| Links: Top How to Decide How Many Headshots you Should Get As an actor in Los Angeles, you must constantly give yourself an edge over your competitors and one way to do this is by featuring headshots with several different looks on your casting site. At the minimum you should have the standard commercial and theatrical shots but it’s also recommended to have shots with two to four extra looks in order to showcase your versatility and the range of your personality. There is no need to print out your shots as you can put them on your casting site and submit them to casting directors by email. Commercial vs. Theatrical Shots When you are starting out as an actor, it’s essential to hire a professional Los Angeles headshots photographer to take both your commercial and theatrical shots. In commercial shots, you must appear warm, friendly, and trusting. Clothing with soft, neutral colors and even bright colors is appropriate for your commercial shoot. Commercial shots are used to help you land auditions for both local and national TV commercials. In a theatrical shot, you must look professional, confident, and responsible enough to take on a serious role. Theatrical headshots are used to help you get roles in plays, TV shows, and films. Clothing with subtle, subdued colors is appropriate for theatrical shots. Although you’ll submit either a theatrical or commercial shot for parts, it can be to your advantage to have a website where you display a variety of other photos. Casting Sites/Actor Websites One of the more recent trends among actors is to get casting sites or actor websites with online services like LA Casting and Myactingsite.com. A website that features your best headshots with several different looks can be a highly powerful tool for marketing yourself as an actor. Typically, you would submit just one shot to casting directors that communicates your ability to play a particular role. On your casting site, you can feature several great shots of yourself that reflect your versatility and adaptability. It’s a good idea to include at least six unique shots in different looks on your casting site. You can put as many photos as you want on your personal website but the general rule of thumb is that less is more. As a Los Angeles headshots photographer, I have seen the difference it can make for actors to have a variety of different shots posted on their sites. One of my clients had an LA Casting profile featuring 6 shots of her in different looks. While it’s typical for actors to get one call out of 100 submissions or so, this client has found that she is able to get one out of 10 parts she submits her shots for and she believes her success is due to the fact that her site displays such a wide range of shots. If you get a variety of shots, make sure to isolate the types of shots that work best for certain types of roles. Each image should be good enough to stand on its own as a headshot. If you want character shots that express your ability to play a certain role, there’s no need to play dress-up to do it. You can make subtle changes to your appearance and experiment with expressions and poses to communicate your ability to play a specific type of character. The most important thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to headshots, showcasing just a few powerful shots on your casting and personal websites will benefit you far more than displaying several mediocre ones. Click to go to the top: How Often Do I Need to Get Headshots? As an actor, your headshots are an incredibly important tool for marketing and self-promotion. Casting directors and agents want to be sure that you actually look like the headshots you submit so you must ensure that they remain current. If your appearance changes substantially, it’s necessary to get new shots. Even if there are no drastic changes to your appearance, you may want to consider getting new shots on a regular basis. Basic Considerations If you dye your hair, get a new hair style, gain or lose weight, or otherwise do something to change your appearance drastically, make sure to get new headshots. If quite some time has passed since you got your shots, you may want to consider getting new ones as well to prevent your photos from appearing dated. Trends in hair and fashion are constantly changing so if your photos look dated, it will affect your image. Although actor headshots in Los Angeles ought to possess timeless appeal, it’s inevitable that they will eventually need updating regardless. Get new shots every one to two years to keep your self-promo fresh and cutting edge. The last headshots you had taken may be fabulous and perhaps got you lots of auditions and work when you were starting out. Nonetheless, even the greatest shots lose their freshness and appeal over time. Your shots simply won’t have the same impact once casting directors have seen them several times. It is not always necessary to re-shoot in order to keep your shots fresh and up-to-date. If you hire a talented photographer, there will be plenty of great work to choose from so you can rotate your shots with other photos from the original shoot. Advice for Children Children’s actor headshots in Los Angeles should be taken every six to eight months because a child’s appearance constantly changes. So if your child is under 16 years old, make sure to get headshots taken on a regular basis. Sometimes photographers offer discount packages for children’s shots for this reason. The Advantage of Getting New Headshots Annually While it’s not absolutely necessary to get new headshots annually or biannually, it’s recommended because your shots will only get better with time. When you get more comfortable in front of a camera, you are able to experiment more with your expressions and appear more confident in your photos. Constantly updating and improving your shots gives you an edge over your competition. In addition, re-shooting allows you to put the focus back on your career, helping you progress as an actor. There’s no tried and true formula that tells us how often to get new actor headshots in Los Angeles. However, it’s clear that competition