Lindi Gordon / Harlem, New York City

Lindi Gordon in her Harlem studio., accompanied by her ‘best friend’ Cooper.

“We are visual. The first impression is with our eyes. It’s etched in our minds and once it’s there, it’s very hard to alter it!”

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Hi Lindi

Thanks so much for being a part of Headshots Matter! We really love your work, so it’s been fun putting some questions together to learn more about you and your creative process.  (and yes, you’re the first in our series!)

How long have you been a photographer and have you always lived in New York City?

I went to college to study film/photography but got side-tracked for 20 years. I’ve only recently gotten back into the game 4 years ago when I picked up the camera to photograph music venues. That led to portraits which has led to headshots. I have been working professionally now since October 2021.

I grew up in Pennsylvania and Florida. I moved to NYC three times over the course of 7 years. The last one took. I’ve been living here now for 18 years.

We were initially drawn to your BW work, capturing musicians and artists. It has a similar feel to the authentic imagery in Rollingstone Magazine from the 70’s. Have you ever shot film or has it always been digital for you?

Digital was in its beginnings when I went to college. I studied black and white photography, film development, studio lighting (using tungsten lights) and what-not for one year in college.

While I miss the smell of the chemicals and the organic feel to film and its gentle shift of tonal ranges. I don’t miss the mess, time and work it took to reveal one image. That said, I love the immediacy of digital.

Do you prefer photographing your portraits in the studio or do you enjoy shooting on location?

I love the controlled environment of a studio but I much prefer the creative uncertainty and the environmental elements that location offers. You go in not having any idea what’s in store or what’s going to happen. There’s much less or little control over an image. You're forced to work with what’s available and try to be creative doing it. I also find people are more relaxed when they are in their own space.

As a portrait photographer, how do you calm and disarm someone who’s a nervous photo subject?

I start shooting immediately. I tell them that I’m just checking for exposure, while I click away. I try to get them talking, while I look ‘busy’ checking lights and equipment. Click, click, click. Sometimes music helps if they are quiet. But really, the uncomfortable subjects often have the most interesting shots. The awkwardness reveals something I can’t plan.

We love both your BW and color work. How do you decide which portraits are captured in one or the other? 

It’s digital! I don’t have to! If I’m shooting for myself, I have a mood shot idea in mind. So I start with a rough idea and usually know whether I’m planning for b/w or color. Often an image starts as color but works better in black and white and vice versa.

How has your career working with children impacted your ‘creative eye’ as a photographer?

Working with children teaches you to let go of control more and just go with the flow. I set up the elements that I have somewhat control over, the lights, software, setting and camera. I start with some basic poses, but children are fidgety and have their own ideas in mind. Mostly running around! But when you're shooting real people and you’re looking for them to express themselves to get that genuine shot, well, you just gotta let the kids be kids and hope for the best.

How do you kindle your creativity and where do you find inspiration for your photography?

I feed my eye by bombarding it with imagery from books, magazines, ads, museums and past photographers. It could be something as simple as the way light falls on an object ,while I’m sitting having coffee or an exhibit of an artist with an unusual color palette. If you keep your eyes open, inspiration is everywhere.

How critical is mindset when preparing for a photoshoot and is there anything you do specifically to prepare yourself?

When I started shooting my musicians series, I'd stand outside their apartments, smoking a cigarette while my hands would shake, my earbuds in, listening to Amy Winehouse’s, “I’m No Good” in an attempt to quiet my nerves. There really was no way to prepare for shooting without lights, in unknown apartments, with someone I had only met via social media.

Because most of what I shoot now is headshots and portraits in the studio, it’s a different mindset. I wake early, get the lights ready, make sure the studio is ready for the client and everything is clean. I spend the time waiting for their arrival trying not to worry whether the software and technical aspects that I’m working with, will not glitch.

Lastly, in your opinion, why do headshots matter?

Presentation is everything! 70% is how you look, 20% how you sound, and 10% is what you say. (I heard Eddie Izzard say this and damn it’s true.)

We are visual. The first impression is with our eyes. It’s etched in our minds and once it’s there, it’s very hard to alter it!

Thanks so much Lindi, for braving our questions! Again, we’re so very grateful to have you a part of our headshotsMatter family!

Please take a moment to learn more about Lindi’s headshot work at: www.lindigordonphoto.com

© Lindi Gordon Photography