Headshot Photography Archives - Aimee Spinks Photography

WHAT TO WEAR FOR ACTOR HEADSHOTS

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How to prepare for your actor headshots

Aimee Spinks — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 14:39:01 +0000

How to prepare for your actor headshot session…

Your actor headshots are a key marketing tool for your acting career, so it’s important to prepare yourself in order to get the most out of your session. Here are some things you might want to consider:

Think about your casting type.

A good actor headshot is not only eye-catching but also successfully conveys an actor’s casting type. For instance, if you typically play edgier, authoritative or confrontational roles, you may not want to have a bright beaming smile in all of your actor headshots. Conversely, you also don’t want to take those roles too literally and find yourself looking standoffish in your headshots. It’s about subtly suggesting at your casting type, rather than ramming it down the throat of the person viewing your headshots. You still want casting directors to think you’re friendly to work with! (For more of an idea as to what casting directors look for, check out my recent interview with CD Sharon Sorrentino and director, Tracey Street, HERE.)

I always like to have a chat with actors ahead of their headshot session in order to establish what their casting type is, as this allows me to tailor the session and give appropriate direction in order to bring this out in a subtle but effective way.

If you’re an actor at the beginning of your career, don’t worry if you don’t have a casting type just yet; it can take time and experience to fully discover. If you don’t have a casting type, it’s a good idea to think about the kind of roles you’ve enjoyed playing in the past and those you’d like to play in the future. This gives your headshot photographer a good starting point so they can make your acting headshots reflect these areas of interest and experience.

Dress appropriately.

I’ve done a whole in-depth blog post on what to wear for actor headshots HERE which covers everything including which colours are best and why, what fabrics are most ideal and which necklines suit different looks.

The bottom line is you need to make sure you look professional and in something that isn’t distracting so stay away from bright colours, patterns, collars and logos. Make sure your tops are crease and stain-free and be sure to bring options so your photographer can advise on the best tops for you and the look you want to achieve as your choice of tops can make a surprisingly huge difference.

Be fresh!

This might sound obvious but don’t go partying the night before you’re actor headshots; you will look and feel tired and is that really the vibe you want to give to casting directors?

Make-up

A bit of natural, subtle make-up is fine, but avoid looking too glammed up; casting directors want to see the real you. Generally speaking, you’re pretty safe with a light foundation paired with mascara and subtle eye-liner.

If you have woken up with a zit, don’t panic! Most photographers can very easily remove spots and other non-permanent marks but I strongly advise against asking your photographer to remove scars, moles, freckles or tattoos as a casting director will not be impressed if you walk into their audition looking different to your headshots!

Hair

As for your hair, be sure to bring a comb and a bobble, particularly if you have long hair. Even if you don’t normally like you hair up (or even down) it’s worth experimenting with both options during your session as it can have a big effect on your look, especially when working through different expressions and postures.

If your casting type sees you in a lot of period dramas, wearing your hair up can work well with fortifying this suggestion, particularly if in a loose bun or updo that can easily come down half way into your session. A slicked-back ponytail or bun can often work well when trying to give off a practical, confident or authoritative appearance as they are very practical ways to wear one’s hair.

Having the hair down is great for giving a casting director an idea as to the length and thickness of your hair as this can also impact your casting, especially for shows and soaps who don’t expect to ‘wig up’ their cast.

Gentlemen with longer length hair should also consider bringing bobbles or bands to show hair both up and down as, like with their female counterparts, it can make a huge difference to your look.

It’s also important to have options to remove hair from your face should you have particularly thick or unruly locks that have a habit of covering you up – casting directors don’t want to see you hiding behind it!

Trust your photographer

You’d be surprised at the number of actors who are confident on stage and screen but who hate getting their headshots done! It can be an intimidating thought, especially if it’s your first time getting them done. I’ve worked with many actors who do not like being photographed and they have all left smiling with headshots they love and an experience they’d recommend to others. No matter how uncomfortable being photographed might make you feel, a great photographer will know how to put you at your ease and direct you in a way to get amazing acting headshots. My headshot sessions are a collaboration; we work together to see what kind of approach works for you and gets you the best results possible. Every session is tailored to each individual actor in a personal service designed to help you relax, have fun, and leave with headshots that will get you the auditions you want.

