When actor’s book their first actor headshot session with me, they often ask how to prepare for the shoot. I therefore thought it might be useful to write a short blog entry discussing the key things to be aware of when diving in to your latest actor headshot photography session, and how these can affect the success of your shoot.

1. Your Experience So Far

When you arrive to one of my actor headshot photoshoots, I like to get to know a bit more about you: have you had headshots done before? Do you have any previous experience in front of a stills camera? How long have you been acting for? Has it been primarily stage or screen work? What sort of characters have you portrayed in the past?

Knowing all of this enables me to plan how best to tailor your session: whether it’s how much direction or physicality coaching you might need; the pace of the shoot; which backgrounds and lighting set up I think might  best suit your style; as well as the variety of looks we might be able to achieve.  These last two points are also particularly important when thinking about the next consideration….

2. What Direction Would You Like Your Career to Take?

It’s all well and good establishing your background, but the more important thing to consider is what you want to achieve going forward. What are the goals of your new actor headshots? Is it to update your current headshots now that you have a new fro or have a few more wrinkles? Is it to take your acting career in a new direction? Is there a specific role you really want to go for and want to be able to send a tailored headshot to the casting director to help improve your chances of securing the audition?

Again, all of the above is information that will allow me to tailor your headshot session to meet the goals you have set for yourself. For instance, if you just want to update your current headshots and would like to keep the same style then I can do my best to emulate the look and feel of your previous headshots whilst showing off the new you. Alternatively, if you want to take your career in a new direction, perhaps transitioning from Shakespeare and stage to TV, then we might look at taking a more contemporary approach to the lighting and background in order to appeal to casting directors in that area of the industry. The final point; trying to capture a specific character, leads us very aptly to the next thing to think about…

3. What is Your Casting Type?

This is one of the most important things for any actor to be able to identify about themselves as this affects how you market yourself and potentially allows you to establish your niche or ‘brand.’ Are you a leading lady? The boy next door? The hardman? The geek? Do you belong with the cast of Downton Abbey? Knowing your casting type means that I can provide more tailored direction and physicality coaching that is specifically designed to bring out these characters, without going over the top: it’s all about the art of subtle suggestion!

But what if you’re just starting out in acting and haven’t established your casting type yet? Don’t panic! By walking you through different exercises, we can get a range of looks that cover a variety of casting types as well as focusing on the next point of consideration…

4. How Would You Describe Yourself?

Whenever actors come to one of my headshot photography sessions, I always ask them to describe themselves in 4-5 words. The thing to remember is that as useful as it is to be able to convey your casting type in your actor headshot, casting directors often also want you to offer them a glimpse to your own personality. Are you loud, expressive, confident and boisterous? Are you geeky, analytical, precise and hard working? These words describe two very different people and so they would need to be photographed in different ways.

It can sometimes be difficult to think of these things on the spot so by coming prepared, your actor headshot session can start with a solid foundation, a clear set of goals and a tailored method of approach unique to you!

If you have any questions on how to prepare for your session, feel free to drop CONTACT ME or check out some of the links below for more frequently asked questions when it comes to actor headshots!

The post How to Prepare for an Actor Headshot Photoshoot appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

In the last entry, we discussed how posture, expression and lighting can drastically change your actor headshots. If you didn’t catch it, check it out HERE. Today we’re going to look at how to actually choose the few headshots out of possibly hundreds taken over the course of a session that will make it as your Spotlight headshots!

Imagine it: you’ve booked your headshot photographer and had a fantastic session, but how do you know which images to pick? A good set of actor headshots will show your range but also consistently reinforce your casting type. It’s therefore really important that you identify this and talk to your headshot photographer about it so they can tailor your shoot to you.

When picking your final headshots, ask yourself these questions:

Do they show my range of playing ages?

Do they show my casting type?

Are they a true representation of me?

As we mentioned in the previous entry, we’re going to use actor, Torin Pocock’s headshot session as a case study.

When it came to picking his final shots, our main priority was to have one neutral headshot for Spotlight, one headshot that had a friendly and approachable appearance and one that showed a more intense kind of character, all whilst showcasing the range of his playing age.

