If you’re planning to move at some point in the near future, you may also want to wait until you’ve done so to get your photographs taken (or, if you already have headshots, you may want to get new ones once you arrive). Photographers working in any given city will have the most experience with that particular market - they will know what the local standards are, and may be able to help you make these tough decisions. You will also be able to consult other actors in your new location and get their feedback.
You may want to get one commercial headshot and one theatrical headshot (used for film, TV, and theater). The casting process can be very different for commercials than it is for everything else, and you may want to present a different side of yourself. Conventionally, commercial headshots are supposed to be more “smiley” (since the object of most commercials is to sell something), and theatrical headshots are supposed to be more “serious.” Of course, there’s much more to it than that - there’s no rule against smiling in a theatrical headshot, for instance, and you certainly want to convey your own personality in both photographs. The best thing to do is to think about how you are likely to be cast in commercials (as opposed to film, TV, or theater), and get a headshot that reflects that image.
It’s a good idea to get several different photographs, just for variety, for all the same reasons that people in the business world tailor their résumés for every new job application. Every audition - every job - is different from every other. While remaining honest and true to yourself, you want to present a version of yourself that is optimized for the job at hand. In the meantime, choose one photograph that you really like - perhaps the one that you feel conveys the most complete and accurate version of your personality - to shop around in your search for agents.
Continue to: Picture Perfect Part 2
You may want to get one commercial headshot and one theatrical headshot (used for film, TV, and theater). The casting process can be very different for commercials than it is for everything else, and you may want to present a different side of yourself. Conventionally, commercial headshots are supposed to be more “smiley” (since the object of most commercials is to sell something), and theatrical headshots are supposed to be more “serious.” Of course, there’s much more to it than that - there’s no rule against smiling in a theatrical headshot, for instance, and you certainly want to convey your own personality in both photographs. The best thing to do is to think about how you are likely to be cast in commercials (as opposed to film, TV, or theater), and get a headshot that reflects that image.
It’s a good idea to get several different photographs, just for variety, for all the same reasons that people in the business world tailor their résumés for every new job application. Every audition - every job - is different from every other. While remaining honest and true to yourself, you want to present a version of yourself that is optimized for the job at hand. In the meantime, choose one photograph that you really like - perhaps the one that you feel conveys the most complete and accurate version of your personality - to shop around in your search for agents.
Continue to: Picture Perfect Part 2
A great 8x10 photograph (or “headshot”) is an actor’s most important marketing tool. You need a headshot before you can start looking for an agent or even going to auditions. Your headshot is the first thing that a potential producer, director, casting director, or agent will see – the first impression that you will leave on your prospective employers. So you want to make sure that your headshot is the perfect one for you. But what kind of headshot do you need? And how do you choose a photographer? The answers to these questions are often as complex as a play by Strindberg, and there is a certain amount of trial and error involved in the process. But we can provide a few helpful tips to get you started.
Picture Perfect: How to Get the Perfect Headshot - Part 1
By Jenny Marlowe, LoveActing.com Updated Oct 12, 2008
By Jenny Marlowe, LoveActing.com Updated Oct 12, 2008
Know Your Market
The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of photos you want. Will you be working primarily in L.A., in New York, or in some other market? Are you a film and TV actor, a commercial actor, or a stage actor? Ask yourself these questions before you do anything else - the answers will help you guide your search for a photographer. Different markets tend to prefer different types of photographs - at the moment, for instance, natural light and unconventional layouts are popular in L.A., but this isn’t the case everywhere. Stage actors tend to stick to traditional, portrait-style, studio photographs - but film actors often do better with more casual poses and settings (outdoor locations, for instance). Have a clear idea of what general style you want before you begin your search for a photographer.
The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of photos you want. Will you be working primarily in L.A., in New York, or in some other market? Are you a film and TV actor, a commercial actor, or a stage actor? Ask yourself these questions before you do anything else - the answers will help you guide your search for a photographer. Different markets tend to prefer different types of photographs - at the moment, for instance, natural light and unconventional layouts are popular in L.A., but this isn’t the case everywhere. Stage actors tend to stick to traditional, portrait-style, studio photographs - but film actors often do better with more casual poses and settings (outdoor locations, for instance). Have a clear idea of what general style you want before you begin your search for a photographer.
Example Headshot
Example Headshot
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