Who's in the Crew? - Spotlight on Claudia Hoag

NAME: Claudia Hoag
WEBSITES - https://www.hoagstudio.com
https://claudiahoag.com
CREW PROFILE - https://headshotcrew.com/claudia
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/claudia.hoag
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/hoagstudio
LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiahoag/

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I’m from Brazil, born in Rio, and grew up in Brasilia. My parents live in Manaus, my older son lives there too, and I used to go there twice a year before the pandemic. Hoping to go there again soon. I currently live in Los Angeles, have been in the US for 23 years, 21 of those in California. I love California!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING HEADSHOTS?

6 years

WHAT IS YOUR LIGHTING SETUP FOR HEADSHOTS?

Currently, I use the Flex Kit, usually in triangle. I used the strobes in the triangle for 5 years, though.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR STUDIO. DO YOU OWN IT? RENT IT? OR LIVE IN IT?

I rent a small studio in Brentwood. Hoping to get a bigger place soon.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOOT?

People! I like the one-on-one interaction in portraits and headshots, but I also love just observing people and shooting candids without being noticed much. I like shooting things I perceive, not only people. It’s just that people are such a great subject!

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER PH AND THE HSC?

I have always photographed since I was a kid. I went to college for Social Communications with a specialization in Cinema, but at some point switched to Journalism. Photography was always my favorite subject. Hated working as a journalist and ended up working as a software developer, and here in California I got a Masters of Science in Software Development (Cal State Fullerton), and photography took a secondary role. But when my pre-teen actor son got an expensive headshot session with a photographer that couldn’t care less, I decided I could offer a much better service than that, and I set out to become a headshot photographer. Right out of the bat, I found Peter saying his work was 90% psychology – say no more, this guy knows exactly what I’m going for. It’s about people.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO JOIN THE CREW ONCE YOU FOUND IT?

Immediately. It helped that there was a trial period, of course, but I knew I was going to stay. I was away for a while, but the prodigal son (er, daughter) always returns.

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU?

Well, here are some, for all guessing profiles. I skateboard with other women of all ages, though I had never set foot on a skateboard until I turned 40. I’ve volunteered with hospice for years. I only have one eye (that’s not really a secret). I worked as a tax auditor in Brazil and had to chase trucks as a regular part of my job (each team would have a driver, a cop, and a tax auditor, chasing a loaded truck at night on dirt roads). I’m very flexible (I can do full splits!) and I have a theory that people that are naturally flexible in their bodies are also flexible in their minds, but I can’t really prove it, so I’ll keep watching people and wondering.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU?

One thing?... I’m very approachable, though sometimes I may not look like it. I’m open to help people in any way I can, so don’t hesitate in asking. I am sociable, but also a loner and an introspect, and I love my alone time. I love watching people, I’m not really comfortable being noticed. I’m also very intuitive. I’ve always (since little) been quietly independent, confident, unafraid, unapologetic, and weird, and I tend to get along very well with the underdogs.