Just wanted to give some free advice regarding headshots. I am a VP of a cosmetic company and need headshots for work and internet dating. I went to several photographers before in NY and Miami and came across Robert Kim. A few weeks ago, I flew into see Robert. I took at 6:00AM flight out and a 9:00PM flight back to FL. I'm posting the before and afters so you can see Roberts work. The black and white were taken from another photographer, the color shots from Robert. The price that I paid for both sets (B/W and Roberts) were identical. Price was not the issue.

A few words of wisdom. GO WITH ROBERT. His work is fabulous. Use his stylist and make up artist. Don't do it yourself or bring in someone else. Robert and his team are the experts and they work really well together. They can capture your personality and your best angles. Follow Robert's lead. Wear the clothes that he recommends and follow his direction. He truly is the EXPERT and will not steer you wrong. Take a look at my photos and see for yourself. Again, I am not in the industry but I know how important presenting yours elf is. A picture says 1,000 words.

And what did you get for providing this free advice?

You said it yourself--you're not in the industry, so how did you find this site? Did Robert Kim tell you to post here in exchange for a discount? And you've also given the last word--headshots for work and internet dating are not the same as headshots for actors.

Your pix are lovely--who are you looking for--I'd take ya out!

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography:
"CSilvera," you've given me a wonderful idea. To avoid any of your childish allegations in the future, I'll be PERSONALLY REQUESTING that my Backstage forum customers post my photographs here. If my customers are to be subjected to this kind of thing, let it be for something real.

Do you recall this post, "AnitaLoos1"?

You should. You participated on the same thread. You're simply re-posting her identical message.

This was my response to "CSilvera," who accused a recent customer of posting my photos because I TOLD her to. She had read about me on the forum and had chosen me to photograph her son (See: "Brian's headshots done by Robert Kim," on this same board).

'CSilvera's' allegation gave me an idea. If my clients and I are to be subjected to this kind of nonsense, I may as well invite my clients to share their experiences and new headshots on the board should they care to. And they care to.

Thank you again for a terrific idea.

P.S.-- Did you post your same complaint to David Zaugh and Dennis Kwan?

Well, I am not a Robert Kim client; however from how he has addressed the many comments, offered sound feedback, and from looking at his site and his previous client's photos, I will have my daughter shot by him. No, I'm not paid, nor am I expecting anything back in return. I just like to support professionals whenever I can.

OP: how much did it all cost you ? for Kim, the hair and the makeup ?

how many hours or days did you shoot ?

what did your bring to your session in terms of wardrobe ?

how many exposures were taken ? how many were usable at the end ?

come on, lets have some details here !

Oh for the love of....

We originally posted Brian's headshot for advise. People, more than Mr. Kim, gave it. Mr. Kim's advice was good and he was a photogragpher which prompted me to look at his site which was very informative and Brian arranged for a consultation. Mr. Kim spent a good deal of time with Brian during that consultation. Not because he had to, he didn't but because Brian's look and focus on what he wants is different. It would have been a heck of a lot easier if Kim just stood him infront of a black drop and shot him. He didn't, he took the time to get inside Brian's head.

Whether you like the guy AnitaLoos is pretty irrelevant. The guy is a good photographer. Brian's NY agent is using 2 of his shots and his commercial agent is using 2 others as well.

No one is being paid or anything else to promote him. What is so wrong about saying, hey, we were happy with the results we got from this guy. We received good advice from him. Hope he can help somoeone else as well. When looking at paying a photographer's price, advice from other actors on their experience is valuable.

quote:

Originally posted by bcoleman:
Oh for the love of....

We originally posted Brian's headshot for advise. People, more than Mr. Kim, gave it. Mr. Kim's advice was good and he was a photogragpher which prompted me to look at his site which was very informative and Brian arranged for a consultation. Mr. Kim spent a good deal of time with Brian during that consultation. Not because he had to, he didn't but because Brian's look and focus on what he wants is different. It would have been a heck of a lot easier if Kim just stood him infront of a black drop and shot him. He didn't, he took the time to get inside Brian's head.

Whether you like the guy AnitaLoos is pretty irrelevant. The guy is a good photographer. Brian's NY agent is using 2 of his shots and his commercial agent is using 2 others as well.

