Working with Conrad was a breeze. From start to finish, he is a total pro. I can't believe it took me so long to find him. After speaking to dozens of other photographers who made their services seem SO difficult and overly complicated and needlessly super expensive, Conrad's process is the easiest and makes complete business sense. He is a complete professional and great artist. I did professional headshots with him and signing up for an appt was a breeze, working with him during our session was a breeze, and his touch up process is fantastic. Made a huge difference in my website quality and other business dealings. Overall, he makes the whole process super easy from start to finish. Highly recommend and you won't regret your experience with him. read more

Light and Shine Photography is an excellent choice if you are considering business headshots. Both my husband and I are very happy with our individual photos. The experience from start to finish was positive and stress free. I found this business on Yelp and easily booked a shoot time. We were provided tips via email on what to wear/not wear. Conrad also called to discuss in depth what was needed. On the day of the shoot, Conrad was fluid with his instructions for poses. He was articulate, kind, and knew exactly how to coach. I have worked with several photographers for work/family, etc and I can tell Conrad is a true master of his art and professional. Selecting our poses and retouches was easy, with a quick turn-around. Overall, the experience was pleasant and reasonably priced, with great customer service. Highly recommended! read more

We used Conrad for our individual head shots as well as our new team shots for our website and marketing pieces and we had a great experience. He is super professional and helpful. He want above and beyond during the shoot to make sure everyone was happy and comfortable with the photos they ended up with. The pictures all look great. We would definitely recommend him to others and use him for future projects. read more

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This is my second time getting professional headshots, and my first time with Conrad - and wow. Conrad was not only a generous host, but is clearly passionate about the work he does. I actually left feeling better about myself, opposed to the typical post-photo insecurity. Right off the bat, how cool of an experience is that? During the shoot, Conrad had his camera tethered to his computer, where you get to see the photos instantly after they are taken. It makes sense for many reasons that he does this and shows them so openly in real time. With his technical ability and talent, the photos looked amazing right out of the camera. Why not show them off? I knew within a few shots I was in good hands and made the rest of the session a piece of cake. I actually learned a lot working with Conrad, who not only has a great eye for photography, but also has thoughtful insights on wardrobe choices. I feel as if I can take what I learned with him into the audition room when I choose what clothing suits the character / "type" best. He creates a playful atmosphere that releases authenticity that we all want in our headshots. I highly suggest using Conrad for your headshots, he is personable and definitely cares not only about the art of photography, but also the performing arts, as well. Super cool guy who will not disappoint! read more

Had an amazing experience with Conrad, he took the time to really understand my vision and made me feel really comfortable throughout our shoot. He does a great job at paying attention to the details and takes the time to figure out your good angles. Will definitely be back and I highly recommend him for headshots! read more

Conrad was great. Super nice guy and he puts you at ease so you don't feel awkward during the shoot. Took my pictures in about 30 minutes and I got the pictures in about an hour or two. They look great! Would definitely use him again if I need more pictures. read more

Conrad made getting new headshots a breeze. His warm and encouraging manner -- combined with his expert tips during the shoot -- elicited some of the best professional headshots I've had taken. He was also incredible responsive and quick to turnaround by images. Such a pro. You won't be sorry you called Light & Shine. read more

Light & Shine Photography - My new headshot. :) - Session Photography Near Me

Conrad took his time, made me feel very comfortable, and really has an eye for your best angles. I truly appreciate his attention to detail. My headshots turned out better than I could have hoped. THANK YOU CONRAD!! read more

Conrad was great! I don't always feel comfortable posing for pictures. He made me relax. He got some good shots and turnaround was very fast! read more

Wow! What an incredible experience. I went to Conrad for a professional headshot. Working with Conrad was so easy. He's one of those people that makes you feel comfortable immediately. He knows exactly how to pose you so you look your best. I could tell he was an expert because he got my photo right within just a few shots and I was on my way. I was delighted once I got my photo back as well. The editing was amazing as well. He made me look younger and well-rested without looking fake. Overall, I was incredibly impressed. read more

