Headshots

Russell Moore

Russell Moore

Well-known member
I hear its hard to get a great headshot. Why? What makes a great headshot?
Should you have a variety depending on the parts you're trying to get?

If you're casting, what do you look for? What is bad? What is good? How important is a headshot in the first place?

I've gotten parts in two small local indie movies without a headshot, but I know I'm going to need one. So any suggestions would be helpful.
 
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A headshot alone isn't likely to get you a part. BUT it may very well get you in the door so you can show your chops. The biggest problem I've seen with headshots is when the guy (or girl) shows up and no longer looks ANYTHING like their headshot.

So, yes, you might want a couple different shots depending on the look you can project. But be sure that if you no longer look like the shot, it's something you can get back to.

When looking at casting a part, I first look at headshots to see if they look the part. After that, I'll take a look at their reel to see if they can act. If it's a case of holding auditions, I'll invite them in based on a headshot but I'm finding that you can be fooled with auditions.
 
There are a couple issues: One, the headshot market is overly saturated with "guys with cameras", NOT photographers. There is a difference. And GWCs will charge as little as possible Since they want to break into photography and dont mind stealing work away from working photographers. They charge as little as possible - which the actors like, since most dont have alot of money for something as silly as pictures - and then when the pictured turn out bad because the GWC doesnt know what he's doing, then everyone is hurt by it.

FIRST, you just recognized how important pictures are, so dont cheapskate it. POUR over portfolios and spend some money. Those photographers know what they are doing and how to make an image that sells.

That's #1. #2 is the all important agent. Your agent knows how they are marketing you. They know how you and your look will best be marketed. You may WANT to be the mob boss, but if the agent KNOWS you will sell as the school geek, then that is the way to go. Agents have photographers that they work with ALL THE TIME and this is for your benefit. The agent knows the photographer's work books jobs. The agent tells the photographer what they want for the headshots and/or composites. The photographer works with the agent all the time and knows what they want and has made MANY booking photos in the past.

But... you dont have an agent. So you go to a cheap GWC, try to tell him what you think you need, or worse, let the GWC try to convince you what he thinks you need, but hes just a guy that bought an EOS Rebel a few weeks ago, so what does he know, and you end up spending money on a photo that not only doesnt BOOK you jobs, but just makes it into the trash can.


(BTW, there is some word out there about agent/photographer scams and dont use agency photographers because they team up to overprice and scam you. This DOES happen, but it only happens if the "agent" is a scam operation to begin with. If you sign with an agent, check references and trust them. They make their money from booking you jobs.)

This info comes from someone who is SAG/AFTRA, and spent many years with a top LA agency and booked jobs. Also, I have been a fashion photographer in LA for 10 years working freelance but on call with several agencies.
 
Big thing: Make sure the photo LOOKS LIKE YOU. I've met so many actors and actresses that have GREAT looking headshots, BUT, it doesn't really look like them. You need to make sure you are the individual the casting director saw in that shot. Also, in my opinion at least, have a few different shots. I myself have three that I use, one for lighter more comedic stuff, one for darker more serious dramas, and one, well, kinda pretty boy shot for the rare occasion I'll go after a romantic lead role.

Below here actually are my current headshots (in the order of: pretty, light, dark).

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Also, there are a FEW good photographers that aren't too pricey, but the key really is looking around through portfolios and being picky. Make sure you find someone who's work you think works best for you. I for example, like to consider myself a pretty decent portrait/headshot photographer, and I don't charge much at all. But that's mostly because I myself am an actor as well and know what it's like. So hey, if you're ever in San Diego.
 
...there are a FEW good photographers that aren't too pricey, but the key really is looking around through portfolios and being picky.
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This is true. And to clarify my point, there are also expensive photographers that aren't worth a damn.


I for example, like to consider myself a pretty decent portrait/headshot photographer, and I don't charge much at all.
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I'm sure you are a decent photographer, but they all THINK they are.
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I look at actor cards for several things.

- Main headshot I look for "Type"
- Than look at support photos for "versatility and range".

Than cast for important parts.

frisco
 
I've had my headshots taken once and my advice is to do the "cheap guy with camera" method first. When I had my headshot taken for the first time, the shots looked good but my "look" wasn't what I expected it to be. I was glad I didn't pay a bunch of money and have bad headshots because I was nervous and didn't know how to get my photo taken the first time.

But then you can make the argument that a good photographer will put you at ease by playing music or talking with you while they snap the shots. Thus avoiding having to have a second go at it...

However, I found it useful to see what "read" on the photographs and then have another shot at it.


Side note:


It probably doesn't matter too much for the indie world, but what is the standard for the headshot?

I remember someone saying black&white isn't as accepted anymore.

Do y'all staple your resume to the back or do you print it on the back of the photo?
 
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AJ Brooks said:
It probably doesn't matter too much for the indie world, but what is the standard for the headshot?

I remember someone saying black&white isn't as accepted anymore.

Do y'all staple your resume to the back or do you print it on the back of the photo?
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If you're doing theatre work, black and white is still completely accepted. In film color is very strongly preferred, but it's not like an actor with a black and white shot will simply be rejected based on that. Nevertheless though, if you're persuing film, go with a color shot.

I personally staple my resume's onto the back instead of printing them. Some places that do headshot reproductions offer the service of printing your resume on the back, the only problem is say you get 250 prints of one shot, resume on back, but only use about 75 of them before you need to update your resume, you've got 175 pieces of trash that you paid good money for. Just make sure if you do go the stapling route to cut the sheets down from 8.5x11 to 8x10 (like your headshot) so that it's nice and neatly attached.
 
Here is one i took for a friend. Mine is still currently Black and white, buti need to redo it soon. I wouldn't call myself a guy with camera because i do know what im doing, so i take the advantage of my knowledge, use my own equpment and save a few hundred bucks time after time.

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armisiano said:
Big thing: Make sure the photo LOOKS LIKE YOU. I've met so many actors and actresses that have GREAT looking headshots, BUT, it doesn't really look like them.

I personally staple my resume's onto the back instead of printing them.
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armisiano made a great point on "make sure it looks like you"

nothing worse than expecting a tall model type and in walks a short over weight person. the theory is the photo should be able to be put in front of your face and match up.

on the staples....just be warned, i know a few women in casting who get mad because the staples ruined hosiery and silk shirts. personally i don't mind but as long as you know some hate that...you cant make due.

and on the black and white and color...i get mine in color and have some printed color and some black and white.

serious shots are most often used for film and tv, smiles for commercial and soaps, depending on the character you are up for.

some agents don't mind if you have two shots together (one as a small inset shot in the lower corner). but check because some agents and casting people hate that but it does make reproduction cheaper if you can double them up!
 
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Exactly, far too many actors get glamor shots instead of proper headshots. What i did is an example of what casting agents and directors want to see. No extreme angles, nothing too glamorous, just straight up, lit up, and representative of their look.
 
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