In the end, the three main headshots Torin chose as part of his session:

This is Torin’s completely neutral headshot for Spotlight and any other acting platform he might chose to use such as Star Now or Cast Call Pro. One of the deciding factors of this image is that Torin felt it made him look a little younger than his other photos which would help to showcase his playing range to a casting director, another important thing to bear in mind when setting your goals for your actor headshots.

This image was chosen as we wanted to capture an image that showed Torin as a friendly, approachable character. One of the reasons we chose this smile over other is that it looked more relaxed and more genuine. Below are examples of smiling shots that didn’t work because they either looked disingenuous or were a little OTT! It’s amazing what a huge difference subtle changes can be to your headshot!

Finally we come to the more intense look, and I must admit it’s one of my favourites!  In this shot, Torin has managed to achieve a much more focused look that could see him cast as a leading man. He looks slightly older, again showing the range of his playing age, as well giving him a very strong and charismatic appearance with a darker undertone to that of the more smiley headshot.

I personally feel that this is the strongest of all three headshots and as a result, did my own little stylised edit. Not strictly in line with traditional headshot standards but as a more creative edit for my own sake – I’m pretty pleased with it!

As industry standards for actor headshots seem to go through trends and different platforms, casting directors and agents have individual preferences and requirements, I always provide all my client’s headshots in colour as well as black and white. In addition to the three photos already talked about, Torin decided to go for a couple of variations on the smiling shot. Below are the final images he took home from the shoot:

If you’re looking for an actor headshot photographer, feel free to check out my headshot page HERE for more information and if you like what you see, why not SAY HELLO

I hope you’ve found this article useful. If you have, feel free to share it on FACEBOOK and TWITTER – don’t forget to LIKE and FOLLOW for the latest blog content including offers on headshot photography as well as paid casting calls.

The post Actor Headshots: Picking Your Shots appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

Over the next couple of entries I’m going to use a case study to look at how small changes in posture, expression and lighting can drastically change your headshots, as well as discussing what to look for when it comes to choosing your final headshots from a shoot that may well contain several hundred! First let’s look at posing!

So you’re getting ready to book your first session with a headshot photographer? Have all the confidence in the world in front of an audience but don’t know what to expect when your audience is a lens? Don’t panic! I’m going to give you some quick tips on what to aim for during you next actor headshot session by using my recent shoot with actor, Torin Pocock, as a case study! Torin is a multi-talented performer and has an extensive portfolio when it comes to presenting, radio and even has a bit of modelling under his belt though when you see his photos, I doubt the latter will surprise you!

Torin however wants to start to really focus more on his acting and realised that getting a solid set of actor headshots was the way forward. We had a brief chat about his previous experience, the type of acting he has done in the past, the type he hopes to do, as well as talking about his casting type.

As an actor it’s really important to understand your casting type – whilst variety is great, it’s vital to know your niche as well as how casting directors might view your headshot. Once you’ve identified this, speak to your headshot photographer and help them to understand the way you need your actor headshot to come across.

In Torin’s case, his personal character seemed to reflect his casting type: strong, charismatic and confident. These were the traits we wanted to draw out of the headshots so that a casting director might see him as either a potential leading man, the heartthrob, the middle class businessman or one of many other characters fitting these characteristics. All this had to come across within a very small number of professional actor headshots.

A key thing to remember when it comes to actor headshots, is that the slightest movement or change can dramatically change the impression a headshot gives. For instance, if the camera is looking up at you, it’s going to put you in an authoritative position within the frame – something synonymous with strong or perhaps darker characters. This can then be emphasised further by narrowing the eyes slightly (never ever go overboard with this) or raising the chin a little.

In direct contrast with this, if the camera is looking down at you, you are placed in a slightly more open position in the frame, synonymous with being friendly and approachable. Again this can be emphasised by a slight smile to create a completely different shot from the first, without having changed much at all.