Don’t just take it from me! Here are what my previous clients say about their experience with me.

Interested in booking your next actor headshots? Find out all about my sessions along with prices, HERE. In the meantime, why not check out some of these useful links?

WHEN SHOULD I UPDATE MY HEADSHOTS

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Interview with a Casting Director

Aimee Spinks — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 14:06:50 +0000

Everyone wants to know what makes a great acting headshot. Well who better to ask than a casting director and a director?

Sharon Sorrentino is a London based casting director with over 13 years’ experience in the industry, responsible for casting multi-award winning films such as The Journey, Grandfather and The Storyteller as well as authoring The Audition Room, a pragmatic guide for actors offering tips and inside knowledge on how to land the audition you want.

Tracey Street is a Birmingham based freelance theatre director, as well as an acting and directing coach, and has a show appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called The Testament of Mary, that completed a sold out run at The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham, this April.

WHAT’S THE TYPICAL PROCESS YOU GO THROUGH WHEN CASTING FOR A ROLE?

SHARON: When we are the sent the script, we break it down into the characters. Once we’ve broken down the characters with a little more depth, we think about actors whom we think would be a good fit and an interesting choice for those roles, we don’t just want to go for the obvious choice. We check those actors’ availabilities for the production with their agents or directly if they are currently representing themselves. Most casting directors will also put a production and character breakdown out to agents via websites such as Spotlight and CastingNetworks so that they can suggest their appropriate and available clients, though not necessarily for every project we cast. We audition the actors for the roles, usually with the director and/or producer present, though not always at the first stages. Some productions will recall for chemistry reads where we pair up actors who would be playing particularly close roles e.g. spouses, work partners or best friends, if there is the time and budget. We are very involved and always on the actors’ side, fighting for the best actor, not the most famous or the prettiest.

TRACEY: After receiving CV’s and headshots from actors who would like to put themselves forward to be considered for the role(s) being advertised, The first stage of the process for me is to look through the headshots. I’m asking myself, does this person look like how I see the character? Do they have the essence or energy of the character being cast? (e.g do they have a vulnerable quality, kind eyes and smile, a vibrancy, soulfullness, a gutsy urban vibe etc) If I feel they have a look that I like and connect with for that character then I investigate further into that person. I will look at other headshots they have and any showreel footage.

Also at this stage if I don’t feel like I connect with the vibe and energy of the person in the headshot I will rule them out for an audition. For example, if a person looks unfriendly or moody or might have a bit of an attitude – I am considering that I have to spend 3 to 5 weeks (sometimes longer ) working and creating with this person; I want to choose people I am going to enjoy working with and connect with. Sometimes a selection of headshots that are actors playing only mean and moody put me off – they seem to take themselves too seriously! Personally I’m particularly drawn to pleasant smiley headshots as they give more of an essence of the person – so I look for the character I’m casting for and I’m looking for the person – the actor – looking for their heart and soul – their essence.

I know actors that have only mean and moody headshots but in real life they are the most pleasant, enjoyable, creative people to work with, but from just their moody headshots I would have ruled them out. Thus I feel it’s good to have a variety of headshots.

After this stage I will look at their CV to see where they trained and what other work they have done, what other companies they have worked for and often if I know particular companies or directors I will get in touch with them to get an informal reference. If a submission gets through these stages then I will call them in for an audition, to meet and work with them in person.

ON AVERAGE HOW MANY ACTORS APPLY FOR A ROLE / HOW MANY HEADSHOTS ARE YOU LOOKING THOUGH TO FILL A SINGLE ROLE?

SHARON: We usually have to look through hundreds of submissions from agents per role that we are casting, as well as thinking on our own ideas and sometimes when specific skill sets are needed we will do searches and they can be in the thousands.

TRACEY: This is impossible to say, there are so many variables. Some roles I have had to cast I have had a LOT of submissions to get through, particularly for lead roles. I’ve had up to 70 submissions for some castings.

“The headshot is HUGELY important. It’s the main thing that I look at. If someone doesn’t have a good headshot it really puts me off. If it’s not a good professional quality headshot it makes me question the actor’s professionalism and quality of work.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS AN ACTOR’S HEADSHOT TO YOU? HOW MUCH OF A PART DOES IT PLAY IN GETTING THE ACTOR AN AUDITION?

