From Actor to Arizona’s Go-To Headshot Photographer: The Story Behind Headshots and Cold Brews
Scottsdale & Phoenix Actor + Business Headshots
Every great business starts with a story. For Headshots and Cold Brews, that story begins with a cup of coffee, a lifelong love for the entertainment industry, and a journey that spans child acting, Broadway, voiceover, film, and eventually—professional headshot photography in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona.
This is the origin of our studio, told through the experience of our founder, Dustin James Leighton.
A Childhood Spent on Professional Sets
Dustin’s career in entertainment began early—very early.
With a mother who worked as a talent agent, he was on professional sets as a child and earned his SAG card at just eight years old.
By age 12, he was fully immersed in acting. At 17, he moved to New York City, working as the janitor at Broadway Dance Center while auditioning for whatever opportunities he could find. A spontaneous open call off-Broadway changed everything.
He booked the role.
And he began to understand the unpredictability—and beauty—of the acting world.
Finding His Voice Through Voiceover
Like many actors in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and everywhere else, Dustin discovered that breaking into on-camera work wasn’t easy.
He booked callbacks.
He booked pilots that didn’t go to series.
He worked on iconic shows like One Life to Live and Law and Order, but making a living solely from theatrical acting wasn’t sustainable.
It took seven years before things clicked.
The turning point?
Voiceover.
Voiceover opened financial doors, allowed him to build stability, and became the gateway to his next passion—filmmaking.
From Voice Actor to Filmmaker
Even while voiceover paid the bills, the desire to create visually never faded. He invested slowly and intentionally—first in sound, then in lighting, then in lenses, and eventually in the cinema cameras used in film production.
But one question changed the trajectory of everything:
“If I can’t make one frame worth looking at, how am I going to create 24 beautiful frames every second?”
That question is what transformed him from hobbyist to professional.
Mastering Light, Frame by Frame
Dustin committed to refining the skill that separates decent photographers from great ones:
Light shaping.
He took tens of thousands of photos.
Most of them—by his own admission—were terrible.
He deleted, reworked, restarted, rebuilt his Instagram feed countless times.
He pushed himself, criticized himself, and iterated relentlessly.
Eventually, patterns emerged:
Which light flatters which face
How expression changes a frame
What casting directors actually look for
How branding differs for kid actors, adults, and business professionals
How micro-adjustments in light create emotion, trust, confidence, and energy
Those skills, paired with his directing background, made him uniquely equipped to pose, guide, and bring out authentic expressions in anyone—actors and non-actors alike.
Accidental Beginnings of a Headshot Photographer
Like many great businesses, Headshots and Cold Brews didn’t start intentionally.
It began with Dustin helping actor friends who needed new headshots.
Then friends told friends.
Then agents started referring clients.
Then actors across Scottsdale and Phoenix began requesting headshots, coaching, and guidance on how to build their brand.
After photographing tens of thousands of frames, Dustin realized he had carved out something special:
A headshot experience rooted in filmmaking, actor coaching, and authentic storytelling.
Why Actors Trust Him With Their Career Images
Actors quickly noticed something different about Dustin’s approach:
He understands what a headshot is supposed to do.
A great headshot doesn’t just look pretty—it books work.
It communicates brand.
It captures usable emotion.
It reflects the exact energy casting directors expect for certain roles.
It eliminates distractions.
It makes the actor feel empowered.
Because Dustin is also a director and cinematographer, he sees headshots not as portrait photography—but as marketing tools for an actor’s career.
That perspective is rare, especially in Arizona.
The Birth of Headshots and Cold Brews
Once actors started asking for guidance on:
Branding
Outfits
Casting expectations
Industry paths
How to transition into commercial, theatrical, or VO
How to build a portfolio
…it became clear that what he was doing was more than photography.
It was mentorship, film direction, and brand-building, packaged into one session.
And so Headshots and Cold Brews was born—a Scottsdale-based headshot studio offering:
Actor headshots (kids, teens, adults)
Business + branding headshots
Commercial + theatrical looks
Industry guidance for Arizona actors
A relaxed, supportive environment grounded in real entertainment experience
The name reflects everything we value:
warmth, comfort, conversation, creativity—and yes, a love for great coffee.
Why This Matters for Arizona Actors and Professionals
There are many photographers in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
But very few have:
SAG-AFTRA + Equity background
Voiceover + on-camera acting experience
Directing + cinematography skills
Coaching and branding expertise
Thousands of sessions worth of pattern recognition
When you book headshots with Dustin, you’re getting someone who understands:
How casting decisions are made
How to bring out your authentic energy
What makes a headshot memorable
What Arizona agencies want
How to create frame-by-frame images that feel cinematic
Book Your Headshot Session in Scottsdale or Phoenix
Whether you're an actor, parent of a child actor, or business professional in Arizona, your headshot is your first impression.
Let’s make it unforgettable.
👉 Book at: HeadshotsAndColdBrews.com
👉 Follow: @HeadshotsAndColdBrews
👉 Located: Scottsdale, serving Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and surrounding areas
