WHO WE ARE

Zen Studios Approach and Methodology

By approaching every shoot with a clear and focused mindset, We able to bring a sense of calm and clarity to the creative process. If you are looking for a portrait photographer who can deliver stunning results while making you feel comfortable and at ease, look no further than me. I would love to discuss your photography needs and explore how we can work together to create something truly special.

Why Zen Studios?

What sets me apart as a portrait photographer is my ability to connect with my clients personally and capture their essence in a way that feels authentic and natural. I believe the key to a great portrait is technical skill and the ability to make my clients feel comfortable and at ease.

Since transitioning to portrait photography, I have become known for my ability to capture the unique personality of each of my clients.

When I’m not behind the camera, I also strongly advocate for living a balanced and mindful life. I enjoy working out, practicing yoga, and meditating in my free time on, which help me stay centered and grounded.

YEAR ESTABLISHED

Zen Studios LA was established in 2016

ZEN'S PHILOSOPHY

Zen is a state of mind. We focus on the positive. There is so much beauty around us, and every day we should be grateful for what we have. We give the absolute best service, and we are blessed to get that same energy back.

OUR PROMISE

Our promise is to capture the best representation of you, your essence.

We strive to bring out the best of YOU!

Everything has beauty, but not everyone see it.

2K

Headshots Taken

100

Companies
Author headshot - Professional headshot

Meet our amazing team

Zen Studios offers a variety of photography services and we specialize in Headshots, Portraits, Fashion and Editorials. We work with the most talented photographers and each photographer is the best in their own genre.

Zen Studios L.A. offers a positive environment for creativity and expression. Our Photographers capture the best representation of you; the essence of you..

Professional headshot photographer - Professional headshot photography - Professional headshot

