Michael Papo has been a headshot photographer for over 25 years. He is one of the most sought after photographers in Los Angeles for movie / TV stars and lots of new people and experienced actors. He has also been a career consultant and an actor.

Michael Papo is known as "THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN TOWN," because his clients, if they want, receive as part of their photo session, expert career advice. This saves them time, money, and frustration from the many roadblocks of building a career or advancing one. If you are not a client, the fee for this expert career advice is $100 an hour. If you are a client of Michael's, all of this valuable advice and information is free along with your photo session.

Michael does headshots for newcomers as well as stars, series regulars, children, business people, regular people & couples, too. Highly praised for his unique way of working by agents, managers, and casting directors, the passionate and nurturing photographer takes his subjects through a carefully planned journey incorporating music and lighting to give actors a cozy loving environment in which they have the freedom to be themselves and show their inner beingness.

He works like a director, not shooting until the shot is believable, and the client’s eyes are speaking to the camera. He does that through successful “image creation” and nurturing direction to his headshot clients. Michael has the rare ability to capture the essence of one’s personality and freeze it with the click of the shutter, creating headshots for success.

Take yourself to a film or turn on the TV and you might see a Papo “star”. His clients have been in such series as Navy N.C.I.S., Jack & Bobby, Strong Medicine, Joan of Arcadia, The O.C., Law & Order S.V.U., CSI Miami, American Dreams, 7th Heaven, The Practice, Will and Grace, The Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, JAG, Days of Our Lives, All My Children, Law and Order, General Hospital, Friends, etc. As well as such films as The Hostage, The Jacket, Alfie, Raise Your Voice, First Daughter, The Princess Diaries 2, The Anchorman, She's All That, American Pie 2, Runaway Jury, Out of Time, S.W.A.T, Uptown Girls, Chicago, The Shape of Things, Two Days, Josie and the Pussycats, The Green Mile, The Matrix, Clueless, Jerry Maguire, Primary Colors, Space Cowboys, The Cider House Rules, Lethal Weapon 2, Speed 2, Troop Beverly Hills, Romeo and Juliet, Gun Shy, Cobra, Corina Corina, Air Force One, In The Line of Fire, etc. His headshot clients have been in over 23,000 commercials.

Michael does most of the makeup for his headshots clients and has them bring music they love to listen to. This enhances their mood, Michael also incorporates breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and sensitive direction to get the most out of each frame of film. Each photography session includes negatives. Michael is always in demand as a speaker about the business of acting due to his knowledge and his “Been there done that” experience as an actor, director, and headshot photographer in the Los Angeles area. Sincerity, passion, energy and his honesty have earned him a “ Golden Reputation” in the acting community. He also photographs top lawyers, speakers and real estate agents throughout the Los Angeles area.

Michael, now can add writer to his list of abilities. His article"How to Prepare for A Photo Shoot" was just published by Backstage West and again by Acting World Books, The Agencies, in a section called "Ask the Experts".

Michael’s celebrity photographs are published in major magazines such as PEOPLE, TV GUIDE, GLOBE, WOMEN'S DAY, US, IN TOUCH, and TIGER BEAT by Zuma Press in the US and Famous Pictures in London.

He has photographed over 23,000 people and solved just as many problems for them. “There is nothing more joyful and exciting to me then when a client happily announces he or she has gotten an agent, or landed a role in a series or a major motion picture. I feel I have contributed to that because my headshots got them in the door!"