SHARON: An actor’s headshot is the first impression they can make with us and the director and producers. It is part of our job to always be increasing our knowledge base of working actors, so we go to see a lot of theatre and watch a lot of TV and films. We could see someone fantastic in a fringe theatre show somewhere and want to bring them in for a production. If their headshot is not an accurate likeness or is badly posed, lit, not their best side, etc, this can all work against them where the others on the creative team are concerned if they do not know their work.

If we are searching through Spotlight for example, to widen our searches, we are looking at thousands upon thousands of thumbnail headshots before we click on them to look at their CV, showreel and more headshots to investigate those actors further. Again if it is a bad likeness or you are not engaged with the camera you are holding yourself back and will be missing opportunities.

TRACEY: The headshot is HUGELY important. It’s the main thing that I look at. If someone doesn’t have a good headshot it really puts me off. If it’s not a good professional quality headshot it makes me question the actor’s professionalism and quality of work. I need to be able to see an actor’s face clearly. I need to be able to see what they actually look like – there’s nothing worse than an actor that you have called for an audition, turning up and looking nothing like their headshot. If the headshot doesn’t grab me, if I don’t connect with it, then I won’t call that person in for an audition.

I have even gone out of my way to suggest to some actors (that I know and know the quality of their work) that they get better headshots done as the ones they have just don’t represent who they are as a person or as an actor.

WHAT MAKES SOME HEADSHOTS STANDOUT OVER OTHERS TO YOU? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LOOK FOR IN PARTICULAR?

SHARON: An actor’s headshot needs to be current, there are so many actors whose headshots are 15 years old. They come in to meet and they look completely different and sometimes not really appropriate for the role. They need to be engaged with the camera and thinking about something. Whether it’s a toothy smile, Mona Lisa smile or a determined and more hard/harsh a look is up to the actor. I would always say the main picture is the most important, a Mona Lisa smile works better for me personally because it’s more open to interpretation than the hard man look or the overly bubbly look. I won’t ignore the other photos though. On Spotlight you can have a number of secondary pictures, this is where you want to show your different looks and expressions as these cause different feelings to the viewer. Don’t use props such as glasses if you don’t normally wear them. Don’t wear distracting tops, frills, crazy patterns or colours which are too bright as these all detract from your face. Don’t do any arty poses with your hands obscuring any part of your face. What I am looking for is an open picture with eyes very clearly in focus and where an intelligence is conveyed because the actor is thinking about something, not just grinning at the camera.

TRACEY: Some of the answer to this is in the answer to the first question. I like headshots that don’t look too ‘posed’ I want to see the person, the energy, essence and character of that person. I want to see a smiley one, a serious or more neutral one, a warm one, I don’t like to see ‘posed’ ‘acted / ‘playing a part’ shots. As a director I want to imagine that myself, I can judge that from basic shots of them as serious, smiley, warm etc.

I like to be able to see the persons face clearly and lit clearly (no moody lighting) No distracting backgrounds. I want to see the uniqueness of that person/actor. Their essence and energy. That’s what I will ultimately connect with.

HOW MANY HEADSHOTS DO YOU THINK AN ACTOR SHOULD HAVE ON THEIR SPOTLIGHT/ CASTING CALL / WEBSITE? DO YOU LIKE TO SEE A RANGE?

SHARON: I think 5 or 6 is a good number. Your main headshot and some others which show you in a different light, darker character looks if your main shot is smiley, or vice versa. A production still in the secondary photos is also a good way to see you in action before viewing the showreel, especially for actors who have not done that much screen work.

TRACEY: Yes I do like to see a range, maybe wearing their hair differently, in different colours and style of clothing also. I think maybe 4 or 5 gives a good variety. But of course with that main headshot that is full of their character and essence to grab the attention first.

Interested in booking your next actor headshots? Find out all about my sessions along with prices, HERE. In the meantime, why not check out some of these useful links?

WHAT TO WEAR FOR ACTOR HEADSHOTS

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR HEADSHOT SESSION

The post Interview with a Casting Director appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

What to wear for actor headshots?

