So, Today I want to discuss Headshots. Every actor needs the great headshot. Without an interesting headshot you are going to have a hard time getting in for auditions. It's your first impression on casting. You don't want a cell phone shot, or a family portrait cropped to just your head, but I also don't think it's fair to ask Actors to spend a ridiculous amount of money on them either. In all the years I've been in LA and for all the head shots I have taken, I have tried the gamut. I have gotten free pictures and I've paid upwards of 800$ before printing! I have tried the pro hair & makeup "all done up" to "obvious character" shots. And there is not much difference in the attention they seem to get. There has seemed to be something missing or too much of something else in others. Headshot sessions require their own unique brand of Acting technique. I do not claim to be great at them, I find I have a hard time posing and being still. It feels fake to me and put on, where as if I can speak and move, I feel more naturally expressed. My favorite pictures are more candid shots or editorial modeling shots because I like to use my body. Maybe it's from growing up a dancer. So with that said, Headshots have always been a challenge for me.
Since every casting director and agent have their own opinions about what they like about head shots, it's hard to find one photographer or Photo everyone can agree on.
Some basic Headshot 101 tips, I have learned along the way from taking them but from also having developed my casting eye.
1. Find a photographer who's work speaks to you. Don't feel pressured to go with your agents friend if you don't like their work. Chances are if you don't like their body of work, you aren't going to like what you get from them.
2. Know what you are trying to achieve before the shoot. This will help your photographer connect to you and your needs quicker and it will also help you be prepared prior with your wardrobe choices and Hair & Makeup preferences.
3. As a general note, less is more. Have a clean fresh look. Hair and Makeup, should be natural but enhancing your best features, especially your eyes. Every note you hear from casting is the shots that stand out have something going on in the eyes. So let them speak! And whatever you do, do not go nuts on the retouching! Yes, we all want to be seen in our best light, but don't show a casting director you in a delusional light. If something is permanent then there's no use in hiding it, unless it's something makeup on set takes care of. You don't want to look like a mannequin you wanna look like a human!
4. What jobs do you want? Is your focus commercials? Then you need natural, smiley, bright shots. Is your focus One Hour TV drama? Then you want to find that look and the photographer should light you differently. Would you more likely be cast as a doctor or a nurse? As a cop or a criminal? It's good to suggest that in your wardrobe choices but you don't necessarily want to or need to wear the cop uniform or the doctor scrubs. It comes off a little cheesy. Unless of course that is your niche and your main focus. For the most part, you should be able to achieve the vibe of a character through your emotion and eyes as opposed to COSTUME. Costume composite cards can come off amateur.
I recently had another headshot session with my dear friend Chris Sista. His loft space is really great. There's natural lighting, high ceilings to make room for studio lights & simple back drops, big windows & raw brick textures on the walls, and my favorite feature, an espresso machine.
So for me, my plan was get New Commercial shots & Some Strong Theatrical shots. And I had very specific things in mind that I know I needed. A good exercise and test to go by is if you are submitting for roles on let's say actors access.com and you find you don't have the right picture for a specific role, make a note! Next time you should you know what to aim for!
Here's some examples of what me and Chris went for. And keep in mind these ARE NOT retouched yet….That's how good Chris Sista is!
FOR MOM PIX - Since I just booked a mom role in a regional commercial and I keep getting "mom" auditions all lately, I figured I should embrace it, and ride the wave. This is my casual, laid back look or even working class shot. It could be a Mom or even Marky Mark's younger sister from Southey!
OFFICE PIX - Working at Dan Bell Casting, one of the best Commercial Casting offices in LA, has been a great experience to show me the trends that go on in the commercial world. The first being Moms and the other being Office Employees. Those two roles are always recirculating. So it's also another good one to have, even for 5 and under roles or co-star roles on TV. Of course my version of that is still going to be on the quirky or Artsy side. Where as someone else would look better in the power business suit because they have more of that persona naturally.
THEATRICAL PIX - Another thing I really needed was a Strong Theatrical Shot - Lightening should be a bit more dramatic and your shirt should be a solid and simple color - I loved the idea of earth tones for this because it creates a blank canvas. I'm going for Cable/HBO shows here or Leads in Feature Film. So I am not trying to sell just one thing, I am more so saying I could be just about anything within my look and age range.
Also these were shot originally as 3/4 shots but with the right crops you can add to the mood you want to create. You also want the eyes to stand out more. These are typical 8 x 10 crop options. I could probably stand to zoom in a little more but when you upload to Actorsaccess.com it makes you crop even tighter and square, so keep that in mind. Not sure if you can tell at this size, however, My Niche's in this genre are Vulnerable and Strong-Willed. Here is an example of both.
The TOP PHOTO has a twinge of sadness behind the eyes with the BOTTOM PHOTO having a little smile and power under the cheeks - Hence, Vulnerable Vs Strong-willed.
SCANDAL PIX - And my favorite look of the day was for something more sophisticated and upscale professional. I am obsessed with the show Scandal but needed a photo that shows I could be in a Political drama. And preferably not as a victim. Because I always get victim. So in looking at the show, these ladies are business professional but also Sexy, Sassy, Stylist, and Strong. So I went with this form fitted blue dress. Because I also need to start owning the fact that I have a healthy looking, natural, curvy body and I should use it while I still got it! It's actually a strength I shouldn't hide but enhance in a classy way. For other's it may be your piercing blue eyes, winning white smile, cute button nose, long legs, fun frown hair, and 18 pack abs. A good rule of thumb is whatever people tend to organically complement you on in life. Let that part of you stand out! Don't play small and hide your gifts anymore. That's your calling card! For these shots we were going for the more promo look. Love just love them! And they make me feel like I could be on a billboard outside Sony or Warner Brothers.
MY LAST TIP BEFORE I GO! Bring SHOES! I don't know about you, but I believe in the old saying 'you never really know another person until you've walked a mile in their shoes' and I find the minute I put on my characters clothes and especially shoes, I finally sink in to exactly who they are. I have not paid attention to this detail before when shooting Headshots and I honestly feel like it took something away from my previous shoots. I didn't feel complete and it came through in the photos. You aren't going to walk around in the world without shoes if you can help it and you certainly aren't going to go to an audition without them, so match your outfit with the appropriate shoes. I guarantee you, you carry yourself differently in sneakers vs dress shoes and ESPECIALLY heels. I personally love being barefoot or choose to wear thick comfy socks at home, and that's great if I am taking pictures as "just me"…..But for my roles, each one has & requires their own unique taste. At the end of the day, the real Nicole needs to agree and like them for that role too, so it feels authentic when I put them on!
Good Luck at your next shoot! I hope my experience helps you with yours.
Lots of Joy & Abundance your way,
xo- Nicole
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