I was searching a well know casting site today and came across a headshot of a guy that was taken outside. I noticed it in particular because it was a similar style of shot to one that I do for some of my clients that works really well. A shot that most of my clients really love.
When I looked at this shot one thing jumped out at me - THERE WERE NO EYES - what I mean is that the poor actors eyes could not be seen. They were simply large black holes in the face of the actor. ( Great for a Zombie movie )
As you know I have posted many times on how important the eyes are in an actors headshot. They are critical to making your headshot stand out.
Why hadn't this photographer not seen that there was not enough light on the subjects face, why hadn't they used some kind of reflector, was it they couldn't be bothered or didn't understand the concept of lighting.
Which leads me to another point. Maybe the photographer was part time or cheap or a friend, either way they should have known that they weren't doing justice to the subject or themselves. But more on this in another post.
Back to the main point. Why didn't the photographer do something about this, AND more importantly why didn't the actor realise that his eyes couldn't be seen and say something to his photographer AND just as important why would he use this headshot to promote himself?
Didn't he realise that his eyes were the most important part of the shot? didn't he understand that he was selling himself short in this ultra competitive market where you only have seconds to impress?
I also wondered if he knew about this stuff and if his photographer had ever mentioned or knew themselves how important the eyes are in an actors headshot?
I am saddened when I see this kind of poor photography, partly because it brings my profession into disrepute but mainly for the actor who has wasted their money and is unknowingly promoting himself with a headshot that is doing him no favours at all. He should be on the phone asking for his money back - not a reshoot in this case as the photographer clearly does not understand on of the most fundamental rules of photography.
Needless to say I would never in a million years shoot a shot like that.
Well that's my rant over for the day.
Click Here for my free guide to the 7 Secrets Of A Great Headshot
Thursday 24 September 2009
Tuesday 1 September 2009
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