We’re over halfway through February: How’s everybody doing? Feeling? How are we rockin’ in flow with the goals and intentions we set six weeks ago?

This interview is a special one, with a multi-hyphenate woman dear to my heart. You’ll want to soak it all in if any of the following applies to you:

Actors who low-key panic before every headshot session. (Don’t worry, you’re not alone.)
Creatives with an “I should start a side hustle that doesn’t suck my soul” idea collecting dust. (Time to launch, baby.)
Anyone who has ever overthought their angles in the mirror. (There’s an actual method to the madness.)
Actors who need a reminder that you’re still an actor, even when you’re not on set. (Yes, even when you’re doing your side gig. Especially when you’re doing your side gig.)
Anyone who loves a good pandemic origin story that isn’t about sourdough. (Although, if you’ve perfected that art form, I’d appreciate some tips.)
Folks who think headshots - or any photoshoots - are just about looking “pretty.” (Spoiler: It’s about presence, not perfection.)

My dear friend Beth Hawkes dives deep into all of the above this month. She’s an actor, photographer, and general badass who’s spilling wisdom in spades, as you’ll see below.

In her own words: “I started Mariposa Pictures [her photography business] because I’m an actor as well, and I saw a hole in the market. I wanted to find an accessible photographer that would make me look like I had a photoshoot for a magazine without having to be a household name first. I wanted photos that I could put on my website, Instagram, and IMDb that would make the industry say, ‘Who is that? Should I know this person?’”

I’ll let her interview speak for itself. And from personal experience: you want to shoot with her. A good half of my lookbook (and some of my favorite photos) is Beth’s work. Some of my favorites can be found here, here, here, and… here. She’s pint-sized happiness with a killer artistic eye and general joyfulness behind the lens.

How did your journey with Mariposa Pictures begin?

Like many new business endeavors, it began during the pandemic when all of us were cooped up in the house watching the entertainment industry come to a complete standstill. We all had to reckon with the terrifying thought: “If I don’t have acting, what else do I have?”

I’d always loved photography and viewed it as a hobby that felt creative and fulfilling, and as a bonus would benefit my actor pals when they needed some fresh photos. With all my free time (and to prevent myself from going stir crazy), I started building a website and researching how to run a business. I taught myself how to retouch, use professional editing software, and I used my stimulus check to upgrade my camera and gear. From there, I started doing socially distanced outdoor shoots for free to build my portfolio, and slowly I started getting requests for paid shoots. It’s been a slow build for sure, but it’s very cool to think how far I’ve come since my days on the couch in my pajamas watching YouTube tutorials.

What’s the one thing you wish actors knew about headshots or taking photos?

I wish actors knew how effortless photoshoots are if you allow them to be. It’s so easy to overthink and get in your head about the way you look, body discomfort, and all sorts of other insecurities. But once you let it go and just focus on showing up as authentically as you can, you’ll get the best, most unique photos that showcase exactly who you are and will subsequently give you a huge confidence boost. That’s what I strive for in every shoot and it’s honestly what fulfills me the most about this job.

What tips, tricks, or prep would you recommend your clients do ahead of their photoshoot?

One of my favorite tips to give actors to prep for photoshoots is to watch behind-the-scenes features on YouTube for magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair that feature actors posing for their cover shoots. Not only can you get posing inspiration, but you can also see how they move and adjust for each frame to get as much variety as possible. It’s really inspiring to see these actors (and not supermodels) posing with confidence and doing all sorts of unique poses.

And practice in the mirror! It sounds cliché, but it really does help you get to know your angles and facial expressions.

How has your photography business flowed within your acting career, and vice versa?

There’s been so much more crossover than I ever expected. I’m frequently communicating with agents and managers to shoot their clients, and give feedback on photo selections and outfit choices. Many of my actor clients have become dear friends of mine and I always love supporting them in their creative endeavors. I also low how no matter how slow auditions are for myself, I always feel like I have two fingers on the pulse of the industry by chatting with my clients about where they are in their careers, what projects they’re going in for, and how they’re navigating the current landscape. It’s inspiring and a great networking tool.

What advice would you give to creatives trying to establish a fulfilling side business or secondary creative endeavor?

Get the plane off the runway! There can be a lot of fear and hesitation around starting a new endeavor, and since many creatives are perfectionists and hold themselves to a high bar, it can be easy to convince yourself to wait to launch until it’s a perfectly finished product. The reality is it will never be perfect and it will always be evolving, so just start now, start messy, and fix things along the way as you gather information about what’s working and what’s not.

I think I’ve changed my branding over three times and my shoot packages countless times, and it has never negatively affected my business at all. And more important: don’t give up! Building a business takes time, and just like acting, it takes a long time for people to get to know you and for word to get out about you.

Any advice (practical or otherwise) for people during their shoot, while they’re in front of the camera?

TAKE RISKS! The more out of the box ideas my clients come in with, the better the shoot and final photos. I love being inspired by my clients visions and ideas: whether it’s an interesting and unique clothing piece, a fun prop or two, or a wacky pose from a magazine ad, I love the rush of creativity I get when my clients stretch me to try something different. Then I’m even more excited to edit and curate the photos and deliver a one-of-a-kind product for you.

Freestyle: Tell us a bit about your acting career!

Many of my clients who don’t know me personally assume I’m either just a photographer, or that I’ve given up acting completely to pursue photograph. I always think of myself as an actor first, and I firmly believe you can always call yourself an actor, whether you’re working or not.

When I first started my business I was fearful that photography would eclipse my acting career, but I’ve found that no one has ever taken me less seriously as an actor because I have a photography business. In fact, quite the opposite! We don’t think of Selena Gomez as any less of an actor because she has other business ventures, so why can’t that apply to working class actors as well? The industry is in a tough place right now, and we all have to do what we can to weather the storm and provide for ourselves. I’ve always said it will be a bittersweet day when I close my photography business to work on a film or TV show, and I’ll be so lucky to feel sad to let it go.

How do you nourish yourself and practice self-care?

To practice self-care I love going on long walks and hikes to get fresh air, clear my head, and quell any anxiety I’m feeling. I also love talking to my long-distance best friend on the phone while I do my latest paint-by-numbers. Reading nourishes me; I’m in a book club that’s full of avid readers (all “regular” women who aren’t in the entertainment industry), and I’m currently making my way through the New York Times’ Reader’s Choice Top 100 Books of the 21st Century. I basically try to get as far away from any screens and devices as I can.

What would you tell your younger self who was just beginning her journey as a creative in Los Angeles?

I would honestly just give myself a big hug and tell myself that my life will take many unexpected turns, but everything will unfold as it’s meant to - and to get excited, because so much of it will be completely and utterly joyful. The ups and downs don’t get any easier, but we do get better at navigating them. Without rain, there are no flowers, and the universe will never hand you anything that you’re not ready for.

CONNECT + SHOOT WITH BETH!

Beth is currently in NOISES OFF at the Geffen Playhouse as an understudy, and will be going on as Belinda/Flavia for the extension, beginning March 5th. Get your tickets here!

Follow Beth on Instagram here, and her photography business here.

She’s currently accepting bookings for photoshoots starting in April! Learn more here.

To book a shoot with Beth, you can email her at mariposapictures11@gmail.com or DM her on Instagram.