FROM ACTOR TO PHOTOGRAPHER with Molly Pan

May 6, 2018

In our weekly interview series with talented established photographers we set no limit on the topic of discussion. Our interviewees get to open their heart and mind and speak freely about their experience and perception of the industry, stories of success and moments of failure. The field of photography is ever-growing and ever-changing. Your #Instadaily photos are like drops in the ocean of discourse. Its small contribution goes through a spiral of causal effect and suddenly might become a sparkle to fire up a new paradigm in photography. A paradigm that might be frightening for old school pros, but also inspiring for fresh eyes. A paradigm that makes a permanent mark in the history of photography. Hence the name of our interview series is “Hard To Clean Material”

With HTCM we want to catch both frightening and exciting sides of the story. We are eager to share the knowledge of professional photographers with new comers. We love to highlight some concerns that industry makers have with the state of the field. We also joke around a lot while recording. And after recording.

Today’s episode with photographer Molly Pan is dedicated, or rather themed as “A journey from actor to photographer”. Molly talks about her acting experience and how it benefits her photography career. While sharing a few quick tips on production flow, Molly also highlights an importance of guiding models on set.

The full interview is available of YOUTUBE. For your convenience, here is the transcript of it as well.

Molly: Hi, my name is Molly Pan and I am a professional portrait photographer from Minnesota, but I live in L.A.

Ron: What brought you into photography?

Molly: I’ve been doing photography professionally for about seven years. I grew up with my dad. My dad had a lot of cameras, and he’s a pretty good amateur photographer, so I learned stuff rom him, and I picked up some stuff from friends.

Molly: I’ve always liked taking pictures of people. I’ve never really been into landscapes or city scapes or anything like that. I just think people are so interesting and I’ve always felt that way, so when I got into acting I was looking for a headshot photographer, and I was like, “Well I could either spend $500 to get head shots or I can spend $700 and get myself a kit and do it myself.”

Molly: So I’m a super DIY, do-it-yourself kind of person, so that’s what I decided to do and that was the beginning of this seven, eight, nine year long journey to where I am now.

Ron: How does your acting experience help you as a photographer?

Molly: It’s very important to know what it’s like on this side of the camera. The different ways that you feel about yourself all comes out at the same time. It’s vulnerable and I think as a photographer it’s just really important to make your clients feel comfortable and feel like they’re there to have fun. Great pictures are gonna come out, but the important thing is to have a good time.

Molly: I’m sorry, I didn’t answer your question. What was your question?

Ron: Uh…

Molly: As an actor I spent a lot of time on the front side of the camera, and I think it’s really important to know your angles and to pose correctly, I guess. So I bring that to the other side, the back of the camera? I don’t know, that’s what it’s called.

Ron: Do you have a “message” that you promote with your photography and if so, what is it?

Molly: I think it’s really important to me that people know that they’re beautiful, and to celebrate that beauty, because I think a lot of people go through life hiding, and hiding behind the camera. Basically, like, “Oh, I’m gonna lose 30 pounds, and then you can take a picture of me.”

Molly: I find beauty in all types of people, all sizes, all ages, all skin colors. I think that’s the message. I want to show people that they’re beautiful.

Ron: What are we shooting today?

Molly: I have wanted to work with Claudine for so long because she’s gorgeous and she’s got the white hair, and she’s aging gracefully. I don’t get a chance to work with a lot of older people. The process of aging is just so beautiful and now that I’m in my thirties I’m starting to go through that process, and I’m really looking forward to getting older.

Ron: What gear do you use?

Molly: I use my Canon 5d Mark IV and my favorite lens is my 85mm 1.2. It’s really been my favorite lens ever. I’ve tried the tele zoom lenses and I’ve tried a 50, I just don’t like them as the 85. It’s got such beautiful foca and micro contrast. It’s just beautiful.

Ron: Any wisdom form mistakes you’ve done in the past and learned from?

Molly: I guess the one that really comes up a lot is back up your files. Back up your files in three different places! Back up your files in as many different places as you can! I’ve had to do reshoots, and I’ve had to do extra things and spent extra money to recover files, so back up your files to avoid a headache. That’s the biggest one I think.

[Police siren outside]

Molly: They’re coming for you.

Ron: Any tips on working with models?

Molly: The top one is probably that they’re really nervous, and so I just tell them to not be nervous, ’cause there’s literally nothing to be nervous about. I have photographed so many people, and I feel pretty confident that I’ll be able to make people look good. I just tell them that they literally cannot fuck it up. Sorry, I don’t know if I can swear, but they can’t fuck it up!

Molly: I guess another thing is people don’t know what to do. That, my friend, is your job as a photographer. You are supposed to tell them what to do. You can’t just expect someone to be on the other side of the camera and know where to put their limbs to look good. You’re going to be in charge of the situation, and you are going to let them know what to do. They’re gonna totally relax, because they trust you.

Ron: Any tips for new photographers?

Molly: Keep doing it. Do it a lot. Do it every day. Always keep learning. Even if you start out not so good, you’re gonna get better if you keep doing it, so shoot every day.

Watch the full interview with Molly:

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