HEADSHOTS

No matter where you currently reside, other than L.A. and New York, it’s pretty much a given that when you land in Hollywood, you’re going to need brand new COLOR headshots. Your local photographer was probably perfectly fine for weddings, bar mitzvahs and high school annuals, but not for professional, Hollywood-caliber headshots. That isn’t something that you, the actor, would necessarily recognize, but the people who will judge you here in Hollywood will. Poor-quality headshots can stop your career before it ever begins, fair or unfair as that may seem to you.

All headshots are done in color now, thanks to the popularity of online submissions. When you line up a dozen or so thumbnail shots on a computer screen, the lovely old black & whites just can’t hold up next to color shots. It’s that simple. Besides which, if you’re still using black & whites, you will appear to be so far behind the times, that casting offices will avoid you like yesterday’s egg salad.

We’re going to give you a list of some of the best photographers in town – but not any who charge an arm and a leg. If you think that spending half again as much (or more) for a photo shoot provides you with anything better than these guys can come up with, there are plenty of gougers to choose from. We just won’t recommend them. On the other hand, we have known some fabulous photographers who were so inexpensive to begin with that we wanted to hand them a few bucks just to keep them going. They were smart enough to realize that in order to build up their own portfolios, they would practically have to give their work away. Several of them are on our list and fortunately for them, are able to command “normal” prices now. Our point is merely that you might just luck out and find someone who seems too cheap to be true, but if his or her portfolio matches up with what you need, feel free to give it a go.

Before we get to that list, here are a few pointers, in no particular order:

- This should be obvious (but apparently isn’t): For color shots, be sure to wear…a color! And we don’t mean those dull, boring browns, grays and khakis. We mean something that’s bright enough to draw the viewer’s eye to your headshot and which is complementary to your own coloring. The darker you are, the stronger the color should be.

- No wild patterns in your clothing, please, and no jewelry.

- Little or no makeup, and if you do wear makeup, be sure you can duplicate it yourself for auditions.

- Keep your hairdo as “everyday” as possible, so that (as with makeup) you can do it yourself.

- No costumes, at least not for theatrical shots. It’s still considered OK to suggest a costume for commercial shots.

- Make sure your photographer understands the use of dramatic lighting and try to avoid outdoor shots. It’s too hard to control the lighting and bad lighting can ruin a great face.

- Guys – if you can grow a scruffy beard in a couple of days, but usually are clean-shaven – start your photo shoot with that scruffy look, then shave and continue. Don’t bother with this if it takes you a week to grown pale, weak or semi-hairless facial fuzz.

- Show emotion in your face and especially with your eyes. Blank stares may work for fashion models, but not for actors!

Remember – your headshots are your calling cards, the very first thing that most agents and casting directors will see. They must, must, must look like you – not some glamorized, one-day-out-of-the-year version of you.

One other word of advice: After checking out a potential photographer’s portfolio, please make it a point to meet with him prior to hiring him. It’s really important to “click” (no pun intended) with the person behind the camera. If you don’t like them much, or they seem intimidating, you will not produce relaxed, inviting headshots.

Here’s that list…

CHARLES FRETZIN	www.fretzinphoto.com
ARMEN ASADORIAN	www.armenasadorian.com
LISA BEVIS	www.lisabevis.com
JOHN CORBETT	www.johncorbettphotography.com
DENICE DUFF	www.duffimages.com
KENNETH DOLIN	www.kennethdolin.com
FRICK PHOTOGRAPHY	www.frickphotography.com
MARY ANN HALPIN	www.maryannhalpin.com
ROBERT KAZANDJIAN	www.kazphoto.com
DAVID LAPORTE	www.davidlaporte.com
JOE FEDIO	http://jfediophotography.com
VANDIVEER	www.jvimages.com
GUY VIAU MARK BENNINGTON JEROME DUCHANGE	www.guyviauheadshots.com www.benningtonheadshots.com www.jeromeduchange.com

There are loads of other photographers listed in the display ads in Backstage West. You have plenty to choose from now, so no excuses!

TOUCHUPS AND DUPLICATION

Once you (and your representation, if you have any) have chosen the headshots you wish to duplicate and/or use online, check them carefully to see if they need any touchups (stray hairs, dark circles under the eyes, that stupid pimple that erupted the morning of your shoot, etc.). We suggest that you only touch up things that the makeup artist on your next film or TV show could easily cover – not permanent “flaws” that no amount of stage makeup can disguise. No matter what you order to be touched up, instruct the technician to go lightly. You do not want to completely change the shape of your features or “erase” 15 years of “maturity”. No, no, no. Your mantra should be “keep it real”.

Decide which of the photos will only be used online and which will also be duplicated in hard copies. Then shop around for the best prices for duplications. The quality nowadays is fairly standard, but play it safe: Make sure the duplication house stands behind its work and will re-do the photos if there are any serious problems with them.

Be sure that you only get 8X10s. We’re still astounded that once in a while, someone is using an oddball-sized headshot. That’s really ridiculous; if nothing else, the duplication house should have warned them not to do that.

NOTE: In our opinion, there is no reason to order more than 100 of any shot to start out. For one thing, with the proliferation of online submissions, far less hard copies are used (which is saving actors a ton of money). For another, you may find that what looked great six months ago really isn’t working for you, so why kill an extra tree just to have a pile of unusable headshots in the back of your closet?

ANOTHER NOTE:  If you’re going to send out jpegs of your headshots for any reason (and there are plenty of ‘em!), for heaven’s sake, take the time to put your name on the label of each one.  There’s nothing worse for an agent or casting director than finding a jpeg floating around your computer of someone you vaguely recognize and the only identifyer is the number of the photo.  DON’T BE LAZY.  Do a cut-and-paste of your name and add it to the photo number.  That way, each shot can easily be identified.

Unless your agent specifically instructs you otherwise, you should only have your name on the headshot. All other information should be found on your resume. (Suppose you switch agents and have their logo plastered all over your headshots, of which you still have a couple of hundred left…!)

Many people really detest having their photos taken. It isn’t easy and it’s not designed to make a person feel at ease. If you’re one of those who freezes during a shoot, think about taking a good friend with you, someone who will act as your security blanket, and with whom you can laugh and have a good time. Ask the photographer if you may bring your own music, if that’s your favorite relaxer. No matter what, try to have a good time. After all, if nothing else, you are an actor. Act as if…!