amongst actors in LA is fierce. Up-to-date headshots that accentuate your best qualities will land you more work and give casting directors what they want –a fresh, new face! Click to go to the top: How to Prepare Yourself Physically and Mentally for a Headshots Photography Shoot The key to success in taking great headshots is to feel confident and comfortable. Having a strong self-image is incredibly important because if you have insecurities, the camera will pick them up. In order to prepare for a headshots photography shoot, you have to be sure your hair and makeup are exactly the way you want them to be. Not only should you feel confident about your hair and makeup before you start shooting, you should also wear clothes you feel good in and make sure that you are in shape so you feel confident about your body. Simply put, if you don’t feel confident in yourself, it will show in your headshots. Leave your insecurities at the door. Go to a Shoot with the Right Attitude It’s important to prepare yourself mentally for a shoot. Relax and don’t be afraid to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. The headshots photographer you choose should be aware that taking headshots is a team effort. Your input is invaluable as is the input of everyone else involved in the shoot so make sure your voice is heard. Sometimes actors make the mistake of not voicing their opinions. For example, if you are unhappy with the way a makeup artist does your makeup during your headshots photography shoot, you have to speak up. Otherwise you will feel uncomfortable while you are being photographed and be unhappy with the results. Essentially, your makeup and hair should look like you on your best day but keep it clean and natural. Your makeup shouldn’t hide who you are. It should enhance your best features and if you have any flaws, take the focus away from them. The more you prepare for your shoot, the better. If you have practiced working with expressions and come prepared, you will take much better photos and know exactly what types of looks you would like your headshots photographer to capture. If you are working with an agent or manager, you should consult him/her to find out specifically what types of shots you need. The Morning of the Shoot Drink lots of water on the day of your headshots photography shoot and don’t drink excessively or smoke like a chimney because the camera will see it all. If you are hiring a makeup artist, come in with your face clean and moisturized and your hair done the way you think it looks best. If your shoot is in the morning, reduce puffiness in your skin by putting an ice cube in a soft fabric and patting your face with it. This is particularly important for the skin around your eyes. Do this for 5-10 minutes. Most importantly, make sure you breathe deeply and relax before your shoot. Stop thinking about how you must take the best headshot in the universe. Take it easy because when you are able to relax in front of the camera without a worry in your mind, your headshots photographer will be able to get the good stuff. Click to go to the top: 7 Essential Tips for Picking out Your Wardrobe Your LA headshots are not only defined by how you look – they are also defined by what you wear. Give off the right impression and make sure that you are the center of attention in your photos by carefully selecting your wardrobe prior to the shoot. Here are 7 essential tips to help you prepare a great wardrobe. - Avoid shirts with patterns and logos
Patterns and logos shift focus from your face to your clothing so they should be avoided. Moreover, patterns, colors and textures are shown differently in photos. Stick with solid colored clothing with a clean, simple look. Textured clothing can also work because it adds a unique touch to photos without taking attention away from you. - Make sure your clothing is clean and wrinkle-free
You aren’t going to have time to iron your clothing before a shoot so make sure to do it well ahead of time. Headshot photography in Los Angeles is serious business. The way you dress in your headshots will say a lot about you to casting directors and you could lose work if you don’t present yourself well. You wouldn’t wear wrinkly clothes to a job interview, would you? Make sure your clothes are ironed before your shoot and that they are free of stains. Cameras can pick up even the slightest marks on your clothing and you may have to pay your photographer extra to retouch soiled clothes. Take a lint brush or lint roller with you to the shoot as well because lint can show up on dark clothing in photos. - Be careful about what colors you wear.
There are no rules set in stone about what colors you can and can’t wear to an LA headshots session but you should try to avoid colors that distract from you. There is no need to wear bright colors in an attempt to get a casting director’s attention however. Your communication with the camera and the photograph overall is what will get a casting director to notice you. I find that your favorite color suits you best. After all, it’s your favorite color for a reason! - Take three to six changes of clothing to your shoot.
As anyone who has experience with headshot photography in Los Angeles will tell you, it’s better to have too much clothing than too little. At the very least you should take three changes of clothing to your shoot but you can take even more if you’d like. Select a variety of shirts with different necklines and collars. V-necks tend to be flattering on most people, except for men with long, slim necks, who would be better off wearing collared shirts. Avoid turtlenecks as well as shirts that show too much skin. Revealing skin below the neck can distract from your face. - Make sure your clothing fits right.
Take clothing to your LA headshots session that is the right size. If an article of clothing doesn’t fit you right and makes you feel uncomfortable, that feeling of discomfort is likely to show up on camera. Only choose articles of clothing that are 100% comfortable and that fit you perfectly. - Select different styles of clothing for your commercial and theatrical shots.
