We were lucky to catch up with Cindy Quinn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cindy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned much of the technical ins and outs of the camera and film when I took a college class in photography when I was in my twenties. I soon realized that there was much more to photography than just the technical aspects. I attended many Photography Conventions and workshops. I eventually found a group of photographers that were very supportive, Sue Bryce of Portrait Masters and The Headshot Crew, led by Peter Hurley. From these groups I learned what I needed to know to light and create incredible headshots and portraits and the business side of photography. I am now an Associate level photographer in Peter’s group, which you can only obtain by consistently producing a high level of work. I now know how to get people to relax and to be themselves and show their true personalities. I am very proud of my photographic accomplishments.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

If I knew then, what I know now, I would have done things completely different. I would have hired a business coach and I would have mentored under a fabulous photographer for a year or two.

What skills do you think were most essential?

I don’t know if it’s a skill, but I think my A-type personality, passion, and drive to succeed and become the best photographer is what kept moving me forward no matter how many failures. I am constantly taking course and working with the best to learn new techniques every year.

Cindy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a professional photographer who specializes in headshots and portrait photography. I tried many different types of photography over the 10 years I have been doing photography full-time. I started with landscape, family, children, babies, boudoir, and events.

I really enjoyed Boudoir photography because I was able to connect with my clients quickly and make them feel comfortable and show them how beautiful they were. I learned how to pose people in flattering ways. I loved when a client would leave the studio and give me a hug and thank me. Unfortunately, my studio just wasn’t conducive to doing boudoir sessions on a regular basis.

Most of my business was headshots and again it was the one-on-one aspect of working to find their best side and creating a great image of my client. I have learned that that was what I loved the most. The one-on-one relationship I have with headshot and portrait clients.

What problems do you solve for your clients and/or what do you think sets you apart from others?

I worked in corporate America for 25 years before becoming a photographer. I worked in a Bank, a Mortgage company, in the government, a Publishing company, and a Video gaming company. I understand business culture and the wardrobe that they wear at all levels throughout the corporate world. I can help guide you when you come to the studio in what to wear, what background will work best for your industry, and what facial expression to help you get noticed in your chosen field.

I would like all potential clients to know that I understand how uncomfortable it is to have your picture taken. I have experienced it myself. I want them to know that they are in good hands when they hire me. I am very good at what I do. I think it’s because I understand your nervousness and right from the beginning of your headshot or portrait session, I am talking to you and giving you direction. Letting you know that I understand how you are feeling. I am not trying to sell you anything. I want all my clients to relax and have fun, and 99.8 percent do when they realized that I really do know what I am doing and that I have seen just about every issue people have in the 10 years that I have been taking headshots and I know how to solve them. I will not rush a client, I will work at their pace,

Most photographers are all about getting as many people in and out and making as much money as possible. My goal is to create a lifelong client who is comfortable with me and loves my work and will come back to me again in the future when they need to update their headshot or would love to create a keepsake portrait of themselves and their children or their loved ones.

I love helping entrepreneurs create images that will help them with their marketing.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think a lot of word of mouth from past clients and all the 5-star reviews on Google, Yelp, Thumbtack, and Bark has helped with my reputation. A lot of my clients are referred from past clients or come through Google. The clients that come from Google, take the time to read all the reviews.

When a past client takes the time to write a 5-star review speaking to my skills as a photographer, and a professional, and how relaxed I made them feel, it goes a long way to instilling confidence. Today, I have 84- 5-star google reviews and many more on Yelp, Thumbtack and Bark and all of them are from real clients. Also, the fact that I have so many return clients that I love seeing and catching up with goes a long way to speaking to my reputation as a great photographer who loves what I do.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creating a great image of a client, that gets them noticed in their career, dating life, or family keepsake. When a client calls me up after their session and tells me they now have 4 interviews since posting my headshot on LinkedIn, is so rewarding for me. To know I helped that person in their career – priceless. I was asked to photograph a small wedding because I took the husband-to-be dating portraits and got him noticed. – priceless. The portraits I have taken, have been used at their funeral. All priceless to me.
Seeing my images on entrepreneur’s websites getting them noticed and bringing in business – Priceless

Knowing that I can transition a nervous and uncomfortable person within 20 minutes to a person who is starting to relax and starting to laugh and have fun. Watching them see themselves on the screen and know that the tricks, tips, advice, and direction I’m giving them is good and they can see the improvement in the images. Then I start to get more creative. What if we try this background with this outfit, let’s try your hair up. Let’s try your hair down. Or let’s do one without a tie, maybe something more casual.

For me, hearing my clients say, “oh my gosh that’s the best photo I’ve ever had”, is a complete joy for me. To hear my client, say: “Gosh, it’s difficult to just pick one or two images because I love them all!”. When they are leaving, and they say; “That really wasn’t bad at all. I had fun! Thank you”. That’s pure joy to me and so rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cmqheadshots.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CMQHEADSHOTS/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMQHeadshots
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmqheadshots
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxETaT0xvnEOT016FEcMRQ

Image Credits
All images were taken by cmqheadshots except for the first image of me, which was taken by Peter Hurley and I have his permission to use it.