Mary Ann Halpin has become a go-to photographer in the desert, particularly for commercial head shots. Performers, real estate agents, CEOs of nonprofits and others with a public presence in the valley have been turning to her in recent years to make them look good in PR photos—but being behind the camera was not her first career choice.
Born in Chicago, she was a few weeks old when she was adopted by what she calls an “amazing” family, with four siblings. Halpin recently learned details about her birth parents, after her half-brother, who is a big-band singer, found her on 23andMe.
“My birth mother is in her 90s and doesn’t really want to have anything to do with me, which is fine,” Halpin said. “I found out my father, Sergio, was born outside of Mexico City, so I’m half-Hispanic. That’s why I tan so easily!”
Halpin’s family moved to Santa Barbara when she was 5. She began modeling in high school, working for couture designers like Luis Estévez and Helen Rose. At 16, Halpin was too young to model the topless bathing suits Rudi Gernreich designed, but she did get to work behind the scenes at fashion shows as a dresser.
Her mother was supportive of Halpin’s modeling career, but the thought of moving to New York after high school was too much for the teen. “I broke out in a rash and said, ‘Mom, I can’t go! I’m too nervous!’” she said. Instead, she made a much-less daunting move to Los Angeles, to pursue modeling and acting.
But making a living was challenging. “I did runway modeling, got some acting jobs, waitressed and even did singing telegrams to support myself,” Halpin said.
She got her headshots done one of the top photographers in Los Angeles at the time. “It was the ’80s, the Dynasty era, so everything was very glamorous,” she said. “She did her own hair and makeup for people. And I thought, ‘What a cool job this is!’”
Already an amateur photographer, Halpin took some classes at Los Angeles City College, and then asked that aforementioned professional photographer if she could intern with her to learn the ropes. After getting a yes, Halpin dove in and took copious notes. She credits that photographer with changing her career—and her life.
“In the beginning, I copied everything she did,” Halpin said. “I just fell in love with it. I remember the first time I shot pictures of an actor, I got the same feeling I used to get when I was onstage.”
Not long after, Halpin was called in to meet with the vice president of the William Morris Agency’s television division, who was impressed with the photos she’d taken of one of their starlets. The man did not seem interested when Halpin mentioned that she was also an actress.
“Driving home, I said to myself, ‘Why am I still beating this dead horse called acting, when there’s this beautiful, shiny, lovely horse called photography?’” she said. “So I got off one, got on the other, called my agent and said, “I’m done.’”
Halpin’s new career took off—and has been going strong for 35 years.
Halpin says having a background as an actress and model—knowing what it’s like to be in front of the camera—comes in handy when photographing people.
Halpin and her husband, jazz singer/pianist Joe Croyle, decided to buy a cabin in the mountains about 70 miles from L.A. called Pine Mountain Club. It was a place to escape from the intensity of the big city. For 26 years, they went back and forth. In 2019, they traded the cabin in for a desert townhome, after a friend encouraged Halpin and her husband to check out the creative work opportunities here.
When the pandemic hit, and work dried up, Halpin and her husband realized they could not afford two homes—so they chose to settle in Palm Springs full-time.
Halpin says having a background as an actress and model—knowing what it’s like to be in front of the camera—comes in handy when photographing people.
“I love working with creative people!” she said. “A lot of it is just intuiting people and their energy, and it’s important to get to know the person you’re shooting. If it’s someone I’m just meeting, I like to sit and talk, have coffee, make notes, etc. I want to know what they’re trying to say in these pictures.”
About seven years ago, Halpin’s career took another turn. After she stopped coloring her hair and let it go gray, a manager friend of her husband’s said, “I’ve seen all the pictures you two post on Facebook, and we could use an older couple like you.” They soon booked an online ad for Almond Breeze, and later a Big Lots ad. Within the last couple of years, Halpin also booked a Celebrity Cruise ad with a longtime actress friend. Their characters were feisty women “of a certain age” getting into a bit of trouble, and they became known on set as “the Bettys” (as in Betty White). The shoot was on a seven-day cruise out of Florida.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.” Halpin said. “I loved the clients, and they loved us so much that they booked us for a second ad last March.”
Last November, Halpin booked a Super Bowl ad for WeatherTech—again as a naughty granny—which ended up winning several awards.
Halpin and her husband have been married for more than 40 years, but it was not love at first sight for her. The pair met in 1976 when Halpin was singing with a group called Alan and the Moonbeams, and Joe was singing with Ann-Margret in Las Vegas. “He was this tall, skinny guy with these platform shoes—and I thought he was very arrogant,” she said.
Halpin ended up meeting and marrying someone else. When she was ending that marriage, she and Joe ran into each other again in Reno. Following a one-night stand and Halpin’s divorce, the couple moved in together. They tied the knot in 1984.
“He’s such a sweet guy,” she said. “As much as we make each other crazy, we also have so much fun together. I think the secret to a great relationship is laughter—and he’s an amazing cook. I used to be really skinny, but I think I’ve put on a pound for every year we’ve been together.”
Speaking of good food and wine, Halpin’s bucket list includes visiting the south of France and Tuscany.
Her philosophy on life is simple: “I’ll walk through depression, despair, whatever life throws at me. But I will NOT pitch a tent there.”
Learn more at maryannhalpin.com.
Bonnie Gilgallon has written theater reviews for the Independent since 2013. She hosts a digital interview show, The Desert Scene, which can be heard on www.thedesertscene.com and viewed on Mutual Broadcasting’s YouTube channel. Learn more at bonnie-g.com.
Bonnie, What an amazing in depth article about Mary Ann! You are such a talented writer. I enjoyed reading it. Very captivating-and it brought back memories I forgot!! Way to go girl!!!!!!
Fabulous next door neighbors and friends when we lived in the desert!