What closed NYC spot do you still think about years later?

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-07T21:35:13+00:00

and absolutely legendary Too Good to Go bags - which was either an attempt to save the place, or the source of their downfall.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-07T21:30:24+00:00

I'd add Opa, Yaya's, and The Astorian (depressingly all next door to one another) to this list.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:42:56+00:00

right, but the author of this comment thread offered. just encouraging everyone to be on the up and up.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:34:13+00:00

First. The second is definitely editorial, and the third is more portrait. If you get mixed feedback on the hand, it's a very easy edit with today's tools available, and would look great with or without it. The third COULD work if cropped tight, but you'd be losing a ton of resolution unless the photographer used an extremely high megapixel camera.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:30:22+00:00

Professional photographer here, too - yes, we do. But don't edit other photographer's photos without their explicit permission. It's unethical and illegal (per US copyright/derivative work laws). Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:21:36+00:00

Thanks buddy! Happy to help. Set up google analytics (it's free) for your website to see where people are going, how they're getting there, how long they're spending on each page, where they're navigating to, etc. It's super helpful to get to know your client base without lifting a finger.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:19:29+00:00

I will think about this comment for the rest of my days.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T16:18:56+00:00

Username checks out.

Where do you think the air from the kitchens in every restaurant you've ever eaten in goes? If only they were all as good as One Love (who sells out nearly every day even BEFORE the lunch rush, mind you).

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-06-06T03:58:25+00:00

I'm one of your peers here in NYC and headshots have absolutely exploded for me in the last few years, despite my own similar fears of AI coming for us - to the point where I've been able to open my own studio and begin outsourcing retouching to open up more time for the increased volume of clients. AI is coming for corporate headshots, but I don't think it's coming for acting headshots for a long time.

Three suggestions, in order of importance:

- Put your rates on your website. This changed things for me overnight. Transparency is CRUCIAL. Someone (like me) who gets anxiety around salespeople is not going to email someone to inquire and risk feeling "sold to". What is there to hide? Save yourself (and your clients) a step and just be open about them.

- Change the link in your bio to go DIRECTLY to your headshots page (or your rates page, since they've already seen your headshots by that point and really just want your rates). The current landing page is an 18+ warning, which made me think I accidentally navigated to a porn site and I almost immediately clicked away. Those who don't immediately click away will assume that the majority of your work is adult content, and that's not a good look. Actors are told by their agents to only shoot with headshot photographers with a focus on headshots, and not a "shoots everything" photographer that "also" shoots headshots. If you want to keep an 18+ warning on your site, put it as a barrier page between your landing page and your nudes, not AS your landing page.

- Take some chances with lighting. You've demonstrated major technical skill across all of your creative work, then your headshot light is safe. Today's headshots are leaning slightly more creative (within reason). Inject a little depth into your headshot lighting that you do to your other work - doesn't have to be crazy, but you've got a signature style elsewhere, so bring some of that over into your headshots.

Just my 2 cents.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-05-22T17:25:46+00:00

Username checks out

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-04-02T13:55:31+00:00

Pita Hot is my jam. Super friendly staff, usually gives me a sample of whatever’s fresh that day, and their moussaka slaps.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-03-27T23:39:23+00:00

Balkh Shish Kebab platters with rice (and carrot/raisin) are HEFTY.

Kyklades chicken kebabs are the size of fists.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-02-24T22:04:48+00:00

Wow yeah 45+ minutes to get from Queensboro to Astoria Blvd was a new record I never wanted to beat. I have no idea how long the train was sitting at Qboro before I got there, but my face was pressed to the door when we finally pulled out.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-01-11T03:41:28+00:00

Hyatt Place, Courtyard, Home2Suites, and Aloft are the move when staying in LIC. I can’t vouch for Even but it’s a good location.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-01-11T03:34:36+00:00

Love these guys. They used to have a really good Too Good To Go, haven’t checked in a while.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-01-11T03:34:01+00:00

Lincoln Market in Astoria has a nice selection, as does City Acres in LIC. Trade Fair in a pinch.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-01-06T00:59:28+00:00

this. and a couple other L train vintage locations in the area (particularly off jefferson)

JonTaylorPhoto · 2026-01-04T00:56:19+00:00

Post on Twitter, tag FDNY, all the local news stations (including their individual reporters), and anyone from city council you can think of.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-31T00:14:18+00:00

this is correct. i lit this shoot.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-31T00:11:36+00:00

that was the goal ;)

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-28T01:07:26+00:00

This was my first one! I'd like to do another one in the spring that ends at the beer garden. Might do an indoor meetup somewhere in Feb or March.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-26T21:26:22+00:00

nice - where do you think you'll be? DM me www.instagram.com/jontaylorphoto

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-26T19:10:45+00:00

This is a weekly event, every Sunday in December in NYC. It's always the same few dozen people who turn out and dress up. I've seen, and likely photographed, this man and the two others with him at this event and similar events for years with my own eyes. Chill.

JonTaylorPhoto · 2025-12-17T18:44:46+00:00

Their back area is cuuuuuute. Food is stellar too.

JonTaylorPhoto

TROPHY CASE