Having said all this though, it is vital to remember not to overdo any of it. When I say ‘looking down,’ or ‘looking up,’ I mean only by very small increments! The same is to be remembered if a photographer asks you to tilt or move your head to one side – don’t stand side on to the camera and try craning your neck back to it. Be as front on as possible as this gives a casting director the clearest view of you possible! Look at the difference between these two shots:

Other things not to overdo are expressions! If you want to show you’re a friendly, approachable person who enjoys a laugh, don’t give the camera ear to ear smiles – even if it’s genuine, it is often far too much for an actor headshot. Keep your smiles small, or better yet, simply hint at them as it gives your headshot a little more intrigue! The only exceptions to this rule are if you really are a huge and funny personality and really want to show this off, or you want a more fun and contemporary shot to use ALONGSIDE (not as) your main headshot. Which of these looks better to you?

In contrast to this, if you want to come across as brooding or menacing, tone down the pout and for the love of all that is acting, don’t scrunch up your eyes! Your eyes are by far the key feature of a good actor headshot and is often the part that draws a casting director in. You therefore don’t want them hidden under over narrowed brows or hair!

Instead of pouting your lips, relax and part them slightly; this looks far more natural whilst also maintaining a hint of passion and sex appeal (don’t believe me? Check out most of the images you see of models in high fashion ad campaigns). When it comes to giving the camera a more intense look, rather than narrowing the top of your eyes, instead try raising the bottom. If you’re not familiar with this technique, it may sound a little odd, but the feeling you want to achieve in your eyes is the same one you get when you have a genuine smile that spreads to your peepers. Now you just need to practice how to do it without smiling! See how much better the second image is?

If you struggle with these techniques, a good headshot photographer will be able to give you direction and exercises to try out on the day in order to help you find it.

If you take away one thing from this entry, remember to keep everything feeling as natural as possible as this is ultimately what we need to achieve in your actor headshots. If you have found any other techniques relating to posing that you have found particularly useful in your own headshots, feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email via aimee@aimeespinks.com for your chance to win some free headshot images!

In the next entry, I’m going to be discussing how you go about selecting your final images!

Stay tuned!

The post How to Pose for Actor Headshots appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

I must admit I am a fan of both, though they each have their pros and cons.

Outdoor Headshot Photography:

Shooting outdoors has the advantage of making photos, particularly headshots, look more natural than their studio counterparts. This is largely because a studio backdrop is a contrived space, so no matter how natural an actor’s expression might be, we are instantly aware they have deliberately posed for a camera. A good photographer knows how to put an actor at their ease to achieve a great result no matter what the space however there’s just something instantly more natural about seeing a shot taken in the great outdoors.

Outdoor Headshot Photography: The Pros

• A world of backdrops to choose from…
  • Whether you’re a fan of the brick wall, leafy haze or sky; there are so many different locations you can use as a backdrop to your headshot.

• Bring the photographer to you…
  • Are you an actor living in London but absolutely love the work of a Birmingham headshot photographer? By having your headshot photography session outdoors, the photographer can come to you without having to worry about additional studio hire charges.

• Flattering light…
  • If you’ve got yourself an overcast sky, you’ve got yourself some instantly soft and flattering light to work with without having to spend ages working out a complex lighting setup – giving you more time to work on your perfect headshot look.

• Save money…
  • A lot of headshot photographers will charge less for outdoor photoshoots as there are no studio costs to take care off. It’s also a great way for photographers without studio access to create great images.

• Bokeh
  • You know that nice out of focus haze you get on headshots taken outside? Gorgeous isn’t it? Good luck matching it in the studio.

Outdoor Headshot Photography: The Cons

• Rain!
  • Arranging a headshot photoshoot outdoors leaves you to the mercy of the unpredictable British weather. Even in summer you never know when it might rain: that’s why all of my outdoor headshot photoshoots have a backup plan so that you’re shoot can go ahead uninterrupted and without your images suffering in quality!

• Lack of privacy…
  • Most outdoor locations are often public spaces so there’s never a guarantee that you won’t have an audience or find that the area you wanted to shoot in isn’t occupied by happy picnic-ers. Again, always have a back-up plan! A good location is one that has many opportunities for a range of backgrounds should one not be ideal or available.
  • Want to have a change of outfits? Need a full length mirror to check your hair or touch up your make-up? This is another consideration to be aware of when booking your headshot photography outdoors. Make sure your photographer has an area where you can make all your necessary adjustments!

