One of the most rewarding parts of my work is photographing young performers — kids and teens who are stepping into their talent, finding their confidence, and daring to dream big. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with some of San Diego's most promising young acting talent, and so much of that has been made possible through the incredible community of coaches and directors who trust me with their students.

San Diego has a genuinely vibrant youth theater scene, and I'm grateful to be connected with so many of the coaches at the heart of it. One of those relationships I treasure most is with Becky Cherlin Baird of Kidz On Stage Productions. An energetic pioneer in children's theater and one of the most experienced in all of Southern California, Becky has a remarkable track record of directing, producing, and coaching kids to succeed on Broadway and in the broader world of entertainment.

What makes our partnership truly special is the level of involvement Becky brings to every session. Before her students step in front of my lens, she and I consult on exactly what she'd like me to capture — from clothing choices and background colors to specific expressions, and whether the session calls for theatrical or commercial looks. Becky knows her students deeply, and that insight shapes every creative decision we make together.

And her dedication doesn't stop at the studio door. During the shoot, Becky makes herself available by phone, FaceTime, or text — reviewing shots in real time as they come through, weighing in, and ensuring we walk away with exactly what her students need. It's a level of care and collaboration that is rare, and it makes a genuine difference in the final images.

Beyond her work on stage, Becky also helps students with their self-tapes — an increasingly essential part of the modern audition process. For young performers applying to college theater and performing arts programs, Becky guides them through the specific self-tape requirements each program calls for, ensuring their submissions are polished, professional, and perfectly tailored to what admissions teams are looking for. It's the kind of detail-oriented, student-first support that makes her truly invaluable to families navigating the performing arts world.

Working with young performers requires a different kind of energy behind the camera. Kids bring an authenticity and spontaneity that is absolutely magnetic — but they also need the right environment to let that shine. My job is to create a session that feels more like play than a photo shoot. I keep things light, fun, and moving so there's no time to feel self-conscious or stiff.

Before we ever step on set, we review wardrobe together — age-appropriate, character-driven looks that reflect who they are and the roles they're pursuing. By the time they step in front of my lens, they feel good — and it shows.

Throughout the session, I coach them in real time, and we review images together live so they can see themselves the way the camera does. That moment — when a young performer sees a frame that captures their spark — is one of my favorite things in this work.

Hair and makeup is not an afterthought in my sessions — it's an essential part of the process, and I regularly recommend booking a professional MUAH artist alongside your headshot session. My go-to is the incredibly talented Tatiana Keclan, known as @rougebytati on Instagram.

Tatiana is a mom of young children herself, which means she brings a natural warmth and ease to working with young talent. She is an absolute MUAH superpower — available both on location and on set in the studio — with a style philosophy that is perfectly aligned with what we need: age-appropriate, fun, and always enhancing the talent's natural beauty rather than masking it.

What makes Tatiana truly invaluable is how seamlessly she works throughout the session. As talent changes into each new outfit, Tatiana is right there — refreshing hair, making small adjustments, and keeping everything polished and camera-ready. She stays on set for the entire shoot, working in incredible sync with me — watching shots come through in real time to balance makeup to the lighting, catching stray hairs, and handling any wardrobe glitches before they ever reach the frame.

Tatiana is also a genuine wealth of knowledge. She generously shares advice with young performers and their families on products and techniques, helping them start building their own kit as their stage experience grows. And beyond the studio, Tatiana is a top beauty advisor at Nordstrom UTC, where she is happy to help talent and families shop for exactly the right products.

To book Tatiana for your session, contact her directly: Phone: 951-897-5733 Instagram: @rougebytati

Also, find her at Nordstrom UTC

San Diego's acting coach community is full of dedicated professionals who pour their hearts into developing young talent. I'm proud to be a trusted resource for so many of them. Whether a student is submitting to their first local audition or building a portfolio for a bigger stage, a great headshot is one of the first tools they need.

If your young performer is ready to explore theater, or needs guidance on self-tapes for college performing arts applications, I encourage you to reach out to Becky Cherlin Baird: Phone: 858-688-1769 Email: [email protected] Instagram: @KidzOnStage Website: kidsonstageproductions.com