My Purpose In Being A New York Headshot Photographer By Todd Estrin

Posted by Todd Estrin Photography on May 30th, 2017

How does one find purpose in life? This question has followed, and at times haunted me in every phase of my life. If asked, I would define myself as a headshot photographer. I love and am extremely grateful for this job; however this limiting title is not where I find purpose. To answer this question I must hit pause and rewind.

14 years ago I began my journey as an actor. Acting was my love. For three full years I filled every minute of my life with art. I attending theater, I went to museums, I watched movies that challenged my beliefs, I wrote poetry, I attending classes to help me express myself fuller. I was hungry to learn what it meant to be human. I craved art and anything that expressed life. Acting was how I defined myself, but my purpose was not to act, it was to connect and fill myself with something deeper, something larger than me. I couldn't then, and today still cannot clearly define what "purpose" is. I do not know if the thing I am trying to describe has tangible properties. I do know though when I am connected to this purpose and when I am not. It is an unquestionable experience that lives in my body.

Six years ago I woke up to realize something was missing. After a series of life challenges and unmet expectations I reached a point in my life where although I still defined myself as an actor something was missing. I lost connection to that undefined spirit of purpose. I searched in many ways to reconnect. I invested my time and money into therapy, yoga, meditation, alternative classes and spiritual practices. During that time my purpose changed form. It was no longer something I experienced; it became something I was in pursuit of.

One year ago I went to Antananarivo Madagascar. I spent two months working as a teaching artist with a non-profit organization. I worked with a group of kids, teaching them theater and taking their photographs. Every day I would hear, "Toddy photo." I fell in love with each one of them. At the time I was not aware, but something was fundamentally changing in me during those two months. I was reconnecting to purpose.

Today I work with actors to take their headshots. What I do though is far more important than taking a picture. I help each of my clients celebrate who they are. Not who they think they need to be or who they wished they were; who they are. I love my job but more importantly I love connecting to people and helping them embraces and express their love for themselves.

If you would like to schedule a session, please visit my website, https://www.toddestrinphotography.com/ or email me at todd@toddestrinphotography.com