5 Tips to Help Prepare for Your Headshots

Let’s be realistic...pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles is very competitive. The entertainment industry in general is cutthroat and the pool of actors is beyond saturated. But, the good news is that a majority of the competition doesn’t take their acting careers seriously enough, nor do they do the hard work necessary to succeed. That means the committed actor who works their chops off and doesn’t give up or take no for an answer will eventually succeed.

It’s not a mystery that a key step to the path of success is getting great headshots. The headshot is the calling card to get you an agent, get noticed by casting directors, and the foundation to branding yourself.

As a professional photographer who has tremendous experience in the technique and business of acting, it is my duty to help all my clients get headshots that stand out and get them in the right rooms.

Getting headshots can also be an expensive and time consuming process, so I put together a list of 5 things that every actor should do to prepare and get the most out of their headshot sessions.

1. CONSULT WITH YOUR TEAM

It’s very important that you and your agent/manager are on the same page. Your team should advise what roles are best suited for you and what types of shows and movies they picture you going out for. It’s a good idea to ask all your reps a breakdown of the roles they submit you for. If your relationship with your agent and/or manager is relatively new, ask them for what types of roles they see you going out for. You may see yourself as someone who loves to play dark and dramatic roles, but your reps may find your true personality to be very inviting and bubbly. Of course, we all possess dual natures to our personalities; So, figuring this stuff out before your headshots session can really help get the looks you need to capture the different tones and genres that reflect the best actor in you.

If you are currently without representation, find people in life that will be honest with you and tell them how they see you in real life. Getting honest opinions from family, friends, fellow actors, etc about how they see in real life will give you great inside the type of roles casting will see you playing.

2. PREPARE A WARDROBE

Wardrobe selection can make or break a great headshot. It’s very important that the section above about consulting with your team will really help you pick the outfits that will work best for your headshots. Knowing the types of roles you want to focus on will really help you pick the best wardrobes that help highlight the moods and genres you wish to focus on. Wardrobe is the key component that drives the mood and tone of your headshots. It represents who you are and what you're about. Since the idea is to capture your essence (see my blog: What Makes for a Great Actor Headshot), that leather or denim jacket you LOVE to wear every weekend when you go out with your friends will look so much better than some Zara jacket you bought just for the shoot and will return after. You don't need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for the shoot. The best wardrobe is the wardrobe that you feel comfortable in and you know looks good on you. Of course, if your actual everyday wardrobe needs a major update, then this would be a good time to get some nice pieces for your headshots. But, please bring your favorite outfits that you already have and make sure you pick colors that match well with your skin tones. If unsure, it's always best to choose colors that are more neutral. Bright and loud colors can be distracting and sometimes look far more exaggerated and worse on camera. Also don't be afraid to layer. Layering really helps add an extra dimension to the photos by enabling a mix and match of colors and style. And, it can also be a great chance to get multiple looks in a single look. I recently had a female client who wore a business sport jacket with a nice neck piece to compliment. Underneath was a plain black tank top which we couldn't see under the jacket. We got some nice business formal shots and then she took off the jacket to create shots that were more casual and sexy.

And the best wardrobe tip I can give any actor: BRING AS MANY OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE!

3. GET IN SHAPE

This is an obvious one but important nonetheless. It breaks my heart to see actors come into the studio, get great headshots, and in the end they need a reshoot because they aren’t in their desired shape. Remember, the camera does not lie. And if you aren’t looking your best in real life, the camera won’t magically knock off those 15 extra pounds you’ve been wanting to lose so bad. It goes without saying, exercise and a healthy diet help improve the quality of your skin, hair, eyes, and it makes you feel great overall. Also, when we feel great about ourselves, it reflects in the image.

While it’s important to be in shape and consume a healthy diet leading up to your headshot session, it’s even more important to maintain such habits on an ongoing basis. Nothing is worse than looking spectacular in your headshots, but then gaining weight six months later, only for the casting director to find you look nothing like your headshots.

So my advice; Exercise every day, drink plenty of water, and get some natural light with a healthy dose of vitamin D. These three things can go a long way to look your best in your photos. But just as important, they will help you live your best life.

4. HAVE A REEL

Too many actors think that getting headshots with the most expensive and well known Los Angeles photographer will be their golden ticket to success. Nothing can be further from the truth. Yes, a great headshot can be a very valuable asset as your main calling card to get auditions. But the headshot is just the first step in that process. The amount of actors each casting director can audition for each role is very limited compared to the number of submissions they receive. That is why they have to be very picky on who they choose to audition. With that being said, even if an actors headshot pops out, many times casting directors will make sure to view an actors demo reel. Casting directors aren’t just looking for people who look the part, they are looking for great actors. A quick demo reel makes that apparent in the first 5-10 seconds of viewing. And an even stronger argument for the importance of a demo reel is how it plays out in the overall hiring process. In retrospect, the headshot is the calling card to get you in the door. But let's say you kill it in the audition room and make it to the final stages of callbacks. There is no doubt that the casting director, as well as the productions, directors, etc, will use whatever resources they have on hand to make the final hiring decisions. Many times they refer to the actors’ demo reels. And having a great demo reel could be the deciding factor that makes them decide to hire you over the other actors in the callbacks.

While not having a demo reel shouldn't deter an actor from getting headshots, it should be something on the drawing board in addition to the headshot. If you don’t have a demo reel, there is no reason to be discouraged. I recommend you do everything in your power to get speaking roles on student and indie productions. And make sure it's in your contract that they provide you with the final footage so you can add to your reel. And while that is not as easy as it sounds, Los Angeles is loaded with aspiring filmmakers who need demo reel footage as much as you do. Don’t be afraid to collaborate. And even better, there are many film makers who have their own company dedicated to creating high quality and professional demo reels for actors. These companies will help collaborate to create scenes that fit tone and genre that match your headshots.

5. GET IN AN ACTING CLASS

Again, I am going to be blunt; While I love actors, too many of them are lazy. So many actors think that good acting is some magical spirit that comes down from the heavens. They think that if they are just as “natural” and “real” as possible they will become the next Brad Pitt or Natalie Portman. My answer to that is, “NOPE”. Okay, yes, you hear about that one in a million success story about the A list actor who had zero acting experience, but by coincidence found themselves in an audition room because their cousin's best friend was the producer of some future blockbuster film. With a stroke of miracle they booked a supporting role in the film and the rest is history. Oh how we all love great Hollywood stories like that. But they are about as fictional as the movies themselves. The amount of effort, sacrifice, hard work, sweat, blood and tears actors put into their craft and career is unmeasurable. Can you imagine an Olympian not training everyday of their life? Can you imagine a Warren Buffet not studying the stock market every day? The greats become who they are, because they worked really, really, really, hard. Acting is no different. I get it; when we see great acting, it looks so natural and effortless. It makes us say to ourselves, “Hey, I can do that”. But in reality 99% of the great actors who have become household names because of their icon roles and acting chops got there from working really hard at tuning their instruments. You can grow your muscles without going to the gym. What makes actors think they can become great actors without working on their acting skills?

A JACK OF ALL TRADES

After reaching all the tips above you would think I’m a photographer, wardrobe designer, personal trainer, and life coach all in one. Truth be told, being a photographer entails a lot more skill sets than just understanding good lighting and composition. Being that I am both a trained actor and practicing film maker, I am able to understand what it takes to help guide actors to take great headshots. My expertise allows me to provide the tips and tools to get the most out of our sessions. To book a consultation with me, feel free to connect with me by CLICKING HERE.