Headshots (1978-

Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.

David Bowie

1978. My first professional New York headshot was taken by Van Williams on the rooftop of his apartment building. It cost $75. I did my own hair and make up.

Photo by Van Williams c. 1978

1980. This photo was taken by Gerard Barnier. He was the “it” photographer at the time. You can tell it’s the 80’s, big hair and wind machine. This headshot opened doors for me and got me auditions.

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1980

My commercial shot by Gerard Barnier.

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1980

1982. My next set of shots were taken by Toni Browning. I was told this photo made me look like I was forty, which would be fine except I was thirty-two.

Photo by: Toni Browning c. 1982

Commercial shot by Toni Browning.

Photo by: Toni Browning c. 1982

This photo was also taken in that same session with Toni. I was called into ABC-TV and when I met the casting director she said, “From your headshot I thought you were Puerto Rican.”

Photo by: Toni Browning c. 1982

1987. This next set of photos were taken by Tess Steinkolk. She was kind enough to reshoot my session because the woman who did my hair and make up did something really strange with my bangs and I couldn’t use any of the photos. These are from our reshoot.

Photo by Tess Steinkolk c. 1987

Photo by Tess Steinkolk c. 1987

Photo by Tess Steinkolk c. 1987

Photo by Tess Steinkolk c. 1987

1991. I went back to Gerard Barnier for my next set of headshots. During this part of my life I’m basically working full time in the garment center and putting my husband through law school.

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1991

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1991

Now, there’s a huge shift in my life. My mother dies, I get fired from my lucrative job in the garment district, and after spending four years putting my husband through law school he leaves me for Hollywood to become a motion picture producer, So I do what any scorned women would do…I cut my hair, dye it red, and begin doing stand-up comedy. But first I go back to Gerard Barnier for a third time to get a stand up comedy shot.

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1994

This is the headshot that accompanied that shoot. I look like Florence Henderson in “The Brady Bunch.”

Photo by Gerard Barnier c. 1994

1998. After doing stand up for 4 1/2 years I decided to go back to acting. These are those headshots taken by Elizebeth Lehmann.

Photo by Elizabeth Lehmann c. 1998

Photo by Elizabeth Lehmann c. 1998

Photo by Elizabeth Lehmann c. 1998

2002. Now, I decide no more glamour shots. I just want a real shot that looks like me. I selected Andrew Brucker for this, as he’s shot many top notch actors. He was expensive, but I figured it’d be worth it. I was right. Again I did my own hair and make up.

Photo by Andrew Brucker c. 2002

Photo by Andrew Brucker c. 2002

2006. Next, I go to Bill Morris. I loved shooting with Bill. He’s such a kind and generous spirit. But I was nervous because I’m now fifty-six years old and I have no idea how to promote myself in the business.

. . . if I had just been old but you see, I wasn’t old. . . . I just wasn’t young, not young . . . I just wasn’t young anymore. . . .

Princes, “Sweet Bird of Youth”

Also my first color headshot.

Photo by Bill Morris c. 2006

Photo by Bill Morris c. 2006

And the glamour shot, which I barely if ever used.

Photo by Bill Morris c. 2006

. . .

Now, I don’t have another headshot for ten years. I’m basically doing my solo play, Lizzie Borden Live! and writing plays. I just felt there was no place for me in the business anymore.

2016. I decide to reenter “the business” and just see how it goes. I’m now sixty-six years old. I stop dying my hair and decid to just be who I am with no pretense and let the chips fall where they may. This time I used Jonathan Conklin who charged $99 for the shoot. Again I did my own hair and make up. I sent my new shots to my manager, he began sending me out again, and I began booking jobs!

Photo by Jonathan Conklin c. 2016

2019. My next session is with Alex Blaise. I saw his photos on Instagram and thought they were excellent. I met with Alex and we had a wonderful conversation, I set up an appointment, and our shoot was wonderful. Alex is an artist. Once again I did my hair and make-up.