The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You

1 August 2010 | No Comments »

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The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You
As many of my regular readers will know one of the most important principles of a great actors headshot photograph is that it must look like you.

Many time I have come across headshots that look nothing ike the person standing in front of me. I have on several occasions spoken to casting directors
and agents about this ridiculous phenomenon. The one thing they all state categorically is that unless the actors looks like their headshot they are wasting
every ones time.
And here’s a dramatic fact; no one likes to have their time wasted especially when they’re busy.
I found this great in depth article on the Backstage blog and thought it would be worth a read
for many people.

Here’s an excerpt that’ll wet your taste buds……

It’s a variation on the classic actor’s nightmare: You step into a room for an audition. The casting director is perusing your headshot. You exchange polite hellos, and a quizzical expression passes over her face. Her eyes move up and down between you and the frozen image in her hand. Her mouth tightens. You know it’s coming. You try to predict which line she will speak:
“So, are you here to read for the niece or the aunt?”

“When did you last have your headshots done?”

“Excuse me, do I even have the right person here?”

All because the person in the photo is younger, thinner, sexier, better looking, and/or more glamorous than you. You can rationalize: “Geez, everybody exaggerates. Casting directors expect that. Anyway, she should be more interested in my acting chops than my headshot.”

Related Articles The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You

• Roles Based On Past Projects (actorgrowth.com)
• Quick Tips and Tricks for Auditioning (teachstreet.com)
• Finding A Headshot Photographer (actorgrowth.com)
• Beautiful Photographs ( ambiguousmisdirection.com )