About Susan Bennet

Susan Bennet Headshot

I'm Susan Bennet, and I'll tell you a secret: I hate having my picture taken.

Like many people, standing in front of a camera makes me nervous. There are some people the camera loves. But the camera doesn't love me, it seems to have a grudge against me. Sound familiar?

So, if you love having your picture taken, I'm the photographer for you. But, more importantly, if you're like me and you loathe having your picture taken, I am definitely the photographer for you. I understand how fraught the photograph can be in our image-conscious society, and I will work with you to create images that reflect the best version of your true self. Whether you need headshots, portraits or video, I will work with you to create images that you're happy to use.

Photography and video are amazing ways to create connection and preserve memories, and it's my joy to work with my clients to achieve these goals. My favorite thing to hear after a session is: "That was so fun!"—because that's the goal, to create beautiful images and have some fun doing it. (Look below for some reviews from my clients.)

I focus on providing a safe space for persons of different backgrounds, identities, and experiences. I believe in creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and respected. Be assured that your individuality will be celebrated and honored in your sessions with me. 

My Work

The Riverfront Times, and St. Louis Magazine have featured my work, and I shot the cover for the premiere edition of local magazine Out in STL.  St. Louis's SOHA gallery presented my first solo show in 2016, and I've also shown at Mad Art Gallery. I was a featured speaker at AIGA's 2017 STL Design Week, discussing the representation of gender in photography.

My project Light for Shadows: The Women of St. Louis Music was shown at the 2017 TEDxGatewayArch event and it received an Editors Choice award as Best Photography Project of 2018 from St. Louis Magazine's A-List. 

In my spare time I you will find me walking my rescue chihuahuas in one of our city's picturesque parks, or cleaning up whatever my cat, Poe, has decided to knock over in the last five minutes.

Have a question for me? Feel free to get in touch at susan@oohstlou.com.

What My Clients Say

Susan was a joy to work with! I needed headshots for my work as a writer and small business owner. I came in with a particular look in mind, something moody and good for publishing fiction. She delivered. She listened to my vision for the session and created a really calm environment.

Susan was so professional and knowledgeable! My headshots turned out amazing and I would highly recommend her!

I did the Standard Session with Susan and I was thrilled with the overall experience. She had tons of tips & tricks to capture a great professional headshot and she was super patient during the photoshoot. I couldn’t be happier with the final portrait. She was also lots of fun to talk to during the photoshoot and made it all very comfortable & enjoyable. Would definitely recommend.

Susan was amazing! Not only did she make me completely comfortable during my head shot session, but I was thrilled with how the pictures turned out! She was super responsive and helpful to any questions I had on editing, and the turnaround time was very prompt, even during the holiday season. I highly recommend Ooh St. Lou Studios for anyone looking for headshots.

Susan was excellent. She was able to work with me on a short deadline. I was very pleased with her work. She knew exactly how to make me look good on camera and coached me into the headspace to “model.” She was very professional, prompt in her communications, and works quickly but without losing quality when she did the touchups. In addition, she was very friendly and chatty, which helped the photo session go by quickly!

Man in business suit against a dark gray backdrop

Susan was a delight to work with. I was able to provide direction on what I was looking to achieve, we reviewed a number of looks, and the shoot in her studio allowed for the perfect number of different looks. The “hour and some change” session flew by. It was great to finally get some fresh professional headshots and I felt the value for the quality I received fit my expectations nicely. I’m sure I’ll be a repeat customer in a couple more years. Support local entrepreneurs!

Man sitting against a dark backdrop, in business suit

My acting headshots came out looking incredible! If you are an actor looking for professional headshots, there is no better place to go than right here.

Young man in blue shirt against a light backdrop

Susan is outstanding. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to photograph my team but her. She just “gets” how a headshot should be.

Susan was amazing! Not only did she make me completely comfortable during my headshot session, but I was thrilled with how the pictures turned out! She was super responsive and helpful to any questions I had on editing, and the turnaround time was very prompt, even during the holiday season. I highly recommend Ooh St. Lou Studios for anyone looking for headshots.

