Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Gardner.
Casey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been so lucky to photograph some of the kindest and most talented people in Atlanta. When I moved to Atlanta after graduating from SCAD-Savannah, I became an Aurora Theatre Apprentice and continued studying my passion for performance.
As I met more and more people at the Aurora from the Atlanta theatre scene, I saw some pretty bad headshots. I’ve been photographing people since college and started offering to give people the headshots that Atlanta professionals deserve.
From there, good news traveled fast! I went from doing just actors I knew to businessmen and women who wanted a fresh look, to people all over the country who loved my work and came to work with me.
Now, I do a TON of headshots but I also get to do events, production and promo photos, and portraiture for people all around town. Every day I get to conquer a new challenge and grow my portfolio and skill level.
My mom always tells me, “If you do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life.” I can hardly believe that I’m living the life I am. I never would have imagined it for myself. So, I will work as hard as I can to make sure that I can continue to make our city look as beautiful and wonderful as it truly is.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone would think their journey in this life has been smooth. There have been months where I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay rent but those have been few and far between. I have lots of skills that translate well into working odd jobs. And when most millennials are a part of the gig economy, I don’t feel like journey is unique and I don’t feel like I’m going it alone.
Casey Gardner Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Casey Gardner Photography is my pride and joy! My specialty is unique and beautiful actor headshots. I want to make everyone who sits for me feel as beautiful and perfect as they truly are. Because when the client feels flawless then I can get a truer and more beautiful portrait. It’s a win-win.
I also am one of a few photographers who is fortunate to photograph theatre and its many events. I’ve been fortunate to work regularly for Serenbe Playhouse and Aurora Theatre as a photographer.
I am also immensely proud of my work with the Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival. I have been their production and promotional photographer since its inception in 2016.
I believe above all in being kind. As a business owner but also as a human being, it only makes sense to treat people as you want to be treated. It means more repeat business but also more friends! Every person that has left my chair leaves with a smile. I make it a point to make sure they are happy rather than just taking their money and not seeing them again. We form a relationship that lasts long after your final edits are sent. And I don’t know if that is always the case.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It’s funny, I am a planner at heart and make a to do list every day but when it comes to business plans, I usually make them as I see a need for them. So as my clients make suggestions or I notice holes in my portfolio I come up with a solution and try to implement it as soon as possible to see if it works. When you come and shoot with me it is very much an experiment in what works best for each person. I feel like I re-learn how to shoot every time I have a session!
But there is something I’ve been working on and I’m excited about expanding. I love helping emerging actors learn how best to prep, shoot, and use their headshots to further their career. Headshots are an important part of any actor’s toolbox and I find so many of my friends and colleagues who don’t use them to their fullest potential.
So, I’ve written a seminar that I will take to colleges and present to those who are interested so that they can have all the information on everything from what to wear, how to prepare, and they MANY uses for your photos. In addition, I offer a day of shoots for those that participated in the seminar if they feel my style would best represent them.
The March, I’m going to the University of Central Florida to workshop this model so that I can improve on it and market it with some practice under my belt. Eventually, I hope to be able to go to a different school every weekend to fully realize this dream. We will see!
Pricing:
- 30min/in-studio/6 finished images = $100
- 30 min/on-site/6 finished images = $120
- 1 hr/in-studio/10 finished images = $225
- 1 hr/on-site/1o finished images = $250
Contact Info:
- Website: caseymgardner.com
- Email: casey.m.gardner@gmail.com
Image Credit:
A New Brain Promo Photos
Molly Wiley Headshot
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
