That is the question, and today we're asking it about getting new headshots.
If you're like me, you're intimidated by the idea of updating your headshots. In theory, it should be fun! Getting dolled up to get your picture taken! But it's so much more than that: for the next few years of your life, this picture will sometimes be a casting director's one and only impression of you, and it has to you the all-encompassing YOU, the product. Talk about pressure!
I'm thrilled to tell you that I finally took the plunge after far too long -- I'm getting new headshots this weekend! So if you too have been putting this off for far too long, I'm here as your physical reminder to start the process now (right now, go!). Here are a few things to remember as you schedule your next headshot session.
🤩 TO DO -- Research, Research, Research
First things first, you gotta find your photographer! Photographers are not one-size-fits-all, so finding the right photographer for you will be the longest part of the process. And you know what, that's okay! Take the time to find a photographer whose portfolio you really vibe with because it will be the difference between headshots that you're just okay with and headshots you really love and are proud to use. Sure, anyone can pick up a camera and take a picture of you, but there are professionals for a reason. You should be able to look at a photographer's collection of headshots and see the people behind them, not just a pretty face. Do not skip this step!
🤮 NOT TO DO -- Assume a Higher Price Tag = Higher Quality
New headshots are an expense, so you want to make sure you get what you pay for. HOWEVER. Do not think that a photographer that charges a higher rate definitely means their work is of higher quality. This is where your research comes in. Compare and contrast all the photographers that interest you: if one of their rates is significantly higher than the others and you don't see a difference between their work and someone else's that charges less? Question that. We are all starving artists -- don't overpay if you don't have to. It's about finding the right person to capture your essence on camera. Paying more is not necessarily going to do that, so buyer beware.
🤩 TO DO -- Create an Inspiration Board
Enter the fun part of the process! Jump on the Googles, deep dive into Pinterest, and collect all manner of headshots that speak to you. You don't even have to know why they speak to you, you can just like them for that unexplainable something. But maybe you like the lighting in this one, the saturation and color in this one, the use of contrast in this one, the angles of this one, the personality of this one. Collect them in a file somewhere, and have them ready on the day of your session. Or better still, share them with your photographer ahead of time to start that conversation so that they can get a sense of what you're looking to accomplish!
🤮 NOT TO DO -- Expect Your Photographer to Mind Read
Yeah, remember how I said to start a conversation with your photographer about what you want from your session? Getting headshots done is a collaboration and a team effort. If you don't put in the effort and simply show up ready to pose, how can you expect your photographer to magically capture the exact image you want? Communication is key here. Before the session starts, clearly explain the aura you want to give off, the story you're trying to tell, the character type you are (and whether you're trying to fit into that mold or break out of it!), who you are as a person as well as a performer, etc etc etc. When both you and your photographer have put in the time to understand your wishes, that's when you'll end up with stellar shots.
🤩 TO DO -- Consider "Color Story"
This is a much bigger topic than I'll get into here, but on a basic level, we all know the colors that look good on us and the colors that don't look so good. There is science behind it, and it's all about undertones, whether you're cool toned or warm toned, whether you're a spring, summer, fall, or winter, and so on. All that aside, you inherently know through experience and by trial and error what your colors are. This is important when picking what you'll wear for the session as well as what kind of background you will use. Consider hair color as well as skin tone to ensure you are the focus of the photos, and discuss all of this with your photographer (as well as what is possible within your time slot so you can maybe have options -- i.e. a background change, a change of clothing).
🤮 NOT TO DO -- Underestimate the Power of Color
Consider the color red for a moment. How does it make you feel? What about blue? Green? Whether intentional or not, we all have preconceived ideas of what a color "says", so we have to take those ideas into crafting our headshots. If red says "power" to you and that's the theme or vibe you're trying to give off in your photos, then absolutely, wear that red tank top. But what if red says "angry" to you? Or maybe "desire"? If a color emulates a different feeling than what YOU'RE trying to say in your shots, rethink that color. After all, what you have to say is the most important in this instance -- do not let your colors speak for or against you. You are the focus of the headshot, so nothing about the shot should distract from the "product" you are selling.
🤩 TO DO -- Be Yourself
Headshots are meant to capture who you are (or who you want to present yourself as in the industry) in a single photo. If you find yourself posing or pretending to be America's Next Top Model when the camera is on you, the photos you get back will likely be disappointing. If you do a quick Google search for headshots and click over to the Images tab, I can almost guarantee that you can pick apart which subjects are being themselves and which are "modeling". It really might be the smallest change (relaxing a muscle here, thinking about a loved one, unclenching the jaw), but for whatever reason, those small details make a huge difference. In my opinion, those small changes are that unexplainable something in headshot photography because it means that those subjects are allowing the camera to capture them in a vulnerable place. Oscar Wilde said it best: "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
🤮 NOT TO DO -- Decide to Experiment with Who You Are
This can apply to all the elements of the shoot we've talked about so far. Your headshot appointment is not the time to trade your pink cardigan for a studded leather jacket. It's not the time to use this color as your background because you never wear this color and you want to stand out. It's not the time to try to copy someone else's photos because you want to be compared to them career-wise. Need I remind you that these photos will be what represent you after you leave an audition room for the next few years. If you leave casting with headshots that give the wrong impression of you, you're doing them and yourself a disservice. And even worse, if they look at your headshot and can see through it / find it disingenuous, not only will they be convinced that YOU don't know who you are, they might make negative assumptions about you. Prepare ahead of time, and do not stray from the script, so to speak!
Yes, getting your headshots updated may seem like a daunting task, but if you take your time finding the right photographer and put in the effort that something as important as this deserves, you'll come out the other side with some really beautiful shots! Now wish me luck, I'm off to my appointment!
Thanks for reading, #DreamTeamHLJ, and in case you need that extra push, just do it! Schedule your session already! I can't wait to see your new pictures!
Comments