• Background Distractions…
  • If you’re lucky enough to not be distracted by others during an outdoor photoshoot, you need to make sure your image has no visual distractions. A good actor headshot is all about showcasing the actor and not letting the viewer be distracted by a rogue leaf, conflicting colours or that annoying strand of hair the wind blew across your face. To help prevent these problems, I always recommend what clothing options to consider so that a cut or colour doesn’t prove distracting as well as reviewing each image as I shoot to check for other tiny distractions.

• Fewer lighting options…
  • Though I have my own flash lighting I can take out on location, most photographers’ kits don’t have anything powerful enough to overpower the sun. So if you want something dark and dramatic and are only free to shoot around midday, you’re probably best having a studio headshot photography session.

• Limited working hours…
  • Once the sun goes down, unless you want a dramatic night shoot (probably not the most ideal for a Spotlight-ready actors headshot) you’re pretty stuffed. Especially if you need your headshot session to fit around your crazy schedule during the Autumn/Winter months!

Studio Headshot Photography:

Many headshot photographers favour the studio over using an outdoor location as it provides them with a secure, tried and tested space that is within their full control. Though this is the case, a good studio headshot requires much more technical understanding by the photographer in order to achieve a great look as they are responsible for moulding the light from scratch for every set-up.

Studio Headshot Photography: The Pros:

• Privacy…
  • Unlike shooting outdoors, a headshot session within a photography studio provides full privacy; great for the more camera shy subject!

• Make-up and changing areas…
  • Following on from the privacy point, by having you headshot taken in a studio, you also have access to changing areas and make-up rooms to make preparing for your session nice and easy.

• Lighting control…
  • Based in a fully equipped photography studio, I have access to all the lighting equipment I could need to create a vast range of looks. From dark and dramatic to bright and cheery, no matter what your preferences, chances are I can create the right look for you.

• Review your images on a big screen…
  • It’s all well and good checking out your headshots on the back of a camera, but why do that when you can take a seat with a cup of tea and have a proper look at your photos on a big screen?

• Full Control…
  • Once you book a studio headshot photography session, it’s booked. No having to worry about the weather or if the area you want to shoot in is available – by shooting in the studio you are guaranteed a fully professional working space without any distractions (including freezing temperatures)!

• Any time…
  • Do you have a busy schedule to fit your headshot session within? Though we may not have much sunlight in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, the studio can provide all the light you need any time; day or night.

• Background choices…
  • Though most headshot photographers only offer one or two (usually just black and white) coloramas to have your headshot against, book your headshot session with me and you’ll have access to a studio containing almost every colour backdrop you can think of as well as wallpapered room sets should you want to mix up your headshots with some more contemporary portraits.

Studio Headshot Photography: the Cons

• Price…
  • Studio photography sessions are often more expensive than their outdoors counterparts due to studio rental costs. If you want the best of both worlds however, I offer up to 90 minutes of photography both in a fully equipped photography studio as well as outdoors for just £175. This includes your 5 favourite images fully edited and supplied as full res JPGS in colour as well as black and white.

To be honest, I’m struggling to find more cons about studio headshot photography. Of course a lot of it comes down to your choice of photographer – I have seen many studio headshots over the years shot by photographers who just don’t know how to use lights creatively. They often shoot completely flat images against a plain black or white background or go for a completely blown-out high key shot usually used for catalogue or product photography.

A good studio photographer knows how to craft their lighting to create an intimate looking headshot that makes the actor stand out. But in this regard, it’s not just about the lighting. You know that sharp-eyed focused look you find in some actors headshots that just make them jump out from the page? I have several tricks, tips and exercises I often get actors and models to try in order to make their headshot appear much more striking than their competitors and make their eyes really speak out.

Since I’m deviating slightly from the original topic of outdoor photography vs studio headshot photography, I will call it a day on this blog entry and look forward to your thoughts on your own preferences.

So, let me know – do you prefer your headshots taken outside in natural light or done in a photography studio?

The post Actor Headshots: Studio Photography vs. Natural Light appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.