Aimee Spinks — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 14:48:13 +0000

What to wear for actor headshots

One of the most common questions I get asked about actor headshot photography is ‘what should I wear?’ Though the industry is certainly more flexible and open to contemporary style portraits than it used to be, there are still some very good rules of thumb to follow in order to make sure your actor headshots look professional and that your clothes aren’t distracted the casting director from you.

Colours:

Below are my recommendations on the kinds of colours to consider wearing for your actor headshots. If you HAD to choose just two, I’d say black and a top that matches your eye colour should be the priority!

Black is very strong and is great for giving an unfussy and direct look. It’s professional and works particularly well with fair-medium toned skin, especially when images are converted to black and white (in black and white images you want the brightest part of the image to be your face so a darker top works well). I highly recommend having at least one headshot in a plain black top and it works especially well if you want to get across a strong, sharp, bold, dark or confident casting type.

White: white is great for giving a softer, brighter and cleaner cut feel. It works best with actors with medium-darker skin tones; if you have fair skin and fair hair it may wash you out so you might consider a grey instead. White is synonymous with innocence, purity, youth and goodness so it can be particularly good if you want to suggest a casting type that aligns with these characteristics.

Grey: grey can be a good alternative to suggest the softer casting types above but without washing you out. The right shade of grey is also great for bringing out blue eyes. It usually doesn’t have the impact of the highly contrasting black and white but it’s good to bring as a safety option.

Burgundy and Navy: these are two of my favourite alternative colours to photograph actors in when shooting outdoors against a natural background, particularly burgundy as it works so well with the earth tones of a park or garden setting. Still dark, these are fabulous when headshots are presented in both colour as well as black and white and in my opinion, add a little more depth than a solid black.

Green: if you have green eyes or red hair, a green top is a must!

Style:

Just as you don’t want the colour of your top to distract from you, you want to make sure the style of your top doesn’t let you down either!

Avoid: shirts with collars, logos, patterns or tops with multiple colours. These all call attention to themselves which we do not want! Formal shirts can also make your headshot look like that of a corporate manager rather than an actor. I’ve seen softer, more casual shirts work however they are a risky option.

Neckline: believe it or not, the neckline of your top can have a subtle subconscious effect on how your character might be interpreted at a glance.

There’s a reason why Disney typically gives all of its heroes soft edges and the villains get pointy chins and noses etc. Points give a sharp edge so you’ll find that a V-neck t-shirt gives a stronger, edgier look compared to a softer look from round or crew neck. These are the two most common types of neckline for actor headshots and a good safe starting point.

Boat, drape and lower neckline tops work well for ladies with a period casting type, particularly when matched with an updo though be careful not to be too revealing!

Tank tops are great for giving a more practical, hands on and confident look though sometimes they can show too much skin which can be distracting so be prepared with a backup in case it doesn’t work.

Halter neck tops are a much better alternative to tank tops for women who want to come across with an aura of strength and practicality. The reason for this is the neckline cuts into shoulders which emphasises the muscle structure there and a high neck halter keeps everything covered for a more practical appearance.

Turtle neck tops and jumpers don’t often work well as they can leave you looking like a floating head. Unless you’re going for a very specific look, I highly recommend avoiding these styles for your headshots.

Fabric:

Though reflective fabrics like satin and silks can work really well on fashion shoots, they can prove distracting for actor headshots so you might want to consider sticking to matte fabrics like cotton and wool.

Though solid colours work best, if those colours are mottled, it can produce even better results that block colour alone as the mottling adds a little texture to your top without being distracting.

Examples of mottled fabric – great for adding texture to actor headshots!

Other clothing:

If your actor headshot photography is being done outdoors, you might want to consider wearing a thermal under layer or vest that can’t be seen beneath your tops. This has the benefit of keeping you warmer, particularly in autumn/winter months, as well as facilitating quick and modesty-keeping changes!

If your headshot session does fall on a colder day, think about bringing a pair of gloves and a large jumper you can keep on around your arms or even some hand warmers. This way you can stay warm and relaxed throughout your shoot.

