The Camera Never Lies… Or Does It?
There’s no doubting it, your headshot is THE most important tool you have as an actor. It’s often the first thing a casting director will see of you, and to be brutal, if your headshot doesn’t pop off that page, you’re CV will more than likely end up in the recycling bin!
So how can we make sure that doesn’t happen to us?
We asked top photographer Rob Taylor to write us an EXCLUSIVE article explaining EXACTLY how to avoid such a disaster!
Always Go Pro
…you can be sure that a £20 headshot will certainly look like a £20 headshot.
Although it may not be immediately apparent, there is a world of difference between a professional headshot and a snapshot taken on your mate’s compact camera. So the photographer is by far the most important factor to consider when booking your headshot session.
Of course, as a headshot photographer myself, I would say that, but like many other things in life, when it comes to photography you tend to get what you pay for. While a sky-high price and a flashy website is no guarantee of quality, you can be sure that a £20 headshot will certainly look like a £20 headshot.
Cheap Shots
Professional photographers have a saying when it comes to selecting new gear: ‘If you buy cheap… you buy twice’. Cheap kit either breaks quickly or just isn’t up to the task, so it always pays to spend more in the first place.
It’s wise to apply the same rule to your headshots: take the cheap option and you’re going to waste both time and money, as you’ll still end up having to pay a good photographer to do the job properly.
Spotlight only goes to press once a year and you don’t want to undersell yourself for the next twelve months by publishing a cheap headshot.
The best way to save money is to avoid bargain basement photographers altogether and go straight to a pro.
5 Responses to The Camera Never Lies… Or Does It?
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December 31, 2011
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Useful article. Thank you!
@ellajaeharris Thanks for your kind comment Ella! Glad you enjoyed it! More articles on the way soon!
Hmm methinks upon this… I’ve had heaps of headshots taken over the years and I think I’m still searching for that shot that everybody I show goes ‘wow’ to! I’ve been to both top end photographs and those trying to build a name for themselves and in my experience it’s been the latter that I’ve been happier with!
I also think working with a photographer your comfortable with is the ticket to real/natural looking shots so even if you meet the photographer before the shoot to chew the fat and get to know each other, it takes away that awkward edge that can often be felt…
However this hasn’t solved my issue of getting a shot that everybody approves!…
Thanks for the article – I do need a new headshot definitely. I stopped using my last professional one because I’ve shed nearly 4 stone so look very different but now is not the right time as I’ll be shedding more weight in April. May well take up this special offer then – thanks!
The other reason I don’t feel ready to get some more done is I’m thinking about what kind of roles I’m most likely to be cast in. What’s people’s opinion on tailoring headshots to different kinds of acting niches? My understanding is that this will really help you to get selected for those roles – what if you don’t know yet what is your niche or niches?
Any help appreciated