I would like to sincerely thank Conrad for taking headshots of me for personal and professional reasons. He made the experience awesome and talked me through how the whole setup works. He even showed me the shots that were being taken mid way so I knew what kind of image was going to appear. I'm greatful to have had this experience and will definitely call Light and Shine again for future events. read more

Conrad is the absolute best! He is so talented and professional! I will be back for more business head shots for sure! read more

Conrad is truly an expert at his craft. It was clear to me even before booking my appointment for a professional headshot that he knows what he's doing. The sample photos on his website all look modern, polished, and personable. I myself need some direction when it comes to posing in front of the camera, and he knew exactly how to get that done as well as the best outdoor setting for the look I wanted. The process was efficient and incredibly effective. I have shown my headshot to my friends who are all impressed and hope to use his services someday when they need it. Highly recommended! read more

I have never taken professional headshots before and feel awkward taking pictures. However, Conrad made it really easy to feel comfortable. The whole process was easy from scheduling to getting my pictures. I got my pictures within a few days and I was so happy with the final pictures. Thanks again! read more

If I could give higher than five stars I would! 12/10 Highly recommend Conrad and Light & Shine Photography. I needed an executive headshot in extreme haste and boy let me tell you Conrad by far exceeded my expectations. First and foremost, he gave me so many helpful hints before I even arrived as far as logistics, location information, pitfalls to avoid with hair and makeup, and then even spent 10 minutes before our shoot talking to me about what I was trying to achieve with my photo. It felt more as a branding consultation beforehand! As a non-photogenic nervous person, I immediately relaxed. The shoot felt so natural and what I loved the most is that I felt like myself. Here is the coolest part of all, Conrad even carries around his iPad over his shoulder and the raw pictures immediately download on it so you can see in real-time anything you want to adjust, like/not like, or just reposition a stray hair! There's nothing worse than getting pictures developed and not realizing you hate something, like the way your hair is positioned. Conrad was so great, I recommend if you're really trying to elevate your appearance, GO WITH HIM. He'll definitely get the job done, and you'll be so happy with the results. *Picture below of Conrad showing me my raw unedited pics today. So cool!* read more

Light & Shine Photography - Session Photography Near Me

At first I was skeptical about getting headshots. My thought was, what does an iPhone photo have different then a professional headshot? It's should be easy to get a good one with just my phone right? Wrong. After trying a couple shots myself, I gave up and went to Conrad at Light and Shine after reading the reviews on yelp. I was happy I did. I'll be honest, I don't know a lot about photography but I do know when something looks good and the pictures looked fantastic. I was very pleased with the outcome and the turn around time was speedy. Conrad clearly knows what he is doing, is very friendly, and although the shoot was quick made sure I was satisfied with the outcome before I left. In my opinion, it was pricey but it significantly exceeded my expectations so overall it was worth it! read more

As a realtor, I needed headshots taken and Conrad was able to guide me on choosing the perfect background for my needs. Conrad was amazing and gave lots of helpful tips on posing as well. As Conrad was taking the pictures I was able to see them on the iPad and choose the ones I wanted which I thought was great. I loved the turnout of my photos! read more

I had an amazing experience with Mary and Conrad! Everything was seamless in terms of booking and logistics, and I am so very happy with my pictures! First, I found their website very easy to navigate and use. I appreciated being able to book online as opposed to calling or emailing back and forth. I received text message alerts reminding me, as well as emails. The information I received was very clear and easy to follow. I booked a business headshot and hair/makeup. Their studio is in charming downtown Santa Ana. They have a great setup with everything ready to go! They helped me pick out which outfit to wear and there was a bathroom there to change. Mary is a pro at the hair and makeup. She's efficient and has a good eye for color, and she's also very gentle and doesn't stab your eye lol. It felt like a lot of makeup to me, since I rarely wear makeup, but once I saw the pictures I was really happy I had opted for the makeup. You can barely tell that I'm wearing any in the pictures, but it helps my eyes stand out more and show the contours of my face better. Mary also made my hair look effortlessly perfect! I wish she could do my hair every day :) We walked outside for the pictures. Conrad was very good at explaining and showing how to pose and directing me to get just the right angle. They have this very cool setup where after several batches of photos, they would show me the results on an ipad, and we could discuss what I liked and didn't like, and talk about how to achieve the look I was going for. It made me feel very confident when I left that I was going to get a product I would be happy with! Conrad was also good at coaching me to be more relaxed in order to catch the most genuine smile. The turnaround for me to get my photos was very quick, and I really love them! All in all, it was a delightful experience and I would recommend them to anyone! read more

