Dorothy Shi contends that when photographing actors, you need to "let them be crazy." But actors tend to be good subjects anyway, she says, however unhinged they may seem. In a session with actors, Shi explains, if a photographer assumes the attitude of a director, "their eyes start to get straight, and they stop foaming at the mouth."
Shi's quirky offhand remarks and her outlandish sense of humor may partly explain her appeal. She tosses off one-liners as deftly and rapidly as she might snap a roll of candid shots.
Born in China, Shi had no early desire to be a photographer, even though her father was well-known in that country's photo business. She arrived in the United States in the late 1970s and enrolled in the graphic-design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. But she found it unsatisfying: "I hated the fact I couldn't be an art director right off the bat."
Soon she became a messenger for a one-hour photo shop and started experimenting with some "fell-off-the-truck" cameras. Before long, she was printing her own shots. Initially she worked in fashion photography, but taking headshots proved easier, as she didn't have to worry about full-body wardrobe or conducting sessions outdoors: "Now that I've got the studio, I'm lazy; I don't go out anymore."
Recently Shi made the transition to digital photography, but she still considers herself "old-school," as she takes the same care with lighting and settings as she did back in the days of traditional film.
Dorothy Shi Photography, 121 W. 27th St., Room 904, NYC 10001; (212) 924-8282; shishotme@hotmail.com; www.shishotme.net.
Runners-up: Barry Morgenstein Photography, 130 W. 25th St., 4th floor, NYC 10001; (212) 647-1288; photo@barrymorgenstein.com; www.barrymorgenstein.com.
Robert Kim Photography, 101 W. 18th St., Ste. 5D, NYC 10011; (888) KIMFOTO; kimfoto@earthlink.net; www.robertkim.com.
James J. Kriegsmann Jr. Headshot Photography for Actors, 939 Eighth Ave., Ste. 200, NYC 10019; (212) 247-0533; fax: (212) 957-4281; Kriegstudio@aol.com; www.kriegsmann.com.
—Mark Dundas Wood