Headshot photography in Los Angeles consists of taking both commercial and theatrical shots. In commercial shots, you should have a casual, mainstream look. Clothes from a store like Abercrombie and Fitch or The Gap would be fitting for a commercial shoot. In theatrical shots, you can let your personal sense of style show through so bring whatever articles of clothing you think suit you best and express who you are. Bright colors work well for commercial headshots while subdued colors are better for theatrical headshots. - Ladies, bring bras in different colors to match your clothing
Women should bring bras in different colors to match their clothing so their bras don’t show through their clothing. For example, you should bring flesh-toned bras for white clothing. Other tips just for the ladies include avoiding jewelry because it is distracting. If you are going to wear earrings, wear small studs or hoops. Women should also avoid clothing with ornaments or large buttons because again, this can distract from your face. Follow these tips to help you get started preparing your LA headshots wardrobe. Don’t stress out too much about what you are going to wear because sometimes rules are just meant to be broken. If you have an outfit you absolutely love but it breaks one of these rules of thumb, feel free to take it to your shoot and see if your photographer would be able to accommodate it. Click to go to the top: Should You Hire a Makeup Artist for Your Headshots Session? There is a debate over whether hiring a makeup artist for a headshots session is necessary or not but the overall consensus is that it’s a good idea to hire one if you can afford it. A makeup artist can help you feel confident and make a shoot run more smoothly. Whether a pimple needs to be covered up or your forehead is too shiny, a makeup artist can help you resolve these little problems very quickly to ensure that you look your best during a shoot. Hiring a makeup artist is also helpful because it minimizes distractions. Focusing and being in the moment is essential to getting great shots. Special Considerations Your headshot photographer in LA may recommend that you get a makeup artist if you are a woman because women tend to need more makeup and touching up more than men. Some photographers think that men do not need makeup at all while others think that a little makeup can help improve a man’s skin tone and hide imperfections. Children are usually blessed with beautiful skin and angelic features and do not need any makeup. The option of doing your own makeup is available but you have to realize that the way you always do your makeup may not suffice. Casting directors may want the makeup in your headshots to look completely different from the makeup you are accustomed to wearing on a daily basis. The Advantages of Hiring a Makeup Artist There are several advantages to hiring a makeup artist for your headshots session. For one, a makeup artist will help to ensure that everything looks as good as possible in front of the camera by taking the lighting, your skin tone, the setting, etc. into consideration. Most importantly, a makeup artist will make you feel confident that your makeup looks great so you can focus on the shoot rather than whether your makeup looks okay or not. Tips for Finding a Makeup Artist If you have made the decision to hire a makeup artist for your shoot, the best place to start looking for one is through your headshot photographer in LA. Typically, every photographer has makeup artists they like to work with and it’s a good idea to use their people if you want your shoot to run smoothly. Sometimes a makeup artist and photographer may not hit it off and this could potentially be a big problem. Although shoots are a team effort, the photographer is ultimately the director of a shoot so the makeup artist must be able to work well with him/her. If you can’t afford a makeup artist, don’t fret. Just because you don’t have a makeup artist doesn’t mean that your headshots are doomed to fail. You can do your own makeup and the photographer you hire will have to retouch the photos if there are any blatant imperfections. Some actors who are strapped for cash even go to makeup counters at department stores to get their makeup done. However, if you can afford it, ask your photographer for references to makeup artists so you can feel confident that you look your very best on the day of the shoot. Click to go to the top: Surefire Tips for Getting Spectacular Kids Headshots Too stiff, too age-inappropriate, not what casting directors want to see – these are some of the problems that occur when parents try to take kids’ headshots on their own. While it’s understandable that many of you want to save a few dollars when you are just starting out, your child’s success depends on his/her actor shots so it’s incredibly important to invest in great shots. You have to hire an experienced, professional photographer who knows how to deliver the kinds of photos casting directors, managers, and agents want to see. Pick a Photographer Who Likes Children Not only should the photographer you hire have experience shooting with children, he/she should also ENJOY shooting with children. There are several Los Angeles headshots photographers out there who aren’t open to shooting children so make sure that when you speak with potential photographers you ask them how they feel about the matter. It’s essential to find a professional who gets along well with children and who knows how to communicate with them. Actor shots must reveal a child’s communication with the camera and only a photographer who likes kids and enjoys shooting with them will be able to bring out this natural expression. Another important factor to consider when hiring someone to take kids’ headshots is whether the photographer works quickly and efficiently. Speed and efficiency are essential when shooting with young children because after 10-20 minutes, children get antsy and are about ready to melt down. In this short amount of time, a photographer must be able to get several great shots. In addition, it’s always helpful