Henricus wrote:
"A head shot is supposed to represent your true face,"

Katie, where did you hear this?  I thought head shots were used to show your versitility.  The one actor I photographed, wants several head shots with different looks.  The first ones I took of him he wore a beard with long-ish hair.  He wants some with a mustache only, go-tee(sp?), fu manchu(sp?) and finally clean shaven.  IMHO, the more varity you have the more marketable you are.  My 2 cents.

Well, that statement Katie made is right.
Casting directors ONLY want headshots of what you honestly look like.


But, you are right also...except this appes to experienced actors.

Reasons why simple:
1.) As a beginning actor, casting directors don't want anything too dramatic because you're most likely not going for a significant role. If it is a character they w
nt, they will inform you and you come "in person" dressed for that charater. Or at least prepared. Simple is better.
2.) A beginning actor with varying headshots will cause him/her to get lost among casting directors as they don't remember him/her.
3.) You're not experienced/known well
enough for them to care about your versatility.
4.) It gets very costly to have several different headshots lurking around.
5.) You less than 5 movie credits to your resume. No casting director is going to stare at a dramatoc headshot that has NO credentials attached. If you present yourself as a professional but nothi to add to it...and no knowledge on set....let's just say it won't have a good outcome. And the world of acting is more "behind your back" defamation than the upfront rudeness that is in modeling.

Reasons why versatile:
1.) As an experienced actor if you have the same plain headshot, casting directors will get  ored and think you've reache
your peek. (Also, you NEED to have a demo-reel. It tends to become more important for experienced actors than a headshot.)
2.) You've worked enough to know what expressions you want to convey.
3.) You now have 'styles'. So you want a headshot that cates to each style. (You can submit a specific expression/look to a specific role without loading the CD with tons of unnecessary pictures.
4.) It's is cost effective for you now. You've worked enough to validate spending money on various headshoys and demo reels and marketing materials.
5.) You're ready to be angry, crazy, in love, deep, happy, hurt and insightful. You have t
ese emotions on lock. Get a headshot that shows your range in each.


Basically, it just depends on where you're at in your career. If you feel you're ready, get versatile(sp?). But, if you haven't reach that point...leqve it alone. Don't sell something you don't posses.

Angelus wrote:
Katie.....that is "almost" a great headshot. Don't use it.

1. Get rid of the eye lashes. It's not you and it puts too much attention around your eyes and not on your eyes.
2. The black background is a no. Unless you're doing theatre. Commercial headshots...get out of the studio...or get an interesting lifestyle backdrop. A living room, kitchen, bookstore, office, etc...
3. Your skin. NOOOO!!!!
That headshot would get tossed for that reason alone.
In this particular one, you can see the bluring done to your skin.

Important Note:
The only things you should ever do to a headshot...
1. Fixing temporary blemishes and scars.
2. Color-correction.
3. Lighting correction.

The things you shouldn't ever do to a headshot...
1. No skin smoothing. You will NEVER look like that on camera. The plastic look is a no-go. Just get a GOOD make-up artist.
2. (Future reference) No photographer's copyright logo. CDs do NOT care who took the photograph.
3. Do not use colors that are too similar or too different. Soft, mid-level colors are always recommended.
Contrasting colors give you a harsh image. Too hot.
Too similar of colors blends everything together. Too cold.
You look like little more than a head and nothing else.

I stand corrected
(I still like the picture though...)

...Stacy wrote:
I think the lashes might throw it off a little.  Aren't headshots in color in NY now?

About half of NY is color.
You still have alot of traditionalists wanring B&W. Which B&W is still always acceptable unless they specifically say color.

It's good to have both...
Cause you never know who you run into.

Brian Rawson wrote:
i like it... most actors use studio shots with muslim backdrops .....

Um, why muslims?

David Moyle wrote:

Um, why muslims?

I never said I liked those backdrops but thats just what appears to me to be the standard for acting.
I used to work at a print shop off broadway and that is what most of the actors printed.
I could be wrong tho.... I've been wrong before.

Brian Rawson wrote:

I never said I liked those backdrops but thats just what appears to me to be the standard for acting.
I used to work at a print shop off broadway and that is what most of the actors printed.
I could be wrong tho.... I've been wrong before.

Oh, you meant Muslins...with an "N".

Whew, I thought there was gonna be more rioting.

David Moyle wrote:

Oh, you meant Muslins...with an "N".

