A question about headshots...
CJ Behnsen
I am wondering if anyone can help me with information on Actors' headshots.
What is the standard practice these days? I remember it used to be:
B&W
Neutral background
Don't wear all white or all black
give a natural look, possibly unshaven, hair au naturel
no make-up
Is this anywhere close? One of my best friends is an awesome photographer
who specializes in headshots (although he's only done Modeling ones) and I
was wondering what Casting directors et al like for headshots these days.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)
CJ.B
Opus (:>
>
> B&W
> Neutral background
> Don't wear all white or all black
> give a natural look, possibly unshaven, hair au naturel
> no make-up
>
this very topic, it can change dramatically from region to region, so in
order to give a completely accurate response, it would be helpful for
you to share which area you're currently in.
I agree with all of the above, EXCEPT for the no make-up rule. (Well,
and maybe the shaven rule. But no one's gonna see my pits, so who gives
a rip?) Where did THAT come from? I've never heard that. Only if you
wish to get church mice parts should you go without make-up. I have
learned this from experience. My first head-shots, while technically
very good, were done in a session that came with free hair and make-up.
Fine I said, and I trusted them. While I bought the argument that matte
make-up needed to be used for the black and white, which is definitely
still true, they did not do any application to make me look like my
normal, natural, perky, bold, blunt, animated, very outgoing self. I
like make-up, and I look good in it. I was a Mary Kay consultant for
many years, as well as very trained in stage techniques. So I know how
to put it on without looking like a trailer twinkie.
I was proud of the job she'd done until I began getting feedback on
them, since I hadn't been in the business but a few months and did not
know better. She had done such a natural look, that it naturally didn't
look like me! When I go out, I'm in make-up; eyes, foundation, lips,
cheeks, the works. I feel good in it. I have three looks I use. Light
to medium colors for when I'm on commercial jobs in which I have to come
to set in full make-up, and for days when I want a very natural look,
while still benefiting from the protection that make-up affords my skin
from the elements. (VERY good reason to wear it all day.) Then for
career, or interviews, or those professional job shoots, I have a look
with medium-light to dark colors. Then for dramatic, the darkest
colors. This lady who had done my face, made me look like I had NONE.
Even less than none. It was horrible. Some of my very best friends
didn't recognize me at all until seeing my name at the bottom of the
photo. Some of my agents wouldn't even send it out, because they swore
up and down that it didn't represent the real me; the me, that loves to
wear and look good in make-up.
The pisser, is that this photographer had done an extensive interview
with me before the day of the shoot, just to "get a feel for who the
real me was". I WAS IN MAKE-UP THAT DAY, and I still looked nothing
like that in the photo.
So, no, do not let anyone tell you to never wear make-up. If that's
what you look like normally when you're going to the grocery store, then
you get a photographer that will work with that. It's about you, and
you do have the right to feel good about what you're going to look like
during the shoot.
For some of my modeling shoots, I'm allowed and encouraged by the
make-up artist to give my feedback. Then naturally, if it's something
that will go against the goal of the shoot, they'll tell me, but they
will still ask.
--
Opus (:>
"I wish the stage were as high and narrow as a tightrope so that only
the most highly trained would dare to venture out upon it." --Goethe
http://www.carla.coble.com -Acting site
http://members.home.net/coble/OpusGraphics -Original graphics
http://scoobydoo.acmecity.com/witchdoctor/345 -Alt.Acting Newsgroup
Gallery
Daniel Norton
wrote:
>I am wondering if anyone can help me with information on Actors' headshots.
It varies. The convention used in LA differs from that in NYC. In NYC,
shots submitted for commercials and film differ from shots submitted for
legit theater.
> I remember it used to be:
>
>B&W
>Neutral background
>Don't wear all white or all black
>give a natural look, possibly unshaven, hair au naturel
>no make-up
Generally good rules. The "no make-up" I would modify to simply state
that you should look like your headshot. When I meet a CD, he or she
knows who I am immediately because they've seen my headshot. Woman
often wear make-up anyway, so your headshot should reflect the make-up
you wear when you normally attend an audition. A headshot is not a
"glamour" shot.
In New York B&W is de rigueur. No lithos for professional use (unless
you're doing extra work). Resume paper should be cut down to match the
size of the 8x10 and should be stapled to the back of the photo. Use
an off-white paper. Commercial photos are generally 3/4 shots (knees
up). Legit photos are generally headshots. I stock and send both.
--
Daniel Norton
Drama Queen
>
> As informed as I may seem sometimes, this is not always the case.
>
>
> B&W
> Neutral background
> Don't wear all white or all black
> give a natural look, possibly unshaven, hair au naturel
> no make-up
>
These days they seem to be getting away from the smiley headshots,
...and going for those that reflect more the personality. The number one
rule, and one that never changes, is that your headshot has to look like
you. Whatever is on the picture, that's what they want to see walking
through the door. There's nothing more pathetic or frustrating than
people trying to use pics of themselves when they were in their prime.
> Is this anywhere close? One of my best friends is an awesome photographer
> who specializes in headshots (although he's only done Modeling ones) and I
> was wondering what Casting directors et al like for headshots these days.
If he's your best friend, then you might feel comfortable enough with
him to truly reveal your personality, and he should know you well enough
to be able to capture it on film. Why not give it a try and see what
comes out of the session. Sorry, not familiar with the Vancouver market.
-Drama Queen
Bill B
IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE YOU.
CD's complain all the time that the headshot is from Venus and the actors is
from Mars, or something.
For LA folk..
http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb146989
CJ Behnsen
I'll just not do the make-up, as I rarely wear any (well I only wear it if
I'm on stage, and it's always because the director makes me because my eyes
aren't defined enough or my lips are too pale.. some silly thing like that)
And I'll stick with B&W... and luckily i know my best angle (is getting your
best angle a good idea?)
Anyway.. thanks again guys and gals.
CJ/B