if a photographer is easygoing and has a great sense of humor in order to bring out your child’s natural smile and persona. Achieving the Right Look Kids are supposed to look like kids in their photos, not mini-adults. Los Angeles headshots photographers with experience taking actor shots for children will tell you that the most important thing about children’s shots is that they must look natural. Actor shots aren’t pageant photos so don’t put your child in a frilly dress or tux. Keep clothing casual, simple, and clean cut. Avoid shirts with characters or logos because they are distracting. Make up is generally not necessary and as for hair, a natural style will usually do. One of the keys to a great shot is that the child looks his/her age in the photo. In most of the shots, your child should be pictured with a warm, natural smile and in other shots with a more serious expression. How to Prepare for a Shoot When is your child the most alert and pleasant? Make sure to schedule your shoot within that time frame. Grumpy, sleepy children don’t make for good kids’ headshots. If your child usually naps in the afternoon, schedule the shoot earlier to avoid interrupting his typical schedule. Make sure your child gets enough sleep the night before the shoot and feed him or her a nutritious breakfast on the day of the shoot. Avoid sugary foods because sugar tends to make kids hyper and distracted. A healthy, balanced breakfast of fruit and oatmeal or something of the like will help your child feel focused and energized for the shoot. Don’t forget to bring bottled water and light snacks to the shoot in case your child gets hungry. When speaking with different Los Angeles headshots photographers, ask to see examples of their work to review. Do the children in the photos look happy? Do they appear natural? Are the photos flattering? Is the child the focus in the photo with nothing else distracting from him/her? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you have potentially found a photographer who’s capable of taking spectacular shots of your child. Whether you’re hoping your child will be the next Haley Joel Osment or you simply want to test the waters of the acting world, great kids’ headshots are absolutely essential because they will get your foot in the door. Fabulous shots will help your child get more work and achieve success as an actor. This is one area in which you don’t want to try to scrimp and save – hire a professional photographer and get professional results! Click to go to the top: How to Prepare for the Day of the Shoot In order to get a great LA headshot, it’s essential to prepare yourself in the days leading up to your shoot. From getting your wardrobe ready to drinking plenty of water to stay healthy and hydrated, there is a lot that you must do in order to look and feel your best on the day of the shoot. The last thing you want to do is rush around at the last minute. This kind of stress will affect your photos and you may end up forgetting something vital or being late to your shoot if you don’t plan ahead. The key to success when getting headshots in Los Angeles is to be relaxed, rested, and healthy. You should get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to your shoot and this might sound obvious but you should avoid showing up to your shoot hung over, intoxicated, or under the influence of drugs. Tips for Hair and Make-Up If you are hiring a make-up artist, go to the shoot with your face clean and no make-up on. If you are doing your own make-up for your LA headshot, wear it as you would to a job interview. Don’t wear sunglasses within 15 to 20 minutes of your shoot in order to avoid ruining your make-up and leaving little marks on your nose. Get a hair cut before your shoot if it’s necessary but try to get it approximately a week before your shoot. Hair stylists tend to cut your hair so that it looks best a week or so after you get it done. Plus if you are disappointed with your hair cut, a week will give you enough time to get it fixed before getting your headshots in Los Angeles. Ladies, make sure to get the hair above your upper lip waxed if necessary. Get it done two to three days before your shoot to give irritation time to clear up. Make sure your fingernails are clean and well-maintained as well in case your hands show up in your LA headshot. If you have discolored teeth, have them cleaned and whitened in the days or weeks leading up to your shoot. Do not drink anything prior to your shoot that could stain your teeth. Also try to avoid heavy sun exposure before your shoot because this can result in unsightly sunburn and peeling skin. To Eat or Not to Eat As much as you may want to look slender in your photos, don’t starve yourself prior to your shoot. Eat a light meal beforehand and bring a snack and bottled water with you. Many women getting headshots in Los Angeles avoid eating before shoots because they think it will make them look bigger in their photos. However, not eating will cause you to lose energy and focus, which will in turn affect your photos. Must-Have Items A few must-have items for an LA headshot session include a small make-up kit, compact mirror, chapstick, comb, eye drops, hairspray, blush, concealer, foundation, and mascara. Bring at least three changes of clothing to your shoot as well. Make sure your clothing is clean and pressed. The last thing you want is the wrinkles on your clothing showing up in photos. Last but not least, make sure you know how to get to the shooting location and have everything prepared at the latest by the night before the shoot. There’s nothing worse than having to run around town right before the shoot to tie loose ends. If you prepare yourself well beforehand you will be relaxed, energized, and ready to go when it comes time for your headshot session. Click to go to the top: Get all of your LA headshot information at LA Headshots Photographer, the #1 resource for actors interested in getting headshots in Los Angeles. For more information contact Adriana "The Headshots Photographer in Los Angeles"
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