Armando Rodriguez

Owner / Photographer

Estelle

Makeup Artist / Hairstylist

Ted

Photographer

What Our Clients Say About Zen Studios LA

Excellent5.0★★★★★ Based on 263 reviews from review us onSteven TruongSteven Truong ★★★★★ Armando was an absolute pleasure to work with. He’s a true professional and knows what he’s doing. The pictures came out incredible. I’ll be coming back for all my future shoots!Taylor BurbackTaylor Burback ★★★★★ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I had the pleasure of working with Armando for my professional headshots, and I couldn't be happier with the results! He truly exceeded my expectations in every way. Not only did he capture my best angles and expressions, but he also managed to bring out my personality in the photos.Armando's talent and skill as a photographer are evident in every shot he takes. The way he plays with lighting and composition is truly remarkable. The headshots he provided for my company's website were nothing short of exceptional, elevating our online presence significantly.What sets Armando apart, however, is his incredible demeanor and approach during the photo sessions. He has a remarkable ability to make you feel comfortable and at ease in front of the camera. Working with him feels less like a photoshoot and more like a fun and creative experience. His positive energy is infectious and helps bring out genuine smiles and expressions.I am thoroughly impressed by Armando's professionalism and dedication to his craft. If you're looking for a photographer who not only delivers stunning results but also ensures a delightful and enjoyable process, Armando is the one to choose. His talent is a true asset to the LA area, and I highly recommend his services to anyone seeking top-notch photography.Thank you, Armando, for capturing my best moments so brilliantly! I look forward to our next session.Alex FazzariAlex Fazzari ★★★★★ Did business headshots and had such a great experience! 10/10 for sure!jennifer doddjennifer dodd ★★★★★ Armando was amazing and helped me to feel at ease during the shoot. I came in for professional headshots and am very impressed with the pictures. He used his creativity to create a unique setup and background that suited my taste and style.Melissa GonzalezMelissa Gonzalez ★★★★★ I recently had a professional headshot session with Armando at Zen Studios LA and it was great! Definitely worth the money. The photos turned out amazing and now I have many headshot options to use for my professional social media and ERAS application. He sent me the gallery of photos within two days and retouched my favorite. I highly recommend Zen Studios LA!E ME M ★★★★★ Awesome experience. Armando will help guide you in perfecting the perfect shot. Amazing turn around time - photo proofs received the same day as the shoot.Shakthi VisaganShakthi Visagan ★★★★★ Armando was very professional, efficient, and skilled. The entire photoshoot for my professional headshot for my ERAS residency applications took less than an hour to complete. It ended with a brief session where we went over the photos taken and selected a subset. He did an initial pass of preliminary retouching and by the end of the same day, he emailed me a gallery of the subset of photos to review and download for myself. I picked one for final retouching, which he then provided the next day, sized and formatted the way ERAS requires. It was a pleasant frictionless experience, and I recommend him to anyone looking for professional headshot. You will be in good creative hands.Sanaa OuchattouSanaa Ouchattou ★★★★★ Armando is the best photographer I have ever worked with. I am extremely pleased with his work and professionalism. for someone who is not so photogenic like I am, I was pleased with the results of my professional headshots and the most difficult decision was to select the one I liked the most. I highly recommend Armando for his talent, professionalism, and the great sense of humor! we had so much fun shooting!Masha KrasnoffMasha Krasnoff ★★★★★ I searched for a photographer with experience in graduate / medical school headshots since they are nuanced. I found Zen Studios and could not recommend Armando and his team any more highly. Not only is he incredibly thorough, kind, creative, but he also has state of the art technology for the photo shoots. He makes sure to get exactly the vision you have for your headshot and goes beyond that. I gain nothing from writing this review and just want to get the word out for my fellow medical students and future colleagues. I have zero doubts Zen Studios will surpass your expectations and bring you great satisfaction with your headshot.Kevin Wenhao YuKevin Wenhao Yu ★★★★★ 10/10 experience! I needed a last second headshot photo a day before my residency application was due (ADEA PASS) and Armando luckily had an opening. Super professional and he even gave me same day edits so that I could turn it in along with everything in the evening. Highly recommend to anyone applying to ERAS/PASS etc. Thanks!Gunjan SharmaGunjan Sharma ★★★★★ It was a pleasure working with him. Really professional and will highly recommend for getting the professional headshots. He made the session really comfortable since I am a camera shy person, and the result was amazing! I never really looked so beautiful before. Looking forward to work again.Alejandra P.Alejandra P. ★★★★★ Armando and Helen make such an amazing team and create the most comfortable environment. I was pretty nervous coming in because I'm normally pretty shy and...Joe R.Joe R. ★★★★★ I have been out of the game for five years or more, but recent circumstances have brought me back in. I needed some headshots fast! And I was unsure of...Arta Z.Arta Z. ★★★★★ Armando made me feel super comfortable, which is quite a feat, considering how shy and awkward I tend to be in front of the camera. I needed professional...Naomi FarleyNaomi Farley ★★★★★ When my son and I both wanted to get updated corporate headshots we went to Yelp and found Zen Studios LA, Armando’s corporate headshot business. Of course that is