About Me - Headshot Photographer in Los Angeles

I’m Rafael

Rafael L - Photographer - The Light Committee 2

Once upon a time there was this kid in high school that signed up for his first photography class. He loved it so much that he continued with photography courses for years to come, lifelong real-world learning, and has never stopped with the practice of photography. The hobby quickly matured into the passion it is today.

Famous photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, is credited with saying your first 10,000 photographs are your worst. But that was back in the days of film, where each shot you took could not be electronically deleted and reshot. A lot more careful planning was needed to not waste a shot. Today we can delete digital files as often as we want, and this instantly gives you that digital space back to create another one. With this liberty, anyone can take many more shots and often with less planning or care at all. So, today it is more like your first 100,000 shots as a photographer are your worst.

After countless shots of my own, I arrived on choosing the journey of photographing a person at a time, one on one, because of the unique and enjoyable collaboration involved, for whatever your goal might be.

Anyone can take a picture. You and I will be doing so much more. We will be creating marketable images of you to use for years. That is my first goal with you in a photography session. My second goal is to make the photography session as positively memorable as possible.

Whether the images are to be used for your agent, your business, your online profiles, or whatever, in the brief time we spend together in a session, I hope a lifelong positive memory is created from the experience of your professional photography session. That is the potential power of great photography. You do not get a wonderful experience with a selfie or AI, and you certainly do not get the level of great imagery as you do from a real photography session.

My Work Experience

I went on after high school, and those initial photography courses, to join the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard. I served full terms for both with an honorable discharge. I graduated from California State University, Northridge with a BA in Journalism, with honors.

Afterward, back in Los Angeles, I worked at two of the largest global public relations firms – Ketchum and MSL – and one of the largest boutiques in technology public relations in California – Capital Relations. I later started my own public relations consulting practice working with small businesses to Fortune 500 technology companies.

One time, I had a client that knew I loved photography and asked if I could do their product photography. That went well, products sold, and so they later asked for headshots for their website update. More clients asked. This spawned The Light Committee into being, offering headshot photography and other one-on-one photo shoots.

I have now done countless actor headshots and business or professional headshots for corporate or other business use that include all kinds of professions: attorneys, accountants, artists, CEOs, creative directors, psychologists, real estate agents, and on and on for 20+ years. This doesn’t even count the numerous modeling digitals and lifestyle photo shoots too. Yes, I have created way more than 100,000 shots!

The Light Committee

What's with the name?

So, why The Light Committee name? Lighting when photographing a person has many variables and considerations depending on the goal of the image being created. On one occasion, it might call for a single-light setup while on another it might require a four or more light setup that need to work in concert. Whether a single light or many lights, things like placement, power levels, and modifications to how the light is output require careful considerations.

The word “committee” is defined as a group appointed to perform a function or act upon a particular matter. Sometimes all the group is required and sometimes just some of the group. In a loosely similar way, lighting a subject requires lights to perform the function of lighting for a particular matter, just like a committee is to operate. And so, The Light Committee.

 The Light Committee is insured to meet Los Angeles County photography business requirements.