Matthew Silliman
Portraits · headshots · fashion · 15 years behind the camera Professionally
I photograph models and talent the way agents and casting directors need to see them: sharp, true to life, and unmistakably themselves.
Photography for me started with my parents’ Polaroid, then 35mm film and a darkroom I built in our basement. Hours under the red light taught me that a great photograph is made, not just taken. Every choice matters: the light, the angle, the color, the moment.
I make images, not just take them.
My eye for detail was trained long before photography. I competed in gymnastics and trained at the highest level, where the angles or the point of a toe decides everything. I bring that same precision to every frame, finding the angle that works, the colors that pull the image together, and the instant a face comes alive.
Fashion and design shape my aesthetic: clean, natural and quietly polished. I work mostly in high-key or backlit light, and I retouch every image myself with a light hand. Skin keeps its texture, teeth and eyes stay natural, and nothing is over-processed, so the person in the photo is the person who walks into the room.
For agencies
- Photos that match the talent. Clean, minimal retouching that represents your talent accurately for castings and comp cards.
- Range from one session. Clean high-key headshots, backlit and natural-light portraits, and fashion frames for the book.
- Live review. In the studio I shoot tethered to a large screen, so we can review and fine-tune the look as we go.
- Fast turnaround. Finished images delivered within 7 days.
- Experienced with young talent. I’ve worked professionally with kids and teens my entire career. I know how to put young models at ease, direct them with confidence, and get the images that work. Every minor is covered by a signed parent or guardian release.
- On the road. I’ve shot in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Diego, and I travel for sessions.
For models
New to this? I’ll guide you through every pose and expression, and you’ll leave with images you’re proud to send to an agency. Already working? Let’s make something fresh for your book. Either way, sessions are fun and easy. I read the room, and if something isn’t working, we change the vibe until it does.
Curious how a session works? The FAQ walks you through it. Agents and models, I’d love to hear what you need.