Headshots: B/W or Color ?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
What is the trend or accepted norm these day for talent headshots -- black and white or color? I am going to do a photoshoot for a couple of local actors in exchange for their acting in my short film, create some nice headshots for them. I have excellent skills in photography of models (portrait, fashion, artistic nudes), I just want to be clear on the main objective-- b/w or color; of course I will provide both, just curious which format to emphasize. ~randall
 
Yeah there are some theater folk that think that B&W is classier or something. But as an occasional casting director-- I really like color, because I want as clear a representation of what they look like as possible. And on that note: the headshots should actually LOOK LIKE THEM. The most frustrating to me is someone that has uber-Photoshopped headshots and walk in the door looking unrecognizable from their pictures. The headshots should like them on a good day.
 
as said, color. Even though mine is still BW. lol, am i getting work? uh huh.
 
I don't do headshots. I rely on my absolute greatness to carry me through everything. Thus, they remember me!

:beer::kiss::dankk2:Remember to thank a drunk girl the next morning)
 
I must admit I miss the days of black and white headshots, they're very flattering and can be wonderfully dramatic. It was really just over the course of the first half of this decade that the changeover occurred, and now everything is color.

Go with color, and find a photographer who's work you like.
 
And make sure they are current. It's disappointing when you see the "look" you want in the headshot and the actor looks entirely different when he/she shows up.

Sure, if the actor turns out great, you may change things to fit them but it would be nice not to have to.
 
Yes color is the standard these days. B/W pretty much faded away as the industry standard starting in 2000. The same can be said for the submittal for gigs online from you yourself or your agent which is mainstream now. I remember licking dozens of stamps everyday while I would do my mailings to casting agents and talent agents. Still can't get that taste out of my mouth! HA! Best of luck always.
 
There's a casting director in my town who only accepts black and white headshots. However, I always get mine taken in color because everyone else wants them and you can always desaturate them later. It's also much harder to color your B/W's :)
 
It used to be
B/W for theater
Color for film/TV

Now it's
B/W or Color for theater
Color for film/TV

99.999999999999% of work is in color. They want to see what you look like in color.

400 headshots submitted for a recent project. I don't think one was B/W. Maybe a handful. of the 80 I called in to read, no one had B/W for sure. If I get a B/W headshot my first thought is "theater actor that doesn't know better for film" or "theater actor who can't afford new color headshots right now" or "theater actor who's testing film waters but hasn't committed yet."

And yes make sure not only are they current but that they're representative. If it makes you look 60 lbs thinner, 10 years younger, 50% less bald, than you really are, you'll waste your time and the casting director's time.
 
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