Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Yardley.
Shelby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually started a lot later than most people in the entertainment industry. I took my first private lesson back in Kansas for acting almost six years ago now and absolutely loved it. It was only three months later that I landed a spot on a reality show, winning enough money to move to LA to pursue my career as an actress. I booked my first indie film a month after moving to LA and it’s just kind of snowballed from there! Since then I’ve been in commercials, had a couple of lead roles in a pilot and Lifetime movie, as well as working behind the camera as a colorist.
Has it been a smooth road?
It most definitely has not in any way been a smooth road. I wasn’t born into the industry, I didn’t have any family in the industry, and I started acting WAY later than most people. That was just the first of my struggles. When I moved to LA, I went from job to job trying to find something that would pay enough to survive, but also that was flexible enough to where I can take off for an audition or to go shoot on a whim. Which as most people who have been through this know, is the ultimate struggle. At one point I was literally living off of the 99 cent store, having to sometimes make $50 work for two weeks. I couldn’t afford the fancy headshots that everyone had, so I had to try to find photographers who would do TFP (trade for pay), which is they would trade their photographs for my time to model for them. I’m sure there’s more, but those are just a few struggles to name a few!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As far as my business as a colorist goes, I’m still just working freelance right now. I work in a program called DaVinci Resolve out of my in-home office. Since I’m still in the first couple of years in this field, I’m pretty flexible on pricing and can work with tight deadlines which have been really helpful in gaining credits. I got really lucky with booking a big pilot for color a month after I learned the program and have been consistently booking projects since then. It has been so exciting to be able to work both in front of and behind the camera. I truly love all aspects of Film/TV, so it’s been incredible getting to work on projects from all angles!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like LA is the perfect place to be for the entertainment industry. Although the cost of living is terribly high, it’s where you should be if you want to have a successful career in this industry. I would definitely suggest saving up and to think it over before you decide to move here because in all honesty it can be brutal and can drain your savings fast. I think you REALLY have to want it to live here and struggle the way a lot of artists do. Without the passion and being prepared, it can end your journey fast. So I would say do all of the research you possibly can and visit a couple of times first!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shelbyyardley.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyardley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbyyardleyofficial
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shelbyyardley
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7288026
Image Credit:
DJLPhotos.com, Cal Bingham, Ben Staley
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