I recently contacted Susan for some updated headshots, and I am beyond pleased with the results!

Before we even met, Susan was very clear and up-front about what to expect in the session. She also tasked me with coming up with examples and inspiration pictures of what I was looking for, so that we were both prepared and no time was wasted for either of us.

The session itself was pleasantly time-efficient. Susan was obviously experienced enough to know what kind of poses and expressions would be effective for the shots’ purposes.

Aside from the normal actor headshots, we also had a bit of time to play around with a couple of fun shots that weren’t quite so serious. It took a remarkably short amount of time to receive both the untouched proofs as well as the final products that I ultimately chose to purchase.

I’d recommend Susan to anyone seeking out professional headshots in a heartbeat!

Susan Bennet at Ooh St. Lou Studios is brilliant! I recently had studio photos and portraits done with her and I cannot emphasize how wonderful my experience was. The process was wonderfully creative and absolutely professional. Susan is incredibly talented and has a true understanding of all facets of photography and lighting.

Watching her get creative with the lighting and shots was a terrific learning experience for me as well. She is welcoming and a joy to work with, her humor and great taste in music, among other things, create a collaborative, comfortable, creative and fun environment for any one to be a part of. Needless to say my photos came out beautiful and exceeded my expectations completely. Ooh St. Lou Studios is at the top of my recommendation list for any one needing photos.

Portrait Photography Actor

Susan is a great photographer. She took the time to make sure everything was perfect for my physicians’ head shots. While doing the shots she worked with each person to make sure they looked their best, was professional and personable. I am very happy with the final product and will be using her services again.

Fabulous First Photo Session for My Aspiring Model Daughter! We contacted Susan and Ooh St. Lou Studios to shoot my teenage daughter’s modeling portfolio. My daughter has aspirations but no professional experience, so for this shoot Susan had to play the role of teacher and guide, as well as photographer. She handled both roles beautifully – and the resulting photos prove it! Anya’s photos are amazing, and the range of moods and expressions Susan captured is incredible. Susan is as patient and personable as she is creative. Anya and I both enjoyed this experience immensely – Susan absolutely exceeded my expectations!

Susan Bennet is one of the best photographers that I have worked with, and I have worked with quite a few. She provided on set production stills and behind-the-scenes photography for a feature film, and her work is beyond exceptional. I believe that she has the talent and skill-set to cover nearly any possible wish that you may have, anything from event photography to head shots. Not only is she extremely talented, she is also extremely pleasant to work with! If you want great photos done in a timely and professional manner, than look no further than Ooh St. Lou Studios!

As a performer and promoter in the St. Louis Comedy scene, I’ve used Ooh St. Louis Studios to record live performances and to produce professional head shots for my portfolio. They have always been helpful, easy to work with, and have provided me with high quality photography and video.

Independent comedy shows typically happen in venues where lighting and sound can be very challenging, and in every case Ooh St. Lou has overcome that obstacle. I highly recommend using their services. – Chris Cyr

Susan provided excellent service throughout the entire process, even helping me decide on wardrobe choices for my headshots. She captured a wide variety of poses and styles that all made me look professional and polished. The turnaround time was very quick on the final images, exceeding my expectations. I’m very happy with the range of professional headshots which I can tailor to different media platforms and professional uses.

Amazing photographer—I could not be more pleased with the portraits Susan took for my business. I commented on some of the photos in her gallery that I really admired, let her know what I do professionally, and provided a very general idea about what I needed. She took all of that into consideration and came up with the perfect venue and time of day for my session. Her talent is amazing and I let her guide the photo shoot trusting her completely. Susan was so easy to work with. My photos turned out great and were ready sooner than I anticipated. I hope to have the opportunity to work with her again!

I cannot recommend Ooh St. Lou Studios enough! Reliable, timely, and a joy to work with, Judas and I will continue to work with Ooh St. Lou Studios on upcoming photography and videography projects for our promotional needs, and I encourage other artists in the St. Louis area to do the same!

-Magnolia Strange