WESTWOOD—Just before the Golden Globes, I caught up with a photographer who recently shot my “Queen of the Lot” costar Tanna Frederick. After hearing Tanna rave about Irene Keller and her amazing way of calming a subject, I decided to take Irene up on her offer to also photograph me. As most performers realize, we are always trying to update our photographic images, but we are also concerned about how the new shots will be perceived by others.
Keller is a former actress from “General Hospital” who worked under the great Gloria Monty, so I knew she’d know how it felt to be nervous in front of a camera. I also had been told that she had an undeniable calming effect on her subjects, and that her mascot Cody, a beautiful Australian Shepherd, would also be at the front door to greet every visitor to Keller’s beautiful Westwood home. She lives with her handsome husband and son. Ever the journalist, I had to ask Keller some questions while she photographed me. Here is our interview.
Q-What made you interested in going into photography?
A-“I studied photography at UCLA where I got my degree in art design. That was well before digital SLR’s were around and we had to go into the dark room and load the film…and then do our own developing. Those chemicals were pretty intense and at the time I loved it. Then I decided that I really wanted to focus on acting. Developing film and/or renting darkroom space were not possible for a young, struggling actress. So I put it aside. I have always taken photos and people were always impressed with them. So when the digital SLR came out, and we could finally afford one, that’s when my photography career really started to take off.
I used to be both an actress and a model and sat through lots of photo shoots as the subject. When Peter Gowland (famed fashion photography) shot me with his wife (they worked as a team) I remember thinking it was something I wanted to do. They worked out of their home in Rustic Canyon and made me feel comfortable in a beautiful environment. Those are some of the best shots of me, I think.”
Q-What do you like to photograph the most? Animal life, humans or objects?
A-“I love photographing people because of the amount of time I spent as the subject and I know how it feels to stand there in front of the camera. If you are not completely comfortable with how you look, or how to move for photos, it can be scary. I think I have an ability to put people at ease and get them to look past the lens and just relate to me while we shoot. I also love people and am a people person. I find them fascinating in general.”
Q-Your photo studio is so conducive to making your subjects comfortable. How did you come up with the layout and style of the room?
A-“Peter Gowland inspired me to work at home. Our house has the high ceilings that you need in a photo studio. After setting up in various rooms of the house by (trial and error) we came up with the perfect set up. The backyard is also conducive to shooting outside, so we have it all in one location. Many photographers take their subjects to the park to shoot outside. I remember one who did that with me when he was shooting me. It’s hard not to feel self conscious when you are shooting in public and there is a crowd gathering. We have it all here.”
Q-You’ve been an actress, a therapist and now a photographer. What other creative projects are you working on that you can share with us?
A-“Funny you should ask that, Tommy. I’ve just finished my first book ”˜Foodaholic, The Seven Stages to Permanent Weight Control.’ It will be coming out this summer. I am also a freelance writer.”
All Photographs are Courtesy: Irene Keller Photography
