What do you look for in a headshot?

A

alveraz

Veteran
Hey guys,

So my little side business shooting headshots is starting to pay a few bills. I'd like the filmmaker's perspective on what they like to see in headshots. You can see a few at my site. Link below. I took a more artistic approach to some of these, which some like, some don't.

I understand the industry standard (I've looked through thousands as a director myself) but I'm hoping to play a little with some of the actors coming in today and tomorrow. Anyway, give me your thoughts on some of these in the 'people' section and what you look for as a Director. Oh, some of these are family mixed in there, not all are actors of course.

The link:
www.ricardezphoto.com

Thanks for the help!
 
I've always preferred a clean single headshot with bio attached. "ZED" style and busy photo-montages can tell more, but the anchor photo needs to be very strong. Also, if the sidebar shots are too theatrical in a vaudeville kind of way, it simply makes me hostile.

Lots of different sizes may facilitate mailing and so-forth, but they tend to make organization more tedious for the Casting Director and her minions.

e
 
I like seeing more than one actually, it gives me a better idea on how the person REALLY looks, from more than one angle.
 
Agreed on all counts. In fact I tried to do very little post work on those images to bring out the 'actor', not the illusion. Nothing like the actor showing up looking nothing like their shot. Thanks!
 
having just gone thru about 6000 headsots for the roles I'm casting now, I can tell you which ones went in the "no" pile immediately. they were the ones dressed up as a series of "characters" -- hey look! I'm a doctor! I'm a frat boy! I'm a nerd! this is the same thing overland mentioned. and I laughed when he said it makes him hostile. I share that sentiment. I think the problem for me as a filmmaker is that these tell me that the person is heavily into doing schtick and not what im looking for which is someone who works from the inside out. whether or not that's true is ultimately impossible to tell, but that's the impression given so out of 6000 submissions, I'm going to look elsewhere.
 
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Nice thoughts, and agreed. One girl wanted to do this whacky character theme, which is fine but not quite what I'm shooting right now, so I'm staying away from that till I get more standard stuff shot.

Great thoughts to keep in mind. Thanks guys. I have two more appointments today and will get them up on the site by tonight. These are more "Marlboro man" types, we'll see what happens without getting too schticky.
 
Is it just me or what, but headshot really annoy me, I rather have full body shots any given day, because a headshot you don't really see the person you want to cast. Because you may want someone with a nice figure and so on. Alot of times you can't really tell much of what the body looks like with a headshot. I don't know about you but, I'm not shooting a movie with only Extreme Closups.

But I guess the norm is just a headshot. And this has been mentioned before but sometimes the headshot pictures are so done up when you actually meet the actor in person it looks nothing like the picture, that is the worst!!! But I guess sometimes if the performance is good enough you look past that, but Headshots are so decieving.

Me personally I rather have a picture from a guys/girls night out.. that way I see who the person really, but no one will ever submit a picture like that. But like all professions, there's gotta be standards.
 
What do you look for in a head shot?


"A clear line of sight" !!!!!!!!!!
 
I think headshots are just to remind you who the person was. They don't represent how they look on camera(motion) or how they act. They hardly ever look like the person when they come in for a reading. Most don't anyway.
 
Dude, if you are wrecking film for a headshot business it really doesn't matter what directors want it's what the actors want and what the actors want is what the casting directors like. It's been my experience that casting directors are A KABILLION years behind the rest of the world and still like standard B&W headshots. With the Name in clear simple font.

I've heard them piss and complain about everything from shots being in color to the shot looking too good (fashion-y).

If you want helpfull feedback just call the casting directors in your city and ask them what they like. They'll tell you.

-rook
 
I actually worked with a few solid CD's in town a while back when I was doing the acting thing and feel pretty confident about color right now. But I see your point. I do a little bit of both and take the actor's needs into consideration. In fact, to get them loose we chat about their roles and what they like to do (theatre/film, etc)

The nice thing is being SAG, AFTRA and making feature films all helps. I've been through tons of casting sessions so I think it's helping my eye a little. Its the technical aspect I'm still working on and could use some feedback. I'm still working on light, but getting better I think.

I just posted three more clients that I shot today. I posted them in the 'professional' area, www.ricardezphoto.com. Thoughts always help :)

Thanks again for all the feedback guys, you rule!
 
I like to see a headshot that is actually a decent depiction of what the person really looks like. I've seen some great headshots handed to me, and with the person straight in front of me, still found it hard to believe it was them.
 
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