Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Perl.
Hi Wendy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Wendy Perl of Perl. Photography, I am the youngest of eight children. I have been a photographer for most of my life, starting as a little girl in Phoenix, Arizona, when my father handed me his Brownie film camera. As a shy little girl, I just loved being able to view things through a lens that helped me overcome my shyness. After attending kindergarten at Kiva Elementry in Paradise Valley, our family moved to Los Angeles, California, where I grew up, in the San Fernando Valley. I was a tiny thing but was a good athlete, which also helped me become more confident. I began college at CSUN as an art major, then moved to San Diego and graduated with a degree in Industrial Arts with an emphasis in Photography.
I moved back to LA and got an as a Page at NBC. The Page job included seating guests at shows working special events, and giving tours of the studios. As a Page, we were also encouraged to intern in the area of our interest. I was fortunate enough to intern in the Photo Department of NBC. I was honored to be the first woman to have this prestigious position. However, being in a man’s territory in the late ’80s, I was usually in the darkroom either souping (processing) film or printing PR images that the staff photographers took on set. It was always exciting when I would get to assist or be the second photographer on location every once in a while. I got my big break when there was a TV strike, and our still photographers became videographers on the sets, and I got to take their place and shoot the stills. This is the first time I got to cover the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on my own, which I continued to photograph many times over the years until his retirement in 1992. I snapped a few of Johnny Carson’s final shows in the last week, and all the production crew were guests in the audience during his final show. I also photographed a few of Johnny Carson’s Production parties over the years. I continued to photograph on the Tonight Show set when Jay Leno took over, including remotes to Car washes and even the Hollywood Sign. I continued to work as a daily hire for both the Press department and the Graphics Departments in various positions.
While working at NBC, I would also work for Lifetime, Fox and do my share of weddings, Bar Mitzvah, and Corporate events. All this while raising three children, who always came first. With that said, when my children started playing sports, I needed my weekends open; therefore, I started photographing for the recreation teams they were a part of, then the High School Teams. The coaches loved it when I would send in action shots to the local newspapers and get a lot of press for our Santa Monica Softball and Baseball teams.
After my youngest started college, I moved back to Phoenix, AZ, and started all over again with my photography business. I made flyers, knocked on doors, and tried to get work at the local Synagogues for Bar Mitzvahs and with Law and Dental offices for their websites. I was asked to photograph Baseball for Brophy College Preparatory, which led to photographing for a few other High School Sports, including Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Baseball, and Basketball. I really enjoy working with the kids and the coaches and getting the best images for their websites and photo packages. During the season, I enjoy getting awesome action shots for them. I donate a family or senior portrait sitting each year at their annual fundraiser. I also donate my time as a member of the Auxiliary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Scottsdale, where my sister-in-law, Linda Perl is the current President. I have been fortunate to get back to my work with several of my clients, including Alan Gellman of Wall Sensations. However, I would love to be doing more family portraits, headshots, and office website images for current and new clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have had many challenges over the years as we went from film to digital and having to learn how to convert images from RAW files to jpegs and How to work in photoshop. Everything takes time, but the more you do it, the better it gets.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been a professional photographer for over 30 years. I specialize in almost everything! Working as a still photographer on television and movie sets has taught me to capture the action at its peak and also how to deal with people from all different backgrounds. Photographing Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs has taught me how to not only be a great photographer but a director as well in order to get groups together and to get all the important shots. Being a sports photographer, I don’t just snap the picture, I make the athlete feel at ease in order to get the best results. I also take the team photos and get the images to the website designer ASAP. Knowing the game helps to get the best action shots!! Working in Graphics at NBC taught me how to enhance the photos I take. What sets me apart is my wisdom, experience, and kindness. I am most proud of the fact that I am able to do all this while raising my three wonderful children.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Many people don’t know that I was the first female NBC photographer. I photographed such greats asdoJohnny Carson, Jay Leno, Bob Hope, President Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nancy Regan, Vanna White and so many more. I also shot a few celebrity weddings over the years and still treat my personal clients the same as the celebrity clients, with class.
Contact Info:
- Email: WENDY@PERLPHOTO.COM
- Website: www.Perl.Photography and wendyperl.smugmug.com (sales)
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/perl.photography?
- Facebook: facebook.com/WendyPerlPhotography
- Youtube: m.youtube.com/watch?v=NxLv5EHdglc
Image Credits
Wendy Perl, Paul Drinkwater Senior Portrait I donated to Ten Jones who volunteers at the Phoenix Herpetological Santuary (Photo with me)