Phenomenal work! Conrad is an amazingly talented photographer and super skilled with photo retouching. He makes the whole process super easy from start to finish. I love the business pic he took for me. Completely changed my Linkedin profile. Not only he's an expert at what he does, he's also very friendly and easy to work with. Highly recommended. read more

Made an appointment here for a headshot photo that I needed kinda pronto and last minute ...the website was simple and easy to book. Once I arrived, Conrad made the process easy and stress-free, it felt like i was just kickin it with a friend! He asked what type of music I like, I said Drake - so he then played a Drake playlist that he had on hand - He helped me choose the best backdrop for the type of vibe/headshot that I was aiming for, he quickly found all of my best angles, and he even knew the best ways to position my hair! I was impressed. He makes sure you see each picture as it's taken, and that you are completely satisfied with your final results. He also got the final headshot emailed over to me - edited and all - within an hour of me leaving the studio, which I highly appreciated since I was in a little bit of a time-crunch. I definitely recommend this place read more

My daughter just had her headshots done and they turned out amazing! Conrad is a very talented photographer. He was fast, efficient and easy going. My 11 year old daughter loved getting her "No makeup" look. I mean who doesn't like getting fussed over? Juanita made sure her hair was on point during the entire shoot. We received her pictures fast and touch ups were really fast! I think I found my forever photography studio, thanks Conrad! read more

I went to Light and Shine because I needed an author's headshot. Conrad's friendly and professional attitude really set me at ease. In particular, I appreciated that he worked to find the expression or gesture that was genuine to who I was, while also creating a professional (and flattering) picture. Because of his experience, he was also able to give me simple and useful tricks in positioning. This was really helpful because I'm pretty uncomfortable taking a pic. I definitely felt that Conrad and I had the same goals. He was as invested in creating a successful portrait as I was. read more

Conrad is quite simply the best in the field for professional headshots- no doubt! I have had professional photos done before but he by far blows away the competition. I approached him for a photo I needed stat for a professional magazine... best head shot I've ever had done hands down! First- he coaches you on how to pose to highlight your best features. Second- he shows you sample photos so you can adjust your poses. Third- he lets you select which photo to edit for your portfolio. Fourth- he can get it back to you all within a day if needed. 100 percent will use him in the future if needed and recommend him fully! read more

I needed a professional headshot for my new business adventure. I found Mary on Yelp and with the amazing reviews, I contacted her immediately. She is absolutely AMAZING! I have worked with many great photographers in the past, however none of them compare to the work Mary does. She immediately made me feel comfortable during my session. She is so much fun, easy to talk to, and listens to your ideas and makes them happen. She is an expert in her field which shows with her work. She was very accommodating and very prompt with the final touches. I also recommend her for hair and makeup before your session. I am excited to use her again in the near future. First Class Photographer! Highly Recommend!! read more

Light & Shine Photography - Mary is fantastic! - Session Photography Near Me

Awesome photos! I'm so glad I chose this super talented photographer to capture my most polished professional, but warm, self. I don't panic or cringe any more when someone asks for a photo at work! Check this team out - you'll get great images and value! read more

