Today, we’d like to introduce you to Liv Berger.
Hi Liv, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Hi! It is a pleasure to be featured here!
My passion for photography started 11 years ago when I was living in Chicago and had a career in the health and fitness world. I owned a large Pilates and Wellness studio for 15 years. I taught Pilates, was a Pilates teacher-trainer and had a wonderful team of professional practitioners by my side. At the point when I decided to close the doors on my studio, my career shifted from entrepreneur to employee by taking a wonderful position as the Regional Pilates Coordinator for Chicago-based company, Fitness Formula Clubs. In my personal life, I was suddenly free to explore other avenues of interest, which was wonderful. I dabbled in art classes and photography which were amazing new creative avenues. I never imagined that photography would be my next career after moving to Colorado in 2014.
Since then, photography has been completely consuming. It has become a passion and a second career. (Yes, for anyone who thinks they can’t have a “Second Chapter,” you can!) I have evolved to own two photography brands and have a studio in Louisville. My one brand, Tiny Dragon Photography, focuses on Family and High School Senior portraits. My other brand, The Headshot Gal, focuses on Headshots and Brand-Photography for business and individuals. Providing headshots and brand photography is a true love for me. I feel deeply gratified every time a photo I have taken helps someone get a new job, attract their ideal customers, or find a new mate in the realm of online dating!
While I stopped teaching Pilates just before the pandemic started so that I could focus 100% on being a professional photographer, the skills I acquired in my previous career are still strong in me and help me to be a better photographer. The fact that I am so comfortable directing people’s body positioning and facial expressions in ways that are flattering and provide variety is key to my success. It helps put my clients at ease when we work together to truly collaborate.
I work from my studio and on-location with my clients and am on a mission to help individuals, families and businesses from all walks of life improve their brand or to have timeless art to hang on their walls.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The world of photography has a never-ending learning curve. Just when you think you have mastered one skill, something else needs work. It is a tech-heavy realm. Learning how to capture the best images with your camera is way more complicated than people would think. Topics like using your camera in manual mode, which lenses are best for which environment or subject, how to edit the photos you take, what good lighting looks like, how to be creative with your shots, posing individuals and groups of people paired with learning about ALL the gear is very time-consuming and sometimes frustrating.
There are also many different business models that photographers work with, so finding which ones suit my needs best and for what kind of clients has been a lot of trial and error. I am never sure if I have it just right.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in headshots and brand photography for individuals and businesses, but I also consider my work with high school senior portraits to be a strength. Senior Portraits are some of my favorite kinds of sessions for sure! I am proud to have mastered many skills that make my clients look their best in terms of posing and facial expressions, as well as my mastery of both studio lighting and lighting on location.
Skills that set me apart are my ability to put people at ease in a session so that we have fun and get a great variety of shots, as well as being able to have a quick turnaround time and produce high-quality images. I am excellent at working on the fly in any situation and love to bring creativity to the session. I also consider every session a collaborative experience, so I love hearing ideas from my clients and working with them to create custom imagery that they will enjoy sharing!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I am confident that I was super awkward growing up. I never felt like the most attractive, thin or interesting person around. I enjoyed outdoor activities and studied dance, but I was never athletic otherwise. I played piano and clarinet until after high school, but I also never really considered myself a band geek.
College was the time in my life when I really started to know myself and come into my own. Thank goodness for my college years! After college I moved to Chicago and lived there for 20 years. This is where I met my husband, and we had our daughter who is now 12 years old. We love animals and have had several dogs and cats over the years. We currently have a Mini-Bernedoodle who is a great love of a dog. (If I could have ten dogs, I would!) I have loved living in Colorado for the past ten years and consider it home now. This chapter of life has been amazing, and I am so grateful for all that has come my way.
Pricing:
- Basic Headshot Session – $190
- Custom Headshot Session – $390
- Mini-Branding Session – $890
- Custom Branding Sessions – starting at $1490
- Custom Senior Photoshoots – starting at $690
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theheadshotgal.com / www.tinydragonphotography.com
- Instagram: @tinydragonphotography
- Facebook: @tinydragonphotography / @theheadshotgal