not the only type of headshot he does, but we could see from the pictures posted that he captured peoples personalities and made them feel comfortable , which makes a corporate headshot much more warm and natural than the title suggests.Our experience with Armando was even better than we had hoped for. His warmth and professionalism put us at ease right away. Being able to see the photos right away was so encouraging, and Armando makes it fun. He is gifted, a really skilled photographer and we would recommend Armando to anyone needing a professional corporate headshot.Alexandria M.Alexandria M. ★★★★★ Loved working with Armando! He was super friendly, helpful and patient with me, would highly recommend him!Madison MontezMadison Montez ★★★★★ Wow!! So amazed with the commercial headshots I got taken at Zen Studios with Jesus. He is such a great photographer, making sure you feel comfortable and apart of the whole process. Really brought my vision to life and felt so inspired after seeing the results 10 out 10 recommended!!Minh CaoMinh Cao ★★★★★ I usually do not post reviews because I'm very lazy but Ted Sun was a fantastic photographer. He did such an incredible job taking care of my photoshoot and on my photos, I felt like a model! I didn't even know I could look that good. Helen also was wonderful with my makeup. I was very happy and highly recommend Zen Studios to everyone.Kimia ErfaniKimia Erfani ★★★★★ I had an absolutely fantastic experience with Zen Studios. I was in need of a new corporate headshot, and I am incredibly glad that I chose to work with Zen Studios. As someone who often feels nervous in front of a camera, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable Armando made me feel right from the moment I stepped into the studio - this resulted in capturing moments that reveal your true personality. The entire experience was fun and enjoyable and led to the creation of exceptional professional headshots. I am very happy by the quality of the photos I received. I absolutely recommend Armando and his team at Zen Studios for anyone seeking top-notch professional headshots.Hasan ZaidiHasan Zaidi ★★★★★ Armando is an incredible photographer, and absolutely nailed the aesthetic I was targeting for my professional headshots. Extremely easy to work with, understands different styles, flexible, and great at making the subject feel comfortable. Would come back here in a heartbeat.Cameron N.Cameron N. ★★★★★ Armando did a fantastic job with my business professional headshot. It's clear how passionate and talented he is. Enjoyed the experience in his cool studio,...Sanjay DasSanjay Das ★★★★★ ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Armando did a great job with my ERAS headshots! This is THE STUDIO that you want to go to for any professional headshots you need.Armando know exactly the style needed and outputs the photo with the correct ERAS dimensions and specs. He takes his time and goes above and beyond. The retouching is also an added plus!Raven AntiquieraRaven Antiquiera ★★★★★ Needed to get a professional headshot on short-time, and found these guys via Google. Ted and Armando are insanely great professionals! I arrived at the photography studio located within a building (requires you to be buzzed in), and the whole experience and process was seamless.Ted helpped create a great photography enviornment in the studio that helps you relax and get the best shots.The turnover for the photos was extremely quick as well. I was provided a gallery of the best shots next day, and was able to select 1 photo included with my package for a HQ retouch. If you are in the LA area, and looking for fast, great, and amazing professional headshots then I recommend Zen Studios LA.Brendan B.Brendan B. ★★★★★ I had the pleasure of shooting with Armando at Zen Studios and it was a phenomenal from start to finish. Incredibly professional, puts you right at ease,...Brendan BrownBrendan Brown ★★★★★ I had the pleasure of shooting with Armando at Zen Studios and it was a phenomenal from start to finish. Incredibly professional, puts you right at ease, and the photos come out amazing. Highly recommend him and will definitely be using him again! His corporate headshots are the best I’ve ever had.Erin WaidelichErin Waidelich ★★★★★ Amazing for our corporate head shots!!Dennis AndersonDennis Anderson ★★★★★ It was great working with Armando. He's very friendly, very chill and know exactly what he's doing. I am extremely happy with my pics and would highly recommend him.Efthymios GkaitatzisEfthymios Gkaitatzis ★★★★★ Armando is an amazing photographer. He makes you feel comfortable and takes the time to get the best professional headshots!Jeremiah DallmerJeremiah Dallmer ★★★★★ I had professional headshots taken with Zen Studios LA in preparation for some upcoming interviews and they turned out phenomenally! Professional, easy to work with, and great quality photos. Highly recommendMegan C.Megan C. ★★★★★ I had an amazing experience with Zen Studios last month. Armando was so welcoming from the get-go, helping with parking and even offering to get me coffee....Madison M.Madison M. ★★★★★ Woah! I had such a great time & experience getting my commercial headshots taken here with Jesus. Such a lovely space, he is a great photographer making...Nina SoláNina Solá ★★★★★ H A.H A. ★★★★★ Armando helped with the poses since I had no idea what I was doing. The headshots came out great.Persiana SaffariPersiana Saffari ★★★★★ I could not be more grateful for Armando's great efforts at Zen Studios LA for taking my professional headshot. He is the consummate professional, who created a welcoming environment for taking photos, made every effort to have a complementary background setting, and incorporated me in the decision-making process. He also ensured that the final photos were the appropriate size and dimension for my resume and application purposes (even through several changes in dimensions). I am incredibly grateful to Armando for his kindness and dedication; and I highly recommend him for your next professional headshot!js_loader