No one is being paid or anything else to promote him. What is so wrong about saying, hey, we were happy with the results we got from this guy. We received good advice from him. Hope he can help somoeone else as well. When looking at paying a photographer's price, advice from other actors on their experience is valuable.

Why is it irrelevant whether AnitaLoos likes Robert Kim or not?

To HER, it is important.

That you think Robert Kim is a "good photographer" is your opinion.

Someone else is entitled to hers/his about Robert Kim.

As to why it is wrong for clients of photographers to give testimonals, perhaps that this message board can get clogged with tons of those testimonals may be reason why it is a practice to be avoided.

If Robert Kim wants to engage in that sort of activity, perhaps he should get his own message board to do that with.

And as to to people who come here and post their testimonals, you want to do this, then be prepared for the consequences. Life isn't a rose garden. Don't act as if you are "doing us a favor" by posting these testimonals.

To me, they are nothing more than ads.

quote:

Originally posted by labview:
You did not answer the question.

Did you give scooper1221 a discount if she posted good things on this message board?

Home contractors do it all the time. Discount if you put their sign on your lawn.

Nothing wrong with it. However, you should acknowledge it if true.

This is the direct question that you demanded I answer, "labview." I did.

Now I have a direct question to ask of you, which you have conspicuously avoided. DID YOU POST YOUR SAME COMPLAINT TO ANY OF THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO ROUTINELY HAVE THEIR CUSTOMERS POST PERSONAL COMMENTS AND PHOTOS ON THIS BOARD? Something tells me that your motivations are far from altruistic. They seem more like personal attacks, and worse still, against my actual customers.

You state that testimonials are "nothing more than ads." But there is one important distinction between the two. Advertisers get paid to advertise, my clients do not. But after following my posts, you already know that.

Once again, I do not question you or "AnitaLoos1" freedom to post anything you wish on this board, it's a public forum. But false accusations and nasty innuendo -- that is flat-out wrong. If Backstage finds anything my customers are doing to be against their policies, they will immediately remove it. Free advertising isn't allowed. But neither are personal attacks, and that's what these all seem to be. I find it highly interesting that none of you come on to criticize my work, only ME. Curious. I thought this board was for discussing Headshots and Resumes, not making bogus claims and issuing personal vendettas.

May I remind you that it is my continual advertising dollars that support the very forum that you now enjoy? If all of the other headshot photographers who routinely post here for free would do the same, perhaps your comments would have far more relevance.

“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
Special Back Stage Discounts
www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

[/QUOTE]

Why is it irrelevant whether AnitaLoos likes Robert Kim or not?

To HER, it is important.

That you think Robert Kim is a "good photographer" is your opinion.

Someone else is entitled to hers/his about Robert Kim.

As to why it is wrong for clients of photographers to give testimonals, perhaps that this message board can get clogged with tons of those testimonals may be reason why it is a practice to be avoided.

If Robert Kim wants to engage in that sort of activity, perhaps he should get his own message board to do that with.

And as to to people who come here and post their testimonals, you want to do this, then be prepared for the consequences. Life isn't a rose garden. Don't act as if you are "doing us a favor" by posting these testimonals.

To me, they are nothing more than ads.[/QUOTE]

------------------
edited - I started a response to this but edited it because it wasn't worth the bother.

quote:

Originally posted by scooper1221:
Just wanted to give some free advice regarding headshots. I am a VP of a cosmetic company and need headshots for work and internet dating. I went to several photographers before in NY and Miami and came across Robert Kim. A few weeks ago, I flew into see Robert. I took at 6:00AM flight out and a 9:00PM flight back to FL. I'm posting the before and afters so you can see Roberts work. The black and white were taken from another photographer, the color shots from Robert. The price that I paid for both sets (B/W and Roberts) were identical. Price was not the issue.

A few words of wisdom. GO WITH ROBERT. His work is fabulous. Use his stylist and make up artist. Don't do it yourself or bring in someone else. Robert and his team are the experts and they work really well together. They can capture your personality and your best angles. Follow Robert's lead. Wear the clothes that he recommends and follow his direction. He truly is the EXPERT and will not steer you wrong. Take a look at my photos and see for yourself. Again, I am not in the industry but I know how important presenting yours elf is. A picture says 1,000 words.

Fake. Bad writing.

Too slimy to be true.

Another bad advertising campaign of a desperate middle of the road photographer.

What a welcome relief.

You've taken to attacking my customers instead of me.

