Apart from hiring the top headshot photographers, there are few things you need to be clear about on your own!
The headshot is the most significant marketing tool for an actor, and it is surprising how many people do it wrong only to cut a few corners. It’s about that actors begin to take it more seriously than ever. When a little headshot jpeg pops up on a casting director’s screen, it must put them in awe and say, “Yes, bring him/her in!” Not “Yikes, this looks scary!”
Your headshot is your ultimate calling card – a nice coloured 8×10 of your face, from which directors will hire you and you will be landed some of the best roles of the history. It will be emailed to tons of agents and casting directors, who see hundreds and thousands of these every day, spread on their desk and in tabs on their computer screens. You want yourself to come off like a pro, not an amateur, so the way you present yourself in your headshot is everything.
If you want people to think of you as a 10/10, you must have a high quality, stunning headshot – and NOT an iPhone pic, or your Instagram photo where you are looking like a top model!
Here is what you need to pay attention to when it comes to your headshots:
Personality over glamour
Make sure your headshots look like you. Go easy on the airbrushing. Casting directors want to see the ‘YOU’ who’d show up to the audition. It’s not about looking exceptionally pretty; it’s about representing who you are, wrinkles included. It should look like you’d on your best day, showing your real age, and how you look currently. It’s not about the type want to look like, it’s the type that you are.
<h2style=”font-size:30px;”>Go pro
Spend some solid bucks—it’s worth it. Go to headshot photographers in London who are trained, understands the ins and outs of headshot photography and lighting. Your entire career ahead depends on these headshots, so go for someone who knows how to do them right.
Pay attention to filming, background, and lighting
In general, a decent headshot is chest-up with good lighting spot on your face, and no harsh, dramatic shadows, unless you are going in for a classic like “The Phantom of the Opera.” Three-quarter shots are useful for print, and extreme close-up shots are good for, well, nothing. Look straight into the camera, and the focus should be right on the centre of your eyes, not your right ear, or the apple on your tee. Be sure the equipment used to take your photo is high-quality with a high depth of field, making you stand out.
It’s all about the eyes
Similar to on-camera acting, it’s all about your eyes. They should be perfectly in focus, alive, and energised. There should be firm inner thoughts, implying a strong backstory and a life behind those eyes. A slight squint will bring your photo to life and help it stand out in a pile of thousands – and good headshot photographers know how to bring this out in you.
Don’t go overboard with clothing and props
Let’s not ever get crazy in this department. Keep your look simple and classy, and follow the decent, standard format. A simple solid shirt would do the trick. And no props (strictly!)