Frequently asked questions

These are the most popular of the Frequently Asked Questions we get from our clients.

We do not take passport photos. We specialize in professional headshots. 

Close to the face. Sometimes they chop off a bit of the actor’s hairline, CD/Agent knows that its there. It is important that a headshot convey’s a feeling, the cropping of the headshot can help with this. Placing the eyes a bit higher in the photo can help to draw more attention to it, as the eyes are always drawn towards the upper portion of a picture first plus it gives them strength. Showing neck and shoulders will give the viewer an idea of what type of body you have. The clothing that you wear in a headshot will enforce your look along with your expression.

Yes, we work with small, medium, and large companies and travel to their offices to take individual headshots as well as group photos.

Crop above the chest, right above where the tie meets the jacket and make sure the whole face is in the picture. So do not chop off the hair. Keep the face in the top third of the image. If you crop tight, keep the face centered same goes for when you are standing on an angle. You can use a grid and align the eye line with the top line of the grid.

For individual headshots, right after the shoot we process the photos and our clients select their favorite photos via an online gallery the same day.

We do not provide wardrobe, However, we provide wardrobe consultation.

Although we offer to shoot one look, we recommend at least a two looks package. One look may be your commercial look where your make up is more light and natural. A second look may be your theatrical look where you will have a different wardrobe, hair and make up and we also vary the background to complement the lighting, adding a more dramatic look.

Yes, we work with the best makeup artists in the industry.

We do not print any headshots.

Everything is shot at Zen Studios L.A. We have the best camera and lighting equipment.

The weather is not a factor since we have full control of the light and for hot days, the AC allows us to have a comfortable temperature for shooting. Depending on the time of day, we shoot in the surrounding area of the studio as well, taking advantage of the natural light and backgrounds.

Yes headshot session is a very collaborative process.

We highly recommend using a professional make up artist since they focus on what looks good for on camera and photographs. By using one of our make up artist they will stay during the whole shoot doing touch ups and making small changes. Also the make up could be completely different from changing looks.

The average time is anywhere from 25min to 50min depending on the headshot package and how comfortable you are in front of the camera. Our goal is to get the best results regardless of time.

We require 48 hours notice to cancel an appointment and 24 hours to reschedule your headshot appointment.

Yes, we specialize in corporate events such as conferences, charity events, company dinners, and company holiday parties etc:

Please come well groomed to your shoot. Shave, wax, exfoliate, or get a haircut the day before. Make sure to bring casual and dressy items. We recommend that you vary you neckline using v necks, crew necks, button downs and collars. Stay away from tube tops and spaghetti strap tanks, as they are too revealing for Headshot photos. Also, vary your colors, but avoid overly bright tones and white, graphic tees, or large logos.

Your clothing should be stain and wrinkle free. Please bring plenty of clothing to choose from.

At Zen Studios we work with Digital Color House (www.digitalcolorhouse.net) and give you 15% off after shooting with us on printing your headshots.

Industry size for headshots is 8×10. Industry standard is Luster/Matte prints. The advantage of Luster prints is that they do not show fingerprints like glossy prints do, which is why agents and casting directors prefer that print.

Print your resume in black and white print on 8×10 and staple it to the back of your headshot. Industry standard is to attach resume to the headshots and not to print directly on the back of headshots (which is great so you can keep your resume up to date without having to reprint also the headshot; save some money)

To send your headshots to agencies get a 11×14 inch envelope, address it to the specific department you are submitting to. Staple your resume to the back of your headshot and write a short cover letter in which you explain what kind of representation you are looking for. Make sure you include if you were referred by someone, and your experience that might not reflect from your resume.

When you are looking for an agent or manager you will submit your headshot to their office. When going in for an audition make sure you bring your headshot with your resume attached to the back of it.

When you are looking for an agent or manager you will submit your headshot to their office. When going in for an audition make sure you bring your headshot with your resume attached to the back of it.

For actors it is their most important marketing tool. It is the first thing agents and Casting Directors see.

Professional headshots are recognized as more and more important as your LinkedIn profile is your online business card.

And with online dating, headshots for dating profile are now becoming a thing.

No, in the U.S., the industry standard is color.

They are matte, so they don’t show fingerprints.

Yes, the pictures are an actors single most important marketing tool. It is the fist thing a casting director and agent see.

The price depends on where you take them. In cities as L.A. and N.Y. you can expect the price to be higher. For a business headshot, you’ll generally pay somewhere between $100 and $250. For a modeling or acting shots prices will range between $200 to $400.

They are supposed to be cropped 8×10

That means that the stylist and Make Up artist are not included in the session and you will have to book those separate or do it yourself.

Some questions you could ask your photographer are:

What does the price include? Hair and make-up? Proof prints or CD? Final prints? Retouching?

How much time do I have for the session?

About how many shots will I have to choose from?

Do you use a studio or location? Can I choose?

Do you help with wardrobe?

Can you help me book a make-up artist?

What is your payment policy?

How many ‘looks’ are included in the session?