Here's a reprint of a recent email to me for your approval, "MARCUS AURELIUS." It's from the same executive that you just slammed.

Perhaps you'd care to sent her your comments directly?


Hi Robert!

Thank you again for the great session on Sat. I was really nervous but am so glad that we connected.

I made it back to FL safe and sound and have been looking at the contact sheet ever since. There are so many great shots that
its hard to choose, but these are the photos that I like:

* Black Dress - #6543
* White Jacket - #6486
* Red Jacket - #6562
* Blue Shirt - #6519

Are there other ones that you would choose instead?

Sandy Cooper
National Sales Director | Cosmetic Dermatology, Inc. | dr.brandt skincare
8798 NW 15th Street
Miami, FL 33172
Ph. (305) 406-0411 ext.108 | Fx. (305) 406-9604
scooper@drbrandtskincare.com
www.drbrandtskincare.com

quote:

Originally posted by scooper1221:
Just wanted to give some free advice regarding headshots. I am a VP of a cosmetic company and need headshots for work and internet dating. I went to several photographers before in NY and Miami and came across Robert Kim. A few weeks ago, I flew into see Robert. I took at 6:00AM flight out and a 9:00PM flight back to FL. I'm posting the before and afters so you can see Roberts work. The black and white were taken from another photographer, the color shots from Robert. The price that I paid for both sets (B/W and Roberts) were identical. Price was not the issue.

A few words of wisdom. GO WITH ROBERT. His work is fabulous. Use his stylist and make up artist. Don't do it yourself or bring in someone else. Robert and his team are the experts and they work really well together. They can capture your personality and your best angles. Follow Robert's lead. Wear the clothes that he recommends and follow his direction. He truly is the EXPERT and will not steer you wrong. Take a look at my photos and see for yourself. Again, I am not in the industry but I know how important presenting yours elf is. A picture says 1,000 words.

You can use the shots for dating, of course.

For acting they do not show enough personality. They are merely beauty shots.

PS: This whole post quoted above doesn't sound right. Rather like a fake. A certain person placing a plug.

No woman in her right mind would post a shot that shows her in a favorable mind. (I mean that "before" shot).

So, everybody, just be careful who you trust.

As per my previous post, have you contacted Ms. Cooper with your myriad allegations, "MARCUS AURELIUS"? And if not, why?

Evidently her post is causing you tremendous concern. Wouldn't it be far more productive (and professional) to merely contact her directly with your accusations instead of continually impuning our integrity?

I'd enjoy hearing her personal responses, posted right here (if they're printable).

As to the rest of your post -- I'll let Backstage readers decide the veracity of your remarks.

quote:

Just wanted to give some free advice regarding headshots

I really dont think this woman is qualified to give any of us "advice". She isnt even an actor, shes not in the biz, she is not a photographer, why does she think she can tell us what she did with any credibility ?

NOW.

If she was to say something more along the lines of:

quote:

Hello all, My name is Sandy and I just wanted to say that I just finished shooting with robert kim. I really enjoyed myself and he told me that he frequents this message board so here I am throwing in a good word... Love you robert ! Thanks for the great session !

see gallery here.. www.sandysnewshots.com "

see ? something like that I would have liked, and believed and would bother to take a look at her shots and would make you (robert) look more friendly and apporachable.

instead, you alienated alot of people, caused a whole mess with you having to defend yourself against so many accusations and sir, that is really not the way to go...

and as I said in another post, Testimonals for CREDIBLE PEOPLE ! lets see those A-Listers post a thing or two ! or maybe a real agent or CD that was impressed with your quality.. people with real ties to the biz..

and also their testimonals should be a bit humble too like this:

quote:

"Hello, a long time ago when I was just starting out, I shot with robert kim, and not only did he just shoot my pictures, he also gave me a world of encouragement. He was truly a gentleman and I consider him both a friend and a colleague. So guys, take it easy on him, sure he's snappy, but he also have a heart of gold, Brad Pitt. "

quote:

Originally posted by SAGAFTRAAEA:

quote:

Just wanted to give some free advice regarding headshots

I really dont think this woman is qualified to give any of us "advice". She isnt even an actor, shes not in the biz, she is not a photographer, why does she think she can tell us what she did with any credibility ?

All well, but just be sure to see it's a bad idea to give a lesson on how to better fake testimonials.