I have been an actor in Austin for 8 years. I have had so many headshots done, it is a little ridiculous. I found myself starting happy enough with them but then feeling the need to change them again in about six months. They just never seemed to "look like me". But, with Mary's headshots, I am blown away every time I look at them and they radiate the "me" energy I felt I was missing in all my other shots. That being said, if you are going to get headshots from Mary, you have to be ready for Mary. The photos you will receive Mary are not just "an appeasing update" for your agent. They are a decided and thought out career move. I have had so many actor friends that have complimented me on my shots with Mary. After they inquire about pricing, they may say, "Oh, well I have a photographer friend that will do them for dirt cheap". If you feel that is good enough for you and the place you are at in your industry, I don't recommend going to Mary. Mary is a photographer for people that are ready to invest in the product of themselves and the success of their career. Because with shots from Mary, you WILL get called in more, you WILL get noticed more and when it is between you and another actor and the casting director and director on are their fifth espresso at 3 in the morning staring at two headshots, odds are that Mary's shot will brighten their darkened, lost souls and give them hope. Oh, and then you book it. Direct words from an Austin casting director last week, "Oh, and I love your new headshots, they're fabulous. I hate it when actors get new headshots and they aren't any better than the ones before. It frustrates me for them." So, if you aren't ready to be as professional and driven as your new headshot will look, then you probably aren't ready for Mary. Wonderful things about Mary: She is extremely prompt in responding to ANY and ALL questions or concerns you may have. She is really awesome person, which may not seem like a big deal, but the comfort level you have during your shoot will reflect in your face. She has an amazing way of making you feel beautiful and perfect in your own skin, being you. Which is why she got my vote on "Best headshot in 8 years that actually represents what I look like in real life". She makes you photograph poised and natural, and not posed, like in your awkward family photo from 1986. She is great at make-up. I know, I know, ladies, you think you know exactly how your make-up should be done. You've been wearing that one brand of blue eyeshadow since your glory days at the roller disco. I mean, it's your face, right, you should know? Wrong. Sorry, not sorry. She knows what will photograph well and what won't make a huge problem later in the retouching process. Trust her. She gets it. I promise. I get it. She is somewhat on the pricey end (for Austin, anyway). But, gosh darn it, you get what you pay for with Mary. Hindsight, she definitely chose the best wardrobe for me, even though, at the time, I thought I wanted something different. Nope. The colors she chose popped and set the perfect tone. She gives you access to all of the photos (which most photographers shy away from), so that you can take your time in choosing what you think is your best representation. But, I do have to say, she was so awesome and the photos were so great that it made my choosing process VERY difficult. So, if you are an indecisive little bunny, I recommend checking out her "branding" packages, because choosing will be a challenge. It took me several runs at it and about a month of sleeping on it before I could choose my final three to be retouched. But, even having said that, I could have/still can use ANY of the not-retouched photos at any time. They are that crisp and clear and beautiful, as is. It is simply a matter of what level you want to take your headshots to. The shoot will be fun. You will have fun. Mary's shooting style makes you feel beautiful and special, which is almost enough to get them done, anyway. I mean, who doesn't want to release their gorgeous inner supermodel for a couple of hours? She shoots for perfection. As a somewhat Type A person myself, I can appreciate her attention to detail and the respect with which she approaches her job. She is professional, has a great eye and will get you what you want. So. What do you think? Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Ready to shine like the bright star you are?... (yea. I said it...) Then book with Mary!!! Not ready? Cool. Don't worry, I will still "like" your new headshot album on facebook after your shoot with your cousin in law's photographer ex-boyfriend because I love you and want to support your career. But, when you ask me again in 6 months who you should get your headshots from, I'm going to say this all over again. And when you finally get your shots back from Mary, that time I'll make sure to click "love". read more

Having professional pictures taken can be a daunting task; from picking out the wardrobe to doing your hair and makeup to tilting your head just right to putting the finishing touches on the photos. With Light and Shine, ALL of that is taken care of for you. You just show up and have a great time! Mary is very professional, insanely talented AND she knows what makes a great photo. She gives good direction which eases your nerves. The fact that you're comfortable and enjoying yourself will result in fantastic photos. And the final product will make you never want to have your photos taken by anyone else. read more

Conrad did a fantastic job capturing my headshot. I used it as my LinkedIn profile picture, and received several compliments. Booking process was super easy and convenient. During the photo session, he was so nice, patient, and great at putting me at ease. The quality of his photos is top notch. I would highly recommend him. read more

Light & Shine was very professional when it came to taking our headshot . Conrad was knowledgeable and very easy to work with . We were in n out of there in 40mins . Great prices and great customer service . Highly recommended . read more

Thanks to Conrad and Mary for their work and artistry. Had a lot of fun and great results. read more

Light & Shine Photography - Session Photography Near Me

First time getting headshots, I was a little nervous. As soon as I walked through the door, Conrad immediately made me feel welcome and comfortable. He discussed the session with me and what kind of an actor I'm looking to be that way my headshots would represent my image correctly. I had an incredibly fun and comfortable experience. I absolutely recommend using Conrad for your headshot needs! read more

