We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Funk and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Joe, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I feel that providing an environment that is both comfortable as well as collaborative has a significant impact on my success as a headshot photographer. I always encourage pre-shoot Zoom consultations to hear any and all ideas from my actor clients. Attaining a clear vision for a headshot shoot is key when capturing multiple Looks for an actor. When a client feels like their needs and wants are both heard and appreciated, they always walk away satisfied after our session. So this open communication has always been an essential element in the success of my photography work.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
With my headshot photography, I feel that the genuine emotions and personalities I capture in my subjects really sets me apart from other photographers. For a headshot, it is important to visually display the essence of each individual. For actors, your unique charisma and individuality is what makes you stand out from the crowd. And being able to pull these emotions from actors and models is one of my most proud accomplishments during every photoshoot.
When working in the entertainment industry, I’ve learned it’s important to be flexible and open to new career opportunities and paths. I’ve always strived to be an Indie Filmmaker and falling in love with headshot photography was not necessarily in the plans from the beginning. But I maintained an open mind and fell in love with it from my very first photoshoot. I enjoy working with actors in any capacity and I thrive with the energy they bring to their craft. Artistic collaboration is at the heart of all of my work, whether it be filmmaking, photography or drone flying. Learning to love the process and embrace new experiences is a great worldview to adopt in any line of work and I encourage everyone pursue this mindset of possibility.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whenever I have guests in town, there’s a few key spots I always encourage them to check out in Atlanta. There’s always the classics (the Botanical Gardens or the Aquarium), but I always like to encourage a few smaller, more personal sites and locations as well!
First would be Downtown Roswell. The restaurants and nightlife on the downtown strip are all really wonderful. Also, there’s several art galleries you can walk through and even street performers. The people watching is great and the whole area just has such great energy and personality.
And if they have the time for a day trip, I also always recommend checking out Helen, GA. It’s a little bit of a drive but always worth it! You could spend the day tubing down the river or checking out the restaurants and stores in the city.
There’s so many great places to check out in Georgia but these are just a few of my favorites!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people to thank for their continued support and love throughout my career! In my personal life, I would love to thank my parents as well as my amazing girlfriend, Emih. They’ve always provided love, guidance and encouragement and I strive to make them all proud through my work!
On a professional level, I want to thank my Hair & Makeup Artist, Hilary Huff, as well as my Photo Assistant, Taurean Cavins-Flores.
Hilary shares my passion for headshot photography and absolutely thrives in working with actors. She helps provide our clients with so much range and variety in their Looks through her skill with hair and makeup.
And as an actor himself, Taurean is always able to provide a unique, industry-driven perspective on our headshot work. His assistance far exceeds prepping gear, assembling backdrops and adjusting lighting setups. He offers invaluable professional advice and guidance for all of our actor clients as well!
I am so thankful for everyone mentioned above and would love to shout all of them out!
Website: https://joefunkphotography.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joefunkphoto/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeFunkPhotography
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82zJFbOdcJ2IeD_nF5zjeQ