5 Wardrobe Tips for Actor Headshots
“Do you prefer 'fashion victim' or 'ensemble challenged'…?”
WHAT ART THOU I SHALL WEAR?
There are a number of elements that go into creating great and effective headshots; Lighting, Makeup, Studio environment, backdrop choice, skill of photographer, etc. While those are all very important in the overall photo, wardrobe is the trump of them all. As a professional Los Angeles photographer that specializes in actor headshots, I’ve seen first hand how wardobe can make or break a photo. There have been countless moments where I couldn’t make a specific look work. After trying different lighting setups, posing techniques, changing frame composition, nothing worked. After guiding the actor to change the color of the shirt they were wearing, even if it was the same style of shirt but just a different color, the entire photo came to life. So if that’s the case, what are the tricks to preparing a wardrobe that works for a shoot. Here are 5 tips that will help you make sure you show up with the right outfits and relieve the stress of figuring out what to wear to your next headshot session.
1. KNOW YOURSELF
This tip ties in with an article I wrote about titled, “What Makes a Great Actor Headshot”. While I suggest you take a look at the advice I provide in that article, I will give you a short summary. Basically, the idea is that the best headshots happen when an actor knows who they are in real life thus allowing them to pinpoint the type of roles and characters they should be aiming for. But understanding the type of characters you will be best suited for, that can really help define the tone and genre that your wardrobe represents. For example, let’s say you find yourself to be a witty intellectual with a splash of arrogance. Then, you would be great as an aggressive detective, or the cocky techy hacker. In this instance, layering an untucked button down with a leather jacket could be great for the detective. And, a bright colored T shirt, under a neutral colored hoodie would be great for the techy hacker. Obviously, there are so many variations of choices that can go with the unlimited variations of characters. But, when you get specific about who you are, and the roles you play, finding the right outfit combinations becomes much easier.
2. WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE?
You don't need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for the shoot. Since the idea is to capture your essence, 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. The best wardrobe is the wardrobe that you feel comfortable in and you know looks good on you. Whenever an actor puts on an outfit and asks me “How does it look?”. I always answer the questions, “How does it feel?”. Their response to my question is a good indicator of how it will translate on them when in front of the camera.
3. LAYER, LAYER, LAYER
Layering is the best piece of advice you can use when it comes to finding the right wardrobe for your headshots. For one thing, layering usually helps create a better image by creating contrast with colors and it also helps add more dimension to the overall appeal and style of the photo. Another big benefit of layering, is that it allows you to get me characters out of a single look. I once had a female client going for the powerful CEO look. She wore a business sport jacket with a silk tie scarf to compliment. Underneath the jacket was a plain black tank top which we could barely see since the jacket was buttoned and the scarf tie covered most of her neck. Once we got great business formal shots I had her take off the jacket so she was just wearing a black tank top. Even with the same lighting and backdrop, we got shots that were more casual and sexy. Some ideas for layering include a sweatshirt, Unbuttoned shirt over a t-shirt, leather jacket, sport coat, or any other type of jacket that works great. My personal favorite layer combo is a t-shirt under a unzipped hoodie topped with a leather jacket.
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4. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
This ties in with the first tip “Know Yourself”, because once you know what characters and genre you are going for, you can now do the research. Find the best TV shows and Movies with characters that emulate the roles you look to play. Are you a bruting juvenile high school/college student? Okay, so look to see what Jesse Pinkerton wears in Breaking Bad or Scott McCall in Teen Wolf. And most of the time, you don’t need to get too specific. For example, No casting director who's casting the next guest star doctor on the newest hit medical drama is looking for someone who looks great in a pair of scrubs. Each character being cast, whether it's a doctor, lawyer, cop, etc., all have diverse personalities and personas outside of their "career". The essence and persona of the character is what they are casting, not how an actor looks when they are wearing a pair of scrubs. So watch an episode of The Good Doctor and see how Dr. Shaun Murphy dresses when not in his surgical greens.
5. HIRE A STYLIST
A stylist who specializes in styling actors for their headshots is not hard to come by in Los Angeles. While it can add to the overall expense of your headshots, the payoff can be a great investment. For one thing, they will save you so much time and energy trying to decide what looks best on you. Also, having someone to bounce off ideas with and even try on outfits for is a huge benefit to picking what to wear. Sometimes actors come into my studio with their favorite blouse that looks amazing on them. But for some reason it does not translate well at all in front of the camera. A stylist will help guide you through the sifting process of deciding what pieces work best for the camera. They will also be able to provide great insight into what they know works best for the characters you are going for. This is their specialty so they have the experience and knowledge that you may not have. And let’s be real, most actors are not the most fashion savvy. I mean, you did choose to be an actor in front of the camera and not a costume designer on set. Even big celebrities who seem to have so much fashion sense in their tabloid photos most likely were dressed by personal stylists. No matter how you look at it, a stylist knows best, and will definitely help make your photos look their best.
BONUS TIP- BRING OPTIONS
I will say it once and I will say it again, “BRING OPTIONS”. When you show up the studio, please bring as many options as possible. If it means bringing your entire wardrobe, do it. Go on amazon, buy some garment bags, and bring it all. I’m obviously exaggerating a bit but hopefully you get the point. And yes, protecting your clothes with a garment bag and hangers is a great idea when transporting your wardrobe to the studio.
I hope the handful of tips provide you with a good direction towards looking your best for your headshots. I find one of my biggest skills when it comes to creating great headshots for all of my clients is my expertise on putting together the right wardrobe combinations that will look best on camera. That is why I spend a great deal of time with each client making sure to make the best out of the options they bring to the studio.
If you would like to schedule a consultation to book a shoot with me in my Los Angeles studio, feel free to shoot me a message and I would like to help you look your best so we can capture amazing headshots together!