Whew, I thought there was gonna be more rioting.

See, there I go again... I'm not perfect and my spelling is far from perfect. I meant the backdrop, not the people.... sorry about that one.

David Moyle wrote:

Oh, you meant Muslins...with an "N".

Whew, I thought there was gonna be more rioting.

lol...you really didn't know he meant muslins?

Nemi wrote:
lol...you really didn't know he meant muslins?

Yes, I did, (I own a few) I was just being a snot!

Brian Rawson wrote:

See, there I go again... I'm not perfect and my spelling is far from perfect. I meant the backdrop, not the people.... sorry about that one.

Just razzin you!

Brian Rawson wrote:

I never said I liked those backdrops but thats just what appears to me to be the standard for acting.
I used to work at a print shop off broadway and that is what most of the actors printed.
I could be wrong tho.... I've been wrong before.

And those are the same actors who pay $99 for their headshots and wonder why they're still waiting tables.

Brian Diaz wrote:
(And can you use a non-watermarked version--or at least a different watermark--for your web promotions?  That one is particularly huge, ugly, and obtrusive.)

Not fot web promotions....but hes willing to take it off for printing ( thank god)

photog in boxes wrote:
And the hair thing is a problem.  You have to find your look and stick with it.  Your headshot should look exactly like you really look.  You can't submit a short hair shot and show up with it long.

I realize this, and thats why I need new headshots so often....woe is me.

Brian Diaz wrote:
And those are the same actors who pay $99 for their headshots and wonder why they're still waiting tables.

Actually Katie Holmes was rockin a Muslin background headshot but i dont think she is the waitress type.... well besides playing one on tv

Brian Rawson wrote:

Actually Katie Holmes was rockin a Muslin background headshot but i dont think she is the waitress type.... well besides playing one on tv

Was it wronkled up?

Nemi wrote:
My hair is growing out- fast. So I need new acting headshots frequently.

That was not my intent at this shoot, but I kind of like how this came out.

I am thinking of using it as a headshot, but I am not sure if it is appropriate. A head shot is supposed to represent your true face, and in this shot I have a lot of makeup on and fasle eyelashes...Is it too much?

You should NOT use this as an acting headshot.  This shot is too made up, too modely, and black & white.  Plus is not a flattering angle and the slight barrel distortion is just enough to say there is something off about the photo.  Though there are still a lot of people who make the hiring decisions who like B&W shots, LA is quickly moving to color.  When you are casting online color stands out from the B&W, so go with color.

Henricus wrote:
"A head shot is supposed to represent your true face,"

Katie, where did you hear this?  I thought head shots were used to show your versitility.  The one actor I photographed, wants several head shots with different looks.  The first ones I took of him he wore a beard with long-ish hair.  He wants some with a mustache only, go-tee(sp?), fu manchu(sp?) and finally clean shaven.  IMHO, the more varity you have the more marketable you are.  My 2 cents.

No.  Headshots are not supposed to show your versatility.  Headshots are supposed to represent you looking like you on a good day.  This actor you just shot doesn't sound like he knows what the hell he's doing.  He is all over the place and his ideas scream amateur.  Maybe it's a Texas thing.

Sara Beth wrote:
...a lot of the well known ppl have their headshots up on imdb.com....that might be a good place to look for ideas!

I shot headshots today of someone who looked up women in her type to see what they used.  Just remember that the shots on IMDb could be their publicity shots and not the same as the ones their agents submit.

Brian Rawson wrote:
use it until you get something that you think will be better for it.

Katie, don't waste time and money on a shot that is not good.  Having no shot is better than having a bad shot.

photog in boxes wrote:
Oh, and a casting director told me once that you should have one spot of light in your eye.  Odd comment I thought, but he said no reflections or several give an unnatural feeling that he didn't like.

They're called highlights, and they're meant to be from the main lighting source, and it gives the eyes a sparkle of life.  Apparently.  These days they're often added during manipulation.  There should be one in each eye, in the same place, and they should gleam like the Star of Bethlehem.

...Stacy wrote:
I think the lashes might throw it off a little.  Aren't headshots in color in NY now?

Took the words out of my mouth.

As much as I hate it (and I do because I think color is better for modeling headshots), acting headshots in NY are preferred to be in color.

Otherwise- I think that is a good shot of you. The lashes are fine. I have two headshots on my MM page (I think) one in B&W and the other in color- those seem to have worked well for me.

-D