

My lighting setup for my headshots is the Peter Hurley 3 light triangle/pie.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR STUDIO. DO YOU OWN IT? RENT IT? OR LIVE IN IT? WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOOT?

I have been shooting out of my Studio for 18 years. It is 2200 square feet and located on the 3rd floor of a Barn. I have a natural light space along with a cyc wall that I had built when I moved in.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER PH AND THE HSC? 


I discovered PH when I started to do online research on Best Headshot Photographers. The search led me to the Headshot Crew website where I joined immediately. I am pretty sure I asked for a review within the very first week. Peter hammered me on all things including shooting down on subjects, heavy make-up, posing, lighting, etc. I had so many friends and family ask why I needed the critique from another photographer when I was already operating a successful business in my market. I had never been to any conferences and was not affiliated with any photography groups until I joined HSC. This group challenged me to hone in on my skills and really see the difference between good work and being the best that you can be. Following rules has never been my strength (ask anyone that knows me) but PH and HSC members stretched me to see things with a keen eye for details thus requiring me to follow rules so that once mastered I could break them.

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU?

The one thing that people would never guess about me is that I am incredibly SHY in large groups (especially speaking). It took me a long time to get comfortable with being on video for the HSC crewcast.

*Photo credit - Suzanne Covert