Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Sanville.
Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in New York City, raised in New Jersey, and currently reside in Los Angeles primarily.
I began as an actor at the age of 5. Six years later, at age 11, I took a much-needed sabbatical from acting to pursue more fulfilling adventures on the playgrounds of New Jersey!
A fresh start 6 years later in New York City included work on 21 student films and 7 features, before relocating to Los Angeles to study with the legendary Peggy Feury and Bill Traylor. 3 years later, I was chosen to study with Sanford Meisner on the island of Bequia and later continued to work with Mr. Meisner at Playhouse West.
Years later I would trade my stage and on-camera experience to work behind the camera. I started by assisting well-known and not so well-known photographers. All of my friends were actors at the time and so, of course, I asked to shoot their headshots. Some of them started using the images and eventually smaller agencies started sending me their clients.
All the while, I soaked up what the pros I was assisting were doing. My photography changed the moment I decided to shoot what I wanted to see in a headshot as opposed to following specific directions from the agencies. Sticking to my guns, it worked out for the best, eventually becoming one of the top headshot photographers in the industry.
I was the first photographer to introduce the landscape headshot that has become so popular now. I often credit my on-camera experience for the success behind the lens I was so fortunate to have had. Literally, tens of thousands of actors and now models have been in front of my lens.
Slowly but surely I made my way into the fashion industry, something that I had always wanted to do and be a part of. The transition was not by any means smooth and easy! It took time and patience. I had to get out of the box of headshots, and that simply took time and patience. One day I grabbed a small throw away camera that perhaps a tourist would buy on holiday and just started snapping randomly at a model. When I developed the film I suddenly realized I had broken the box and in fact blew it wide open!
From there I started shooting for different modeling agencies and eventually once I had a fairly decent book, for clothing lines which is how I make my living currently.
I am primarily self-taught, but many people have been kind enough to help and offer guidance on my journey. To them, I am forever grateful.
Shape, light, form, frame, texture, emotion, passion, compassion, beauty and instinct…all of these words describe my process. I rarely have a set plan for a shoot. I have ideas, and more often than not they will be discussed with the client yes but not always ‘specifics’ so to speak.
I find it difficult to put into words how and why I shoot specific things. I look, I see, I feel, I shoot.
Nowadays it seems it’s quite common to follow trends, but I have never been a follower of trends and I truly believe it’s important to blaze your own path. Borrow, be inspired by, yes absolutely, but don’t simply follow because it’s ‘trendy’ to shoot a specific way now!
If my work affects you, moves you, inspires you, then I am thankful and appreciative, but I know that it is not just me… it’s without a doubt a collaboration! It takes a team to create the images.. everyone’s creative input and work adds to the final image(s), from the model to the stylist to the hair and makeup artists to the assistants!
Has it been a smooth road?
Hardly smooth! The most difficult part was transitioning into fashion photography and getting clients to trust me. Shooting headshots which is where I started is an art. One must capture the essence of the actor. Anyone can photograph a good-looking person- for the most part, but capturing their personality and their essence requires time and patience. There is a format to a headshot, though. Shooting fashion is totally different. I had to learn how to get out of the box! Once I separated my work, people started to look at me differently. As crazy as that sounds, it’s true. When I had my headshots and fashion work on one website, no fashion client even gave me a second look. The moment I separated them. BAM! Doors started to fly open. Crazy right!??
What’s your outlook for the industry over the next 5-10 years?
This is a tough question… It’s impossible to tell where the industry is going because the world is changing so rapidly. Today more and more people are designers than ever before. That goes for photographers too. And makeup artists, and models, and so on. We are absolutely saturated. I do believe though that quality work will always prevail. Quality designers are growing daily and the young designers of tomorrow will get their chance sooner because of social media and the global market.
One thing I DO notice is that there are far too many guys out there with a camera shooting nude women for their own ego and misogynistic purposes.. it clearly gives them a sense of manufactured and false power. AND, far too many young models think that’s the way to get work. The way to getting work is to present yourself in a professional way. If you’re wanting to stroke your ego, then by all means post nudes and watch the adolescent boys and girls flock and fawn all over you. The question is really.. what’s more important – pats on the back or solid professional quality work!?
Fashion, for the most part, is about clothing is it not!?
There will always be trends, there will always be something that’s popular.. but quality will always shine through.
What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
The biggest challenge over the years had been finding quality people to work with on nonpaying creative endeavors. It’s amazing how many people simply want a paycheck. Which is why I, generally speaking, stick with a team of solid, professional, enormously talented people over and over again! For me personally, the people that I hire are ALWAYS the ones that I have worked with creatively. We build a connection, we build a trust, and when the paying jobs come in, who do you think I reach out to for paid assignments? Of course those people I have worked with creatively!!! Funny thing is, people claim that they are passionate about the work, but you find out really quickly who is and who isn’t!
Let’s change gears – is there any advice you’d like to give?
Shoot what moves you! Don’t follow trends. Anyone can photograph a beautiful model, but what is it in the image that makes it special? THAT’S what people who hire you/us want to see!! If you want to work in this industry, present yourself as a professional. Stop paying so much attention to Instagram and facebook and followers and likes. It doesn’t get you top paying jobs. Technically you may be sound but creatively where are you? Does your work look like everyone else? Is it special? Is it unique? Develop your style and run with it!!
Contact Info:
- Website: michaelsanville.com , michaelsanvilleheadshots.com
- Phone: 323 654 9141
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsanville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelsanvillephotography/
- Other: http://sanville.tumblr.com
Image Credit:
all images copyright Michael Sanville – photographer
Hair and Makeup : Natalie Rose, Tanya Brown, Veronica Nunez, Stephanie Baker, Brittney Bello, Wendy Martinez
Stylist: Lindsey Nolan, Thacker Tilley, Paige Bittner, Derek Bulger, Reichelle Palo, Camille Yvette,
