Professional Headshots – How to Bring Out the Best in You?
Just imagine you are the casting director and not the actor. Will you cast someone in your show if his or her face is not clear in the headshots? Leave aside casting; you won’t even stay on his/her page for more than a few seconds if the image does not attract your eyes. You have plenty of other options to choose from. And this is precisely what you should keep in mind while posing for your professional actor headshot sessions. But, that does not solely depend on you or your attitude. Your photographer should be an experienced one with proper knowledge and expertise to bring out the best in you in that 8X10 inches snap.
Well, how are you going to know all that? The following guidelines may help you to pick an efficient and equally experienced corporate photographer who knows what is what:
– You have the internet, and you have your friends. Ask your trusted allies regarding the best professional photographer in town and verify their suggestions with the help of the internet. If the shutterbug is that much popular, he or she will indeed have a website to showcase all this work. Doesn’t he? Well, then, go for the next name on your list.
– If you have the website, check the portfolio section. Go through the various categories of photos and see if you like them. As you are about to click headshots, make sure you like the headshots taken by that particular photographer. Don’t you like them? Then it is not a risk worthy of being taken. Headshots are expensive, and you have several options to choose from.
– Now, if you do take a liking for his work, you may go to the next step, which is to contact the person directly and have a chat over the phone. Again, the contact information should be provided on the website itself. If it isn’t, then yes, you know what to do. Go ahead and look for another.
– Suppose you called the photographer, what next? What are you going to talk to him about? Of course, you will get directly to the point. Talk about his work. Tell him what you think about it and get straight to the point. Ask him about his charges for first-rate quality headshots. Here you should keep one thing in mind. Never bargain with an experienced and reputed photographer because quality matters here. Remember that it is an investment you are making at the start of your career. If it works out well, you will get your money back with interest. But if you bargain or settle for a cheap photographer, you may not get the quality you desire. And casting directors won’t think twice before shifting their focus away from your headshots. So decide accordingly.
On the day of shooting-
Once you have decided on the photographer, arrange a day for shooting the pictures. It should be a mutual decision, according to both of your convenience. Keep yourself ready for the photoshoot. Sleep well, drink lots of water and take care of your skin. Maintain a proper diet before the photoshoot and avoid tanning. On the big day, make sure you look your best in those headshots. After all, you are paying a great deal of money for them. Relax and listen to what the shutterbug has to say. You will look best if you do not let stress and anxiety cloud your mind.
Hiring a corporate photographer for professional headshots is an absolute must. Why? This is because the requirements mentioned above cannot be fulfilled without the help of someone who has been behind the lens for quite some time. Only such a person will know how you are going to look from which angle and what will be the best background for your headshot. Getting your headshots right can give a kickstart to your acting career. You will be called only if they like you. So, make sure they do.
