MY STORY

Hi! Well, for me it's usually ALL ABOUT YOU, or, at least it is when I am working with you, but this one time I will let it be a little about me!

HOW THIS ALL HAPPENED FOR ME:

I first picked up a camera in Milwaukee, WI when I was a little girl and orchestrated all of these complex shoots involving my stuffed animals in various locations. When you're 9 or 10 years old and you're paying for the film and processing out of your own allowance instead of buying candy, it must be love! My next "clue" that I might have the magic in me was when I was 14 and took a bunch of photos at my Uncle's wedding in Chicago, and even though they had hired a wedding photographer, the only shots you ever saw in a frame were the ones I took.

Then in high school, I took another path for a while and studied acting at ECA (Educational Center for the Arts) in New Haven, CT where we moved when I was about to start my freshman year. ECA was an amazing place for me creatively. I really liked all of the acting classes, movement, scene work, etc. but what I LOVED was just being with those people! Cool, real, open interesting people (you know the type…!) Anyway, what I found during my 3 years there, was that although I didn't really get jazzed by being on stage so much, I really enjoyed working on the lighting, being backstage in almost any capacity, and found I especially loved directing. I was able to work with my director, the director of my program, Robert Parker, and he helped me to find my place and inspired me to continue my creative life, wherever it was going to take me.

I started at Boston University, and in my sophomore year, I took photography for the first time. It seemed like it would be creative and fun and I thought, why not? On my first day in class, I dropped a lens on the floor in front of my 40 or so classmates and my instructor, who also happened to be head of the photography department. He promptly spun around, pointing at me and yelled "never do that!" So, a great beginning… Nevertheless, I went back the next day and promptly fell in love with photography. On that day, day two, that was the day and I'll never forget it. Eventually, that same instructor hired me to run the photo lab for him as a part time job, which I did for 2 years until I graduated. He has visited my studio in NY and is very proud of me now! I used to help all of the poor first year students who would try so hard to take good pictures and then screw everything up in the development. I would just do it for them because it was really so depressing to see them fail (Shhh… don't tell anyone!)

So, now I knew my path! From the first moments, I found I only liked working with people. I had many various types of assignments, and somehow turned them all around to my way of seeing and quickly created a personal style. In my class I was known as "cropper Kysiak" because of my special way of focusing in on just what I wanted to show. (Kysiak is my maiden name, don't bother trying to pronounce it.) My instructors were all very cool about letting me bend the rules, and were very encouraging to me as far as my artistic vision goes (so thanks! Go BU!)

Fast forward a couple of years, and I move to NYC because, and I am not joking, I flipped a coin on my birthday and decided heads, NYC, tails, Chicago. I was listening to Frank Sinatra and it was either "Chicago, Chicago" or "New York, New York, if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere.." So, heads and NYC it was. I immediately met Matt Hoebermann, who was to become my husband a couple years later. We were introduced by my friend Heidi, who I used to work with when I waited tables in Boston, who was an actress in NY, and Matt's friend Morgan, an actor who was dating Heidi. (side note: they are married with kids too, but we beat them to it!)

So Matt's Dad AND grandfather were both photographers so I guess he just couldn't stay away from it! We started working together literally 2 weeks after we started dating and have been building Hoebermann Studio ever since.

WHO I AM:

I am a visual person who is driven by my sight and my observations of people. I look at people all the time. On the subway, in the checkout line, on the street. I am endlessly interested in people. I see people and can sense things about them instantly, which either helps me with my work or is because of my work. I'm not sure which.

I am a photographer who is able to bring out the best in someone, bring out the passion in their eyes, bring the look of confidence out. People often tell me when they see my photos that "everyone is so beautiful, but each person looks unique, I feel like I know something about them".

I am a director (finally!) and during every shoot constantly help you to stay focused and real, directing and re-directing you when necessary, so you can say what you're trying to say. Photographs are NOT like acting, getting your headshots done is not really in the skill set that you as an actor are trained for. It is a totally different thing and most people really need assistance to bring out what they want. Some people try too hard, others too little. No one is wrong, it's just that when one person does something authentic, and they FEEL good about it, and then they look at the image and see that they are putting across a completely different message to the viewer, we need to work on things.

