HOW IT STARTED
Friends and Photographers, Amanda Proffer & Kirsten Axelsen, met several years ago back when Amanda and her former partner started LACC (LA CastingCouch Photography). After 5 successful years of shooting, Amanda broke away from LACC and started a new partnership with Kirsten creating Dakota Photography.

Kirsten not only has a BFA degree in Art and Makeup but also studied Photography extensively throughout college. Combine this with Amanda's degrees in Performing Arts & Theatre, plus her knowledge and experience with Modeling and Photography...Kirsten & Amanda make an excellent, talented team!

TEAM WORK
Amanda & Kirsten work exceptionally well as a team as well as individuals. Though Amanda & Kirsten now mostly shoot separately, it's important to know that your photographer works well with others. Remember that your entire photo shoot is a team effort between you, your photographer, & even the makeup artist.

STUDIO
We shoot in a beautiful home located in West Palmdale. It may surprise you to know that it is a very quick drive to Palmdale considering there is no traffic on the 14 so you are always moving.
We use a combination of natural light and studio lighting. The light in our studio is so amazing that we almost can’t go wrong. The lighting is very easy on the eyes. This is very important to assure the actor does not squint or compromise facial expressions because of harsh lighting. As always, we try to have a nice balance between a professional, yet relaxed, atmosphere. So bring water and food and feel free to make yourself at home even in the kitchen.

BACKGROUNDS
Dakota Photography offers an endless number of background choices from Solids with soft even lighting that is easy on the eyes to Real backgrounds such as Stairs, Wood Railings, Palm Trees, Concrete, Dark Wood Floors, Etc. all available with out leaving the studio. The list goes on. Each shoot is individually tailored to you. Backgrounds should compliment the character and your skin tone.

SCHEDULING
In addition to the soft studio lighting and natural on location shots, it is important to know that Dakota Photography never schedules more than 2 clients per photographer. Over scheduling a shoot not only leads to frustrated clients waiting their turn, but also to an exhausted, overworked and less creative photographer. We only shoot a couple times a week so that we have time for servicing our clients before and after a shoot. Who wants to shoot with a photographer who is suddenly impossible to get a hold of after the shoot.

SEVERAL LOOKS
We have mastered doing several looks in one session and not wearing you out. Clients always leave surprised their shoot was so smooth, effortless and painless.
It is important that your photographer does not just have you changes clothes and hop in front of the same background. Most actors will have their head shots posted online where they can be viewed all together. Our goal is to make your shots look as though they were taken at several different shoots.

REAL BACKGROUNDS
When shooting on "Real" backgrounds we aim to make the shot look like a still from a movie or TV show. Some "Real" backgrounds in our portfolio may no longer be available to shoot on due to reconstruction and relocation of our studio. We are always finding new areas to shoot on and prefer not to shoot too many clients in the same area so that your shots stay unique to you. Not to say that our small photo studio could flood the actor market with all similar shots but it could make a difference if all the actors from within your agency have all similar shots. Therefore we like to continually retire "Real" backgrounds and find new areas to shoot on.
The feel of a background is important and any previously shot background is easily replicated. The most important thing in a head shot is the focus and lighting of your eyes. Remember that backgrounds and head shots should be kept simple as not to compete with your eyes. However certain characters still need "Real" backgrounds, Jewelry, and busy clothing all to lend to the validity of the shot. For example, you wouldn't want a homeless character to be shot on a solid background that looks like it was done in a studio or a GenX Punk character with no jewelry or piercing's.

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
We often shoot as a team and both of us were involved with the pics taken whether we snapped it or not. At several sessions, both of us took pics of the same client. However we do often work on our own too even though we are both at every session with two camera's going.

We are both equally excellent and we admire and look up to each other and our talents or we wouldn't be partners.

Any one can focus and take a picture but It's the creative part that makes an amazing picture. It really is a team effort between you, the photographer(s), the makeup artist and anyone else at the shoot that might throw out a brilliant idea.

Our shoots are a lot of fun and very painless. Most clients dread their head shots especially if they have to shoot several characters requested by their agents. If you bring the clothes we can take care of everything else. Even if you don't quite understand a character or two, don't worry, we will be able to coach you through it and you will love your head shots. We are recommended by many agents and managers and have a good understanding of what they want.

We shoot so often that we have run into almost every problem imaginable and we know how to solve them. We truly feel responsible for the entire shoot right down to your facial expression. We care and focus on getting what both you and your agent wants.

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