Meet Maria Tornberg | Brand identity strategist & Headshot Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Tornberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, what is the most important factor behind your success?
My clients success is my success. My job is to help actors feel empowered to begin to see themselves as more than what they have allowed themselves to believe.

By helping them define their own unique brand identity we are creating very specific cohesive headshots that stand out and generate new and big opportunities.

I have seen my client’s careers skyrocket after working with me, their auditions increase, many people sign with agents and now are working on TV-shows like “Expats, Grey’s Anatomy, General Hospital, Locke & Key” and national commercials.

Success to me is using what I have learned and my own personal success, to help and guide my clients so that they they can achieve their own goals.

What should our readers know about your business?
Tornberg Headshots is dedicated to actors. I have developed a formula that help actors define their own unique Brand Identity that serves as a cohesive visual message across all platforms.

A strong specific Brand Identity reassures the industry of the actors identity and talent, and is key to standing out from competitors. Once the Brand Identity is defined, we create Headshots with specific Looks that matches the overall Brand. Every look is carefully designed, with matching wardrobe, hair and makeup.

Many Headshot Photographers try to make every actor fit into preconceived notions of what they think is expected, They create caricatures with wardrobe, hair and makeup that may not be true to an actors essence. You can not paint a “type” on an actor but rather, we must allow the actor to be true to themselves.

My job is to help the actor show their own uniqueness, to stand out, to cultivate and augment who they truly are.

The point is not to try to become someone else, to put on a costume, but to let your essence to shine through every look.

As a working actor myself, I know firsthand how challenging this can be. When I first arrived in Los Angeles, I was put into a category that wasn’t true to who I was and thus started to work behind the camera instead. Now, after years of working with other actors, I am applying the same formula to my own career which has blossomed. I am getting offers directly from my headshots and recently worked on General Hospital and was offered a lead in a romantic comedy.

What sets Tornberg Headshots apart is that I know the business inside out, from all perspectives, as an actor, an award winning director and photographer. I am proof of that my formula works and the best part is that I am very connected with agents and have helped numerous clients sign with the right representation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite thing about Los Angeles is the closeness to nature. Whenever I have a day off I drive out to the beach. Malibu reminds me of Sweden, the country I grew up in. It’s wild, it’s windy, it has a long stretch of beach. I bring my dogs, a book, and spend the day playing, napping and end the day with dinner at Cholada Thai Beach Cuisine, the best authentic Thai shack in Los Angeles.

Topanga Canyon is another place I love with it’s eclectic and whimsical living, and interesting host of artists, musicians, restaurants and thrift stores. I often bring my camera to Red Rock Canyon Park which is located in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains off of Old Topanga Canyon Road. The riparian canyon walls are fortified with huge red sandstone outcroppings, reminiscent of Southwest canyons and gorges.

End the day with dinner at the magical and mystical restaurant Inn of the Seventh Ray, which is surrounded by grand old sycamores, waterfalls and winding brick pathways.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
You have to surround yourself with people who believe in you, who “sees” you and who guides you both spiritually and practically, who inspire you and make sure you are on the right path.

I have had the fortune to work with and learn from some great photographer’s and directors, Anton Corbijn, Jay Chandrasekhar and actors like Alexander Skarsgård, Danny Trejo, Steven Bauer and Bex Taylor-Klaus. Their work ethic, professional and personal integrity have been a great inspiration.

I have a community of agents and managers who I often meet with to discuss the industry with; what the trends are, what type of actors they are looking for, so that I always keep my finger on the pulse and am able to make introductions and help actors who are not represented find the right agent.

But honestly, my biggest inspiration is my clients. I have worked with thousands of actors over the years, children and adults, from all walks of life, each come with their own stories, personalities and dreams. I have learned so much from them all, they are the reason I wake up every morning, excited and motivated.

Website: www.tornbergheadshots.com

Instagram: @tornbergheadshots

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-tornberg-1075b29/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4REPLIsWwQ

Image Credits
Tornberg Headshots