Mary Freitag is a makeup artist who used to work for me. I want clients to know that she is using images that she does not own to promote her business and misrepresent her photography. Almost ever image on her website was photographed at my studio under my guidance using the exact lighting and posing setups that I created. Mary stopped working for me 2 months ago and we had no hard feelings at the time. She told me she was moving to Texas for her dancing. Perhaps she did move to Texas for dancing too but it is clear that she moved away from CA to start her own photography business as well. I think she didn't stay in LA because she planned to steal the work of other photographers and was already burn bridges with many LA photographers and makeup artists. Mary verbally and legally agreed to never use the images that we taken at my studio yet she still has them on her site. I want her potential clients to know this because they 1. They have a right to know Mary's business practices and 2. A photographer or any artist should use work which is theirs. I only found out about this because a few other photographers called me and were pissed that she had taken down the photography credits on her makeup site. They believed that this was done to mislead people into thinking that she had done the photography which was present on her makeup site. My only hope is that this warns potential clients before shooting with Mary Freitag and Light and Shine Photography. read more

Mary is fantastic! I contacted Mary about a headshot session for TV, film, & commercial. From my first inquiry she was quick to respond and answered all my questions. She took the time to get to know what I needed and told me all about her usual process. We got to shoot in a studio in North Hollywood (not her usual studio) which was quite a treat. Lots of light, great A/C, music, restroom for changing, racks for wardrobe, hair and makeup station, all the backdrops/props/lighting accoutrement we needed. When I got there we went through my wardrobe and worked out our shots. She made suggestions but was sure to incorporate my ideas and opinions. After making out final decisions she organized the wardrobe, hair and makeup to make the shoot flow smoothly from one look to the next. Coming from a hair and makeup background I was confident that she would not only make me up beautifully but also be able to touch up between shots and fix stray hairs etc. Something that I've not had the luxury of in previous shoots. Throughout the shoot she got things set up quickly and was so easy going it made sitting for the photos a relaxing and fun experience. With her direction and the atmosphere she created I was able to get a great variety of shots and expressions which was my ultimate goal. Overall I had a great time on our shoot and would recommend Light & Shine Photography to anyone out there looking for a knowledgable, efficient, and personable experience. read more

This was my first time getting professional photos done, and it was such a pleasant experience! Mary is a delight to work with. She's very knowledgeable and has a clear vision of what looks good on camera. It was so fun to work with her and such a treat to have her do makeup, hair, and shoot the photos. I'm so pleased with how the photos turned out. I wish she would do my hair and makeup every day! read more

The only professional pictures I had ever taken were when I got married. I decided years later that it was time for a photo shoot. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect and am camera shy. Mary made the whole experience amazing! Her eye for detail with her make up application made me look and feel flawless. She was so patient and encouraging through the whole process. Even though at times I felt silly in front of the camera, her coaching and direction helped me feel at ease and gain confidence. I didn't want the photo shoot to end! The pictures turned out better than I could have imagined. It is impossible to find a favorite. Mary captured with a camera a part of my beauty that we discovered together that day. read more