info - Actors Headshots - How to get a great one!

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The guide to better Actor's Headshots... and more acting work!

Nobody will consider casting you in a role unless they see a headshot of you first. Your agent will be frustrated and you will lose work opportunities unless you keep them supplied with good actors headshots. Most casting is done on the internet nowadays, but you still need a knockout image, and a few prints.

When you are out & about, and you meet someone who can really help you, if you have a beautiful actor's headshot, they will be impressed and think of you as a professional. The same goes for casting agents. When they cast online you can not dazzle them with your presence, you only have your actors headshot to represent you.

If you look at the behind-the-scenes video on the "Chicago" DVD, you will see the director discussing his casting decisions. He is gesturing to a table with headshots on it. He picks out Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones' headshots and discusses them, and they are fantastic photos too.
Even when you have "made it," the most important tool you have is your 8x10 black and white acting headshot.
A true professional makes sure their headshot is current, fantastic, and available.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO EXPLAINING WHAT MAKES A GOOD HEADSHOT.

Many actors have a phobia about having their headshots done (as opposed to playing a character in movies.) The process I use gives them feedback and confidence, and my success rate is 100%.
I shoot test shots, get everything perfect with the lighting and the pose by looking at the computer screen with the actor, and even letting the actor look through the pics alone. By the time we shoot for real, we are ready and psyched!
This process also stops the "proof sheet surprise" when you go back next week to look at your headshots and they are not what you expected. I now shoot colour shots!

Be Yourself

You MUST look like you normally look!
It is unwise to commit to an actors headshot which requires a great deal of preparation, ie hair straightening.
Relaxing and enjoying yourself is the key to a successful portrait sitting. Get to bed early the night before, avoid stressful situations... have a haircut before the shoot, cut down on the coffee.

Hair

I don't know how I can drive home the importance of your hair,
Bad hair can ruin your whole shoot! Play it safe and go to the hairdresser right before the shoot. The actor's headshots will last for at least a year, don't be stuck with daggy hair. But...
Don't style your hair in an unusual way, look like you normally do, maybe a bit neater.

Bottle Blondes: your dark roots will be vivid in black & white. Have your roots done right to the scalp.
Shape your eyebrows subtly by plucking them with tweezers the day before.
MEN cut your nostril hairs and ear fuzz; and shave carefully, no cuts please!
Recommended Hair salon -The Barberia- Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney, phone 9360 3452.

Clothing

again should not dominate the actors headshot.

Don't bring shoes or lots of pants, most headshots are from collarbones up, so interesting collars and necklines should be your priority.
White clothes can be too bright because they come out as chalky white. Pink or blue is white enough. Exceptions are; a wrinkled neck can be disguised by a high white collar; a few inches of white shirt under something else is fine. Just don't have so much white that it blows everthing else away.
Good clothes might be colours, knits, ribbed, textured, lacy, denim, subtle checks, patterned or just darkish and plain. Collars are better than t - shirts. Think of what looks good from the collarbones up.
Quantity- no more than 12 tops, no less than 6- some light, some dark. Some dressy, some casual- give me some variety! Come to think of it, shirts and tops are very small and portable, bring a bunch!
If you are wanting longer shots, you will need 2 pairs of pants- some dark dressy ones and some jeans... but that's all- don't bring everything you own.
Colour is fine, it will photograph as grey. Red will be dark grey, pink will be light grey. Don't bring all black- or all white - think VARIETY.

Make Up

Since you are just being yourself, heavy make-up is not necessary for an actor's headshot.
Think light, natural day time make-up. But it helps to cover pimples and small spots with cover stick, smooth out complexion with foundation and reduce shine with powder (I have the real professional stuff, you can use mine.) Matt light brown lipstick for girls. I have some supercover pro wax makeup for impossible pimples, so don't worry if you can't cover them. Anyway, nowadays we have retouching for headshots, so don't get stuck on that minor issue!
Men usually look better without make-up.

Bring with you

Hair accessories if you have long hair
Make up (not mandatory- I have powder)
Music CD's if they help you relax
Don't bring an iron, or a hair dryer, as I have them and you can use mine

Come Alone

Of course you may bring a chaperone to check out the place for your safety. Once they have seen that the studio is legitimate and you will be fine, they should retire to a café to wait for you. (lots of nice cafés in East Sydney nearby) Why? Because a third person pulls energy from the shoot. They are, 99% of the time, a distraction, a hand-brake, they bring nervousness, shyness, embarrassment, latent conflict, time pressure, and more reasons why it should be the photographer and the subject only at the headshot session.
I understand that some people have had very bad experiences with so called photographers. Please don't worry about that, my gentle wife will most likely be working in the background as she uses a room in my studio for her own business, I think this helps young girls to feel safe. Hopefully those recovering form nasty photographers will be healed.

Camera Technique

It's not a movie, it's a still. A peak moment. The camera is a cumbersome instrument, difficult to focus and compose, so sustain your expression for a little while, keep still and don't blink too much. Whilst doing all that you have to be completely serene, relaxed, open and enthusiastic. You have to stay in an unnatural position, then relax and be natural... SLOWLY!
I will help you and direct you... stop worrying... it's just a headshot - they are easy!

The Digital Revolution

Imagine being able to control the style, the mood, and the expressive nuances of your actors headshot down to the finest detail.
I specialise in a digital photographic process that eliminates the expense and disappointment of wasted headshot sessions. While we are shooting, we assess the photos on a TV screen, building up to the one perfect headshot which captures your individuality and your potential to perform at your very best. The next step is retouching to remove any stray hairs, skin blemishes etc. In just one visit you leave with your printed proofs.
If you select your hero shot, we will print up your batch there and then. Or else your agent can email your shortlist, which we print and post out. We also shoot beautiful color actor's headshots, or 3/4 or full length shots.

Where?

My studio is at 85 William Street, East Sydney (the huge boulevarde between Hyde Park and Kings Cross) on the corner of Crown Street. I am above Budget Rent-a-Car; through the glass doors, on the second floor. The studio is 9 minutes walk from Town Hall; and 8 minutes walk from Kings Cross. On street parking can be difficult but there is a very expensive parking station close by on Riley Street between Stanley and William Streets. Telephone 9361 4572 and if there is nobody there call my mobile 0414 936145. Click here for directions to studio

When?

I don't mind if you are 10 minutes late, but please
don't come early. You will be arriving during somebody else's shoot and it is not fair to them. There are some of the best cafe's in Sydney close by in Stanley Street and my foyer is safe and dry if you want to wait there.

click here to see more samples of Headshots by Jom

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