I am a lighting person. I have cool equipment at my disposal, but also the know how to use it, the creativity to explore with it, and the drive to try new things. Many of you who have shot with me know my motto already: "never say never!"

I am an art collector. I grew up with art, my parents collected even though we used coupons at the grocery store and shopped sales and all of my brothers and sisters and I had jobs throughout high school and college. They saw the importance of being around art, living with it's influence and finding ways to support the artistic community. We spent a lot of time at galleries and museums growing up. When I met Matt, our favorite thing to do was to walk all over NYC on the weekends buying art from artists on the street, back when SOHO was ALL about art. Our first piece cost $5 and we still love it! 200 pieces later, we have a collection that is so important to who we are. We have met some amazing people and some of our best friends through photographing people and collecting art. We know some pretty spectacularly talented people from ALL of the arts.

I am a designer/home renovator. (OK, I've only done 2 so far but it's a passion I'll always pursue!) My favorite is designing bathrooms. So many options! So much tile! Cool stuff at every turn! I'm hooked.

I am a mother. The most amazing people in my world are my son and daughter. They remind me what it's all about every second. They're cool and beautiful and smart and real. (They also think I take too many pictures of them!)

HOW I WORK: (It's OK if you just skipped to this part!)

When you come into my studio, I will first help you to choose the clothes that will help you to say all you want to say and give you the looks that are right for you, based on your type(s), look, age, etc. I am always watching TV and am obsessed with movies so I see who they're casting and what they're wearing. I've been in the business for a long time and am in contact with casting people and agents and know what they're looking for.

I do a variety of looks and make all kinds of cool things happen to get you those looks by doing different types of lighting, different angles, and by directing you and helping you to get the right vibe depending what we're working on. You don't have to be experienced or comfortable in front of the camera to have a successful shoot with me. People always tell me they're "not good" at getting their headshots taken, but you're not the one who has to be good, I am! (And I am good at it if I can say so myself). When you are with me you are in good hands.

"I'm usually uncomfortable in headshot sessions but you made it most comfortable. Thank you. It's true, what everybody said; you just show up and let Kristin do all the work. she offers a safe harbor, allowing people to comfortably be themselves. The only real problem is there are too many good shots to pick from!"
MARK

I use a huge variety of lighting. I can make a sunny day when it's raining or dark out. I can give you moody drama at high noon. Whatever we want whenever we want it. It's really pretty cool!

"These are not your average "cookie cutter" shots, and they really have been getting people's attention. The variety is key for me because I work in print, theater, and everything in between. I finally feel that I have all my bases covered! Thanks again Kristin!"
JAMIE

You will be involved right from the start, I will stop along the way and show you what we're getting. That way, you always know how you are doing, what your hair and makeup look like, if anything needs to be changed (or fluffed! Or flattened!). We work together so you will see the good results immediately and know when we've nailed something amazing so we can move on, or try again if we think you need another chance.

"I really love the shots! I never think I take a good picture. And you somehow shut that voice up in my head long enough to get some beautiful work done. I've had ten friends come around already to help me sort through the sheets, ALL of them wanted your info. All. Ten. Of. Them. Seriously."
JEFFREY

The bottom line is that I care about you. I may not know you yet, but when you come in, I will know you and I will care if you get what you're looking for. And if you're not sure what you're looking for, don't worry because I will know what you need! It's what I do, and I'm very committed to doing my personal best job every time. I'm an over achiever, I always do more than I say I will and give more than I say I'll give. Those who've worked with me know this!

"Thanks SO much, Kristin. You are amazing at what you do and your passion really shows."
DEAN

HOW MUCH I SHOOT:

I have this strategy where I shoot, shoot, and over shoot. Then I go through everything and just take out the blinking ones, anything out of focus, any other things I know don't belong and then you get the whole thing uploaded asap so you can get started choosing!

I will shoot around 1000 images and edit to around 400. (Remember what I said about the over achieving thing!)

So, that's about it! Thanks for reading my first book! See you soon! Kristin

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