Headshot Photographer Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER
phone: 310.663.4652
phone: 310.663.4652
Your headshot is an essential tool, great headshots sell the actor. The images should be true to life, casting directors do not like it when you show up for an audition and do not look anything like your photo. The images should not be touched up too much. You need an 8x10 black and white photo taken from the shoulders up that honestly captures your unique look. All actors should include a resume with their headshot, it is a good idea to attach it on the backside of your picture; listing your statistics of eye color, hair color, weight, height, etc. along with their acting experience.
Many agencies have what they call a "headbook" which includes all the headshots of all of the actors in their agency. As casting directors come through town, many times they will request a copy of the headbook before they ever hold an audition. They browse through the headbook choosing the actors simply by their headshot alone. Then those who have been selected are called in for the audition. Other times, particularly for extra or featured roles, actors are selected for a role straight from the headbook. Casting directors want what they see and in this business, your look is everything. So be sure to sell yourself true and honest. You never know what look they are after. You may just have it.
Zed Cards and Composite cards are an essential for every model or actor. Models get the work you want with a great-looking, professional composite card. I will take amazing shots and you choose the layout.
CLOTHING: Avoid wearing stripes or prints. solid colors such as blue, red, or green show up evenly on the black and white matte and are easier on the eye.
MAKE-UP: Heavy make-up is not necessary, however if you do choose to wear make-up, a light concealer of foundation may make your complexion look nicer. If you have freckles, don’t cover them up that may be the exact look the casting director is looking for and they know they can easily be covered up with make-up on the set.
HAIR: If you normally wear your hair straight, don’t curl it up, and vice versa if you have naturally curly hair-don’t straighten it flat.
SMILE: A natural smile, not cheesy or angry - it just has to be you. A nice glimpse of your teeth also shows the casting director what you’ve got in there. If you’ve got braces, crooked teeth, a big gap in the middle, smile anyway. Don’t hide anything.
POSES: Don’t be a fashion model. Avoid flipping the hair, leaning your chin on your arm, or any other kind of prop. The directors want to see a straight head shot, they don’t want to see you being cute or knock dead gorgeous, they want to see you.
LIGHTING: Never use soft focus or special lighting techniques. The basic key, fill and back lights of the studio should be all you need.
BACKGROUND: Be sure you are using a simple, non-distracting backdrop. White or black are not recommended. Most common are off-white, gray, light blue or any color that comes through with a gentle gray tone. If you are taking the photographs outside, again be sure there is nothing distracting to the eye in the background. A headshot’s background will probably be mostly out of focus anyway.
SECOND OPINION: it is always a good idea to get a second, third or even fourth opinion from those in the business before selecting your personal headshot. You may think that you look beautiful in that one shot, but others may say it looks nothing like you. The best judge would be your talent agency. Remember, the actor’s headshot sells the actor. You need a good and true photograph of yourself.
Los Angeles Comp Card Photographer