And now for something completely different
I’ve done headshots before. I’ve done theatre photography before. But I’ve never run a headshot session for the entire 30-person cast of a massive musical. As luck would have it, the Cary Players needed a photographer to do just that.
The Cary Players are a community theatre company based in my lovely little town of Cary, North Carolina. Founded in 2001, they provide the citizens of Cary and surrounding areas with the opportunity to enhance and showcase their theatrical talents. Acting stage management, directing, lighting, sound — it takes a village and the Cary Players source talent (developed and blossoming) from the proverbial village to bring the performing arts to said village. They have staged over 70 productions, showcasing the talent of more than 1,600 individual volunteers on stage or through the creation of scenery and costumes.
When I do headshots, sometimes (not always but sometimes) I want to capture more than a face. I want to capture a feeling or a vibe that places that face in the context of the art they create. For the cast of Brigadoon, I wanted to capture the feeling of mystery and excitement of being backstage while preparing for a show. So, we did the headshots stage left, just behind the curtain. This presented all sorts of challenges with errant and unwanted lights because the tech crew was prepping the stage to bring in the set pieces. But we overcame all obstacles and captured some sharp and unique photos. The blue lights of backstage gave a neon quality to the tape and flyers posted to the walls in the background. To me, each face looks surrounded by limelight. I’m delighted with how they turned out. When doing headshots, there’s a place for a neutral backdrop or a blurry naturescape. But I think the neon and gloomy blues convey the mystery of all the preparation and slight-of-hand that goes into staging a play and wowwing an audience.
So, why not experience the magic firsthand? The Cary Players’ production of ‘Brigadoon’ is a must-see. Check out their website (www.caryplayers.org) for showtimes and dates. And if you like the energy and passion captured in these headshots and want to bring the same vibrancy to your own headshots, stage performances or events, give me a shout! Let’s create something forever together.
Hi! I’m Dan from DC Chadwick Photography. I’m a family, portrait, and event photographer located in Cary, North Carolina, and serving the greater Raleigh-Durham area. I love photographing lovely people with the ones they love and doing the things they love. Simply put: I love capturing love! Couples and engagements, weddings, newborns, seniors and graduations, family reunions, sports, stage performances (theatre, concerts, recitals), professional headshots—whatever you need, I’m here for you. Give me a shout so we can talk about how we can work together to make your ideal photo session a reality!