In terms of what we see on camera in your actor headshots, you really don’t need anything else. I’ve sometimes been asked if actors should dress up in costume to reflect the various roles they play such as a bomber jacket and a scowl for a doorman or scrubs to show you’re ability to play someone in the medical profession. The answer is a big fat raging NOOOOO! Doing this will make you look extremely amateurish – you should not rely on your clothing to show your casting type, nor should you ham up your expressions to spoon feed your range to a casting director. The key is to be subtle about it so that the casting director can mould your headshot to match the vision they have in their head of the kind of character they see for a role.

Actor headshots typically are just that – headshots. You don’t need any longer or full length portraits unless specifically asked for by an agent or casting director so don’t worry about what you have on your legs and feet – just make sure you’re comfortable and warm!

More useful stuff…

Interested in booking your next actor headshots? Find out all about my sessions along with prices, HERE. In the meantime, why not check out some of these useful links?

WHAT CASTING DIRECTORS SAY ABOUT HEADSHOTS

WHEN SHOULD I RENEW MY ACTOR HEADSHOT?

The post What to wear for actor headshots? appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

Actor Headshot Photography with Jenny Jenkins

Aimee Spinks — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:01:56 +0000

During last week’s actor headshot photography sessions, I had the pleasure of working with the brilliant Jenny Jenkins: an actor and director based in Stratford-upon-Avon. She has a wealth of classical performance experience having worked for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and toured with Heartbreak Productions, most recently as Rosaline in Love’s Labours Lost. As a director Jenny runs Bright Particular Productions who’s most recent work includes a site specific performance for Royal Shakespeare Company PILOT Sites.

Jenny can be found on Spotlight HERE.

Below are some of our favourite headshots from the session:

Other stuff you might like….

WHY DO I NEED A SPECIALIST PHOTOGRAPHER?

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN ACTOR HEADSHOT SESSION

INFO ON PRIVATE ACTOR HEADSHOT SESSIONS

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A HEADSHOT SESSION

The post Actor Headshot Photography with Jenny Jenkins appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

When to Renew Your Actor Headshots

Aimee Spinks — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:22:59 +0000

Rocking a New Look?

I often get asked “when should an actor update their headshots?” The answer is simple: do you still look exactly the same as you do in your most recent actor headshot?

This is where you have to get brutally honest with yourself: take a deep breath and admit that if yes, you may have put on a few pounds and accrued a few more wrinkles since your last headshot session ten years ago, it may be time to get some more done.

Age, weight, tattoos, piercings, hair – whatever may have changed since you had your last actor headshot; any potential casting director needs to know about it. Make sure that the person they see in the headshot that got emailed to them is the same person who walks into the audition.

Had a few more birthdays?

Time is the enemy of us all and we can’t help but change as it passes. The amount of change however varies between age groups and from person to person. Assuming you’ve had no drastic hair changes or gotten tattooed and pierced (in which case, book a headshot session now!) below is my recommended guide on how often you should renew actor headshots, but always ask yourself this question: do I look different from my current shots? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to renew them. If you still look pretty much the same, you can probably hold off a little longer!

Children under 10

Teenagers

Adults

Change of direction?

It’s not just a change of look that indicates it’s probably time to renew your actor headshot but also if you find yourself having a change of direction. Take Zack for instance. When he first came to me last year, he was a sweet, clean shaven, second year actor at Birmingham School of Acting. Back then he was going for the fun and endearing boy next door look; young, sweet and perhaps a touch naïve.

As you can see; when he came back to me last month to renew his headshots, not only was he rocking a totally different look but a totally different direction for his acting. Now Zack is going for the brooding, edgy guy with attitude and this totally comes through in his latest actor headshots.

Zack is a great example of how different you can look between headshot sessions so it’s important to keep evaluating your current style both in terms of appearance and goals as an actor! Your casting type should always be at the forefront of your mind when getting your headshots done as this is what you want to be selling to a casting director. Speaking of casting directors, why not check out my recent interview with casting director, Sharon Sorrentino and director, Tracey Street, where we discuss exactly what they look for in a headshot and what decisions they make when going through the process of selecting actors for audition!

Do you need a new headshot? Why not check out the links below?

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A HEADSHOT SESSION

WHY DO I NEED A SPECIALIST HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER?