| Are you ready to shoot your actor headshots? If | | | | iPod the night before your headshot session. Pick |
| you've already picked a headshot photographer and | | | | different music for different looks you have planned. |
| have your wardrobe, hair and makeup all figured out, | | | | Don't worry about picking out cool songs. You're not |
| here are five tips to help you get the most out of your | | | | getting modeling pictures. Pick music that you respond |
| headshot photo session. | | | | to. Close your eyes and notice how each song makes |
| - Shoot one universal headshot. When you have your | | | | you feel, then decide if this is the right "mood" for the |
| actor headshots taken, choosing a few different | | | | headshots you want. If it is, include it in your mix and |
| "looks" that suggest character types (white collar, girl | | | | loop it if you need to. Most headshot photographers |
| next door, etc.) is a good thing. But you won't be able | | | | are happy to work with actors' music at the photo |
| to have a look that's perfect for every role that you | | | | shoot since it helps them relax and get in character for |
| want to audition for, so you should also have what I | | | | their different "looks". |
| call a "universal headshot" - a straight on, no nonsense, | | | | - Stay away from coffee and cigarettes. I got this tip |
| what you see is what you get headshot that tells | | | | from a headshot photographer: to avoid bags under |
| exactly who you are. It shouldn't be a dramatic or | | | | the eyes, stop drinking coffee two weeks before the |
| smiling shot. If you get a good "universal headshot", you | | | | photo shoot. If you're a heavy coffee drinker, you may |
| will find yourself using it more and more and it will | | | | get headaches when you hold off on the java, but it |
| establish your face in the casting director's mind (who | | | | will help you have a nice skin tone and overall fresh |
| keeps seeing one same photo over and over). That | | | | look you won't have to Photoshop for hours. Another |
| type of headshot will get you work because it's full of | | | | thing that improves complexion is to stop smoking of |
| possibilities. How do you get the right look? It's all in the | | | | course. |
| eyes, which takes us to this next headshot tip... | | | | - Skip the retouching. A lot of actor pictures look |
| - Tell a story. Often, actors preparing for a headshot | | | | "retouched" to the trained eye of a casting director or |
| photography shoot will spend a lot of time thinking | | | | agent. If you need to brush off a little speck on your |
| about their wardrobe and make-up but will neglect the | | | | shirt, that's fine, of course, but avoid going through your |
| most important thing - their acting. Unfortunately, being | | | | headshot session thinking, "I can retouch that later". |
| relaxed and open in front of a camera doesn't come | | | | Your goal should be to get the perfect shot you don't |
| naturally, even to actors. Good headshot | | | | need to do anything to. One way to do that is to take |
| photographers help the process, but you'll get much | | | | regular breaks during your photo session to review |
| better headshots if you're prepared to "tell a story" | | | | your headshots. Most headshot photographers have |
| with your eyes. The night before the shoot, think of | | | | digital cameras, so reviewing your pictures as you go |
| what you want to get across in your actor headshots, | | | | is easy. Some photographers can even show you a |
| then write down a one-liner for every different | | | | large image of your headshots on a TV screen |
| intention. Keep it simple. Just think of how you would | | | | hooked to their camera. Make sure you love the shots |
| convey who you are or what you want in the least | | | | before you go on. Check your general look and |
| amount of words possible (for example, "I really want | | | | posture, but also watch out for little details like flyaway |
| to get to know you") and then tell that sentence with | | | | hairs or shiny skin. |
| your eyes. | | | | Hope these headshot tips help you have a successful |
| - Do a headshot mix. Line up some songs on your | | | | photo shoot. |