Highly recommend working with Conrad. He took family photos for us and they turned out incredibly stunning. He chose a beautiful location for us and captured amazing lighting right before sunset. Every single photo was a dream, I couldn't even pick a favorite. He is great with various poses and kept it very natural, capturing our family in intimate, joyful images. And he was wonderful with our two young daughters, very patient, and was able to get them to smile and laugh. You will not be disappointed booking with Conrad. read more

My wife recently had the opportunity to work with Mary and Conrad for some much needed professional headshots. I can't express how great, professional, prompt, fun and completely radical they are ! My wife had an awesome experience from initial contact over the phone to the final product. As you can see from other reviews and their portfolio you are truly getting a professional experience from top to bottom. Even after we received the photos, I needed some info and help and Mary was just a great resource and a pleasure to speak with. In addition to your headshots, Light and Shine also offers other great services, which are a sweet compliment to their outstanding photography. read more

I've used Light and Shine's services many times over the years for both family and professional pictures. I keep coming back for a reason! These guys know how to craft a photo vs just snapping a picture. From the subtle details of how to pose just right and frame professional headshots to being able to get toddlers who are camera shy and have no attention span to actually look at the camera, they get it. Never had any "meh" photos from here! Thanks Conrad & Mary for helping me look good to my clients and to look back on cherished moments of my family's growth. read more

I cannot recommend Mary enough. My son has been acting for quite some time and this is his fifth head shot session and she's the fourth photographer we've used. She was so patient and able to get the best out of him. He's got L.A. representatives as well as local agent and they LOVED her work. The photos looked great even prior to the retouching as she really knew how to use light and color. She is not as inexpensive as some other local photographers BUT she's not unreasonable either. Very competitive pricing. She promises the proofs within five working days but she got them to me the next day and because I had to wait on several different reps for picks, she was willing to take my choices one by one and send them back as they were available. She did hair and make up (concealer really) and he looked great! I can't recommend her enough! read more

Light & Shine Photography - Youth Actor head shot by Light and Shine - Session Photography Near Me

Conrad and Mary are amazing photographers. I was totally impressed at their knowledge. Nobody does headshots like they do! They know makeup, photography and retouching. They don't have to outsource it to someone else. They make you feel comfortable. They show you how to pose. They make the whole process so easy. It was a great experience. I cant' wait to come back again. read more

What an easy, quick and fun experience! I needed some photos for web and print marketing for my business and I am so glad I chose Light and Shine! Conrad and Mary are serious professionals wrapped up in a joyful, fun and easy-going couple. Easy to talk to, we got to know each other and found we have many things in common! Their space is very cool and perfect for makeup, hair and interior shots. Mary made me look great with full makeup and hair...Conrad took me outside for my photoshoot. He made it easy to get the looks I needed and I was able to choose my photos on the spot. I opted for the Executive Package with full retouch and the final products look amazing! I am so pleased with EVERYTHING and I highly recommend Light and Shine! read more

Conrad is a great photographer with a friendly and down-to-earth demeanor. His advice and support was very helpful. From initial scheduling to choosing the right photo, Conrad made the experience easy and enjoyable. And he is very responsive to calls and emails. read more

I never write reviews ever but for her quality of work I had to! Mary is PHENOMONAL! I am in love with not only her, but her work. She listens to your ideas and matches her wisdom and knowledge behind the camera. Prices are reasonable and her work is super impressive. I was looking for a photographer and her work immediately stood out!!! You have to have Mary! Crazy good energy! read more

Mary was very friendly and professional. I was quite nervous before making the appointment but once I got a chance to meet Mary, the session went by quickly because I had so much fun. Mary helps with all of the posing as well which made taking photos extremely easy. I would recommend her to everyone and definitely will reach out to her again for future work. She took her time to get to know me and what look I was trying to go for. Then she explained what we would be doing every step of the way so I was never nervous. The photos were delivered on time and they looked amazing. She is also very responsive and helpful with emails, so I would encourage people who are first timers to just contact her to resolve their questions. read more