We all have to start somewhere… photographers, actors, artists, and the like. We either start out by discounting our work in exchange for “credit” or we do the work for FREE for the “credit”. And then it happens… they don’t credit YOU! For years I had done work shooting for companies, celebrities, etc. in hopes of it advancing my career. I worked for free or for a hugely discounted rate and only asked for a credit, dreaming that one day the credit would be seen by their publicists & other celebrity friends. I thought this would take my career to…
Author: Mary Lou Sandler
Mary Lou Sandler
Mary Lou Sandler is the co-founder of 3 cubed studios, LLC... a photographic, film & music studio in Los Angeles. She is a former working actress & fitness cover model. In the early 2000s she picked up the camera and is now a professional photographer, cinematographer, and director. She has shot several celebrities, advertising campaigns, and is published in multiple magazines, including magazine covers. Mary Lou was an official selection in multiple film festivals with her short film as well as two music videos. She is a published author working on her 2nd art for charity book and gallery installation (a female empowerment project) and is the cinematographer and co-producer of a new documentary film with Betsy Chasse. (co-creator and director of “What the Bleep Do We Know”). Mary Lou’s mission is to create inspiring and life changing content thru photographic and cinematic imagery. She enjoys poetry, supporting other artists, charity work, her husband, & cats.
I recently photographed Ms. In The Biz Founder: Helenna Santos for my female empowerment project. She then asked me to become a monthly contributor HERE! My first reaction was TERROR! So I said… “Oh that sounds SCARY! Which means I ‘need’ to DO IT!” ALWAYS GO INTO THE FEAR! Everything I’ve ever done has either motivated or paralyzed me with fear. Sometimes I feel both within the battle of my dichotomous artist mind. All growth comes from outside of the comfort zone. I feared becoming an actress, a dancer, a fitness competitor, a fitness model, a mo-cap stuntwoman, a web…