Meet Marc Cartwright

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marc Cartwright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marc, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my family. They have always taught me to examine the things in life that inspire me and create a reality based around what I discover. Life is short and we all get the same 24 hours. Why not spend your time and energy pursuing things that truly ignite your passions.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My companies are Marc Cartwright Headshots and Glass Cabin Films.

In the area of headshots, like to think of myself as a headshot photographer and image consultant. I like to have dialogue with my clients about how they are representing themselves in the industry. An effective headshot goes beyond great lighting, makeup & hair and the right wardrobe. It’s not just about taking a photo. It is about taking a photo that is going to represent who you are as an actor. Your personality, how relatable you are and how professional you are.

The comment that I hear most often is that I am known for capturing the essence and personality of a person through their eyes. It’s cliché but the eyes really are the windows to the soul. In my opinion, what is going on behind the eyes is the most important part a photograph. You can have every element perfect in a headshot, but if the eyes aren’t telling the story, to me the headshot isn’t serving its purpose.

As a company I am most proud of the caliber of amazing people that recommend and photograph with me. When I encounter an agent or manager that has seen it all and they choose me to trust with their clients: that means a lot to me. There is a lot of pressure within the industry to deliver; a ton of competition that actors, agents, managers, etc. have to contend with. To know that they trust my vision to be a part of what they are doing to become successful is inspiring and not something I take lightly.

What sets me apart from others is that I treat each person uniquely. No one actor is the same and so every shoot has its own personality. I really like a professional but laid back environment. I don’t like actors to feel rushed or like they are being pressured. I only shoot one person at a time and usually only one or two per day. I like the headshot session to feel as if we are hanging out as new friends vs. making the client feel like they are in a picture factory. If I were to have three other people in my studio waiting to have their photo taken for instance, an actor is going to feel that time pressure. For an actor, there is already enough pressure to get a great shot. There are already many things on their mind; you want to remove as many elements as possible that could make a person more nervous.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three skills that were the most impactful were:

1. Learning photography – You don’t need to pay thousands of dollars for schools. There is so much you can learn on Youtube and then by just going out and shooting! You really learn the most while doing. And I like the saying “Know the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist”

2. People Skills – The greatest gift you can give yourself in life is integrity. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Also learning to peacefully & effectively communicate with people, even when you don’t agree with them.

3. Keep up with the latest technologies – You don’t want to be left behind in business or efficiency because you haven’t kept an eye on what is relevant.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I do feel very fortunate with how things have unfolded with my career. Not to say that success doesn’t come without a price. Anything worth having is going to take effort and sacrifice here and there. Struggles and bumpy roads feel like a part of the process and not all encompassing, when you have your eyes set on a goal.

There was a lot of staying home to build my career, while my friends were out having fun. There was budgeting to make sure I maintained enough capital to grow the business. There were the beginning years when I wondered WHEN the steady income would finally start, so I could stop splitting my time between side jobs and the time needed to grow my own business. There are dues you pay, but knowing that you are working for something that is all your vision makes it worth it.

I know that I am most valuable to others, when I stay true to my goals and aspirations in life. With my experience, I knew that I could bring something of value to my clients that I may not have had the freedom to do if I worked for someone else.

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