Who's in the Crew? - Spotlight on Jim McAndrew

NAME: Jim McAndrew 

WEBSITE https://jimmcandrewphotography.com
CREW PROFILE https://headshotcrew.com/jimmcandrew
INSTAGRAM https://instagram.com/jimmcandrewheadshots
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/jimmcandrewphotography
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcandrewheadshots/

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and live close by in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.


HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING HEADSHOTS?

I’ve been shooting headshots and off for about 7 years. Seriously as a business for about 1-1/2 years.

WHAT IS YOUR LIGHTING SETUP FOR HEADSHOTS?

I’ve bounced around quite a bit on this and finally came around to using the two and three-light setups that Peter uses. But I’m still fine-tuning this and after attending the intensive and seeing how Peter does things, I realize I have a long way to go.

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

I share a studio space in Phoenixville, PA. Phoenixville is a cool old steel town that has gone under a bit of a renaissance over the past 10 years or so. Lots of restaurants on the street and cool old architecture when I feel like shooting someone outside.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOOT?

I like shooting quite a bit. I imagine like most photographers, when I first fell in love with photography, I shot everything. How I found my passion was through my youngest daughter. She is a talented singer and actress and after getting an agent we needed headshots, so off to NYC, we went. Since I was cheap and didn’t want to pay that every 6 months or so, since kids can change quickly, I thought, “I have a camera. I can do that!” I quickly learned that I couldn’t. This sent me down that path of learning photography. I devoured as much as I could on youtube, bought books, purchased videos, etc.

Over the years I’ve enjoyed shooting sports, softball, volleyball, and basketball mostly for my daughter’s teams. I also enjoy shooting shows at local theaters and concerts when I get the chance like when a friend opened for Trace Adkins. That was pretty cool.

I also really enjoyed documenting a mission trip my family went on with our church to the Dominican Republic a few years ago. The smiles of these children were precious. My goal is to be able to go on one mission trip a year and document it, not so people see what we did, but so people see the many needs that exist in our world and why it’s important to help and give back.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER PH AND THE HSC?

I think I first discovered Peter in 2013 or 2014 when I first picked up the camera. I wish I had joined the crew then as I’d be further along in my journey.


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

I signed up in the directory pretty much when he started it but didn’t join the crew until about 2 years ago. So it took me waaaaay toooo looooong!!!!

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GUESS ABOUT YOU?

I used to have a thick, full head of hair.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU?

I am not a hugger. I really don’t like it, especially when people who I don’t know much just go in for the hug.