Need new headshots please help!

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	Topic: Need new headshots please help!
Posted : 08/12/09 / Views : 1099 / Replies : 17 /
becca_how1984 12 posts last on: 2 hours send private reply	Hello everyone I have been trawling through the endless photographers listed on here and am finding it really hard to make any kind of decision. So a point in the right direction would not go a miss. I need headshots plus full length portfolio pics and would love to get as many as possible on disc! Please help me Im based in south London so somewhere inside the M25 would be good. Thanks xx

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	Reply #1
Posted : 03/12/09
David.Laurence 198 posts last on: 32 min send private reply	Daniel Sutka took mine,a really nice bloke,no hassle well inside the 25,close to london in fact. My memory is rubbish,cant remember the place now. Your more than welcome to look at my profile,its my main shot. Hes got a website,if you do go to him,say Dave sent you... A good honest bit of advice for you to save days of time looking for someone is.... Get a friend to take loads of shots of you on a good digital camera. Get a few prints run off,then head into spotlights office,pull up a seat and spend as long as it takes,to look through all the femail shots,paying particular attention to your age group. Find women with a simular look to yourself. Ask yourself, do they stand out in any way that you like.Do they capture your attention.Are the shots to complicated.What are the strong points and weak points of the shots. If any appeal to you,then why not use a note pad to write down the names of the photographer who took the picture. You might even find cards in the spotlight office for some of these people. If nothing else you will begin to understand more clearly what makes a decent picture,and more importantly what works for you. The rule is,be yourself.No fancy costumes,nothing to distract the eye from the subject,you. No dangly jewellery.No huge layers of slap.A fairly neutral picture,so that someone else can and hopefully will use their own imagination when casting you for work. Oh PS more expensicve photographers do not mean you will get a better picture.

Reply #1

Posted : 03/12/09

David.Laurence
198 posts
last on: 32 min
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Daniel Sutka took mine,a really nice bloke,no hassle well inside the 25,close to london in fact.

My memory is rubbish,cant remember the place now.

Your more than welcome to look at my profile,its my main shot.
Hes got a website,if you do go to him,say Dave sent you...

A good honest bit of advice for you to save days of time looking for someone is....

Get a friend to take loads of shots of you on a good digital camera.

Get a few prints run off,then head into spotlights office,pull up a seat and spend as long as it takes,to look through all the femail shots,paying particular attention to your age group.

Find women with a simular look to yourself.

Ask yourself, do they stand out in any way that you like.Do they capture your attention.Are the shots to complicated.What are the strong points and weak points of the shots.

If any appeal to you,then why not use a note pad to write down the names of the photographer who took the picture.

You might even find cards in the spotlight office for some of these people.

If nothing else you will begin to understand more clearly what makes a decent picture,and more importantly what works for you.

The rule is,be yourself.No fancy costumes,nothing to distract the eye from the subject,you.

No dangly jewellery.No huge layers of slap.A fairly neutral picture,so that someone else can and hopefully will use their own imagination when casting you for work.
Oh PS more expensicve photographers do not mean you will get a better picture.

	Reply #2
Posted : 05/12/09
John.McGettrick 1 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Check out Claire Grogan if you haven't already. She is really good and accomidating. But whoever you go with make sure you like there other work. John

	Reply #3
Posted : 05/12/09
anonymous	Happy Birthday Happy Birthday !!! (day day day)

	Reply #4
Posted : 05/12/09
Jenna.Sharpe 209 posts last on: 43 min send private reply	I think the thing that helped me narrow it down was looking at the other actors they had shot. In some cases the photos are nice but the eyes of the subject are kind of dead. This was the case with some of the most expensive photographers too. I mean obviously taking photos is a two way process but as you are shooting an actor it shouldn't be hard for them to have a thought in their head and evoke emotion in their eyes. A good photographer will be able to make you feel at ease, encourage you to try different things and help you evoke the emotions that turn an okay photo into something really engaging. (Matt Jamie did mine and I am really camera shy but he made me laugh so much I ended up enjoying it. And him being an actor perhaps helped) So yeah, I would say look at their portfolios and focus on what the photo is telling you as opposed to whether the person looks attractive in it! You might want to decide if you want an indoor or outdoor shoot as well. Generally natural light is more flattering than studio lights but some photographers don't have any private outside space. Good Luck! Jenna

Reply #4

Posted : 05/12/09

Jenna.Sharpe
209 posts
last on: 43 min
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I think the thing that helped me narrow it down was looking at the other actors they had shot. In some cases the photos are nice but the eyes of the subject are kind of dead. This was the case with some of the most expensive photographers too.

I mean obviously taking photos is a two way process but as you are shooting an actor it shouldn't be hard for them to have a thought in their head and evoke emotion in their eyes. A good photographer will be able to make you feel at ease, encourage you to try different things and help you evoke the emotions that turn an okay photo into something really engaging. (Matt Jamie did mine and I am really camera shy but he made me laugh so much I ended up enjoying it. And him being an actor perhaps helped)

So yeah, I would say look at their portfolios and focus on what the photo is telling you as opposed to whether the person looks attractive in it! You might want to decide if you want an indoor or outdoor shoot as well. Generally natural light is more flattering than studio lights but some photographers don't have any private outside space.

Good Luck!

Jenna

	Reply #5
Posted : 05/12/09
anonymous	It's all in the eyes !!! U camera shy Jenna my dear?? Well i never-- no honest- I never --

	Reply #6
Posted : 05/12/09
leeravitz 1543 posts last on: 18 hours send private reply	There is no absolutely hard and fast rule about who is a 'good' photographer for you, sadly, and you will have to make a personal, gut choice in the end, I think, in order to be in with a chance of getting a photographer whose style may suit you. Everyone always asks for recommendations - which is fair, especially if an actor got an especially favourable set of shots from a particular photographer - but, basically, those shots are of that particular actor, and just because a photographer captured something good or useful from them is no guarantee that they will do the same for you. Often, the best idea is to try and get a feel for your preferred look and see which photographers appear to have captured people that present the 'style' appropriate to the kind of personality you are selling - for instance, some photographers have a much better eye for taking 'characterful' shots, some are much better at depicting those who are beautifully coiffed and 'classic'; some depict strong, hard lines very well; some produce naturally open, smiley sorts of pictures. The point is that all of them may be good photographers (i.e. they can take a decent looking photo) - the problem is essentially that their own house style (the way they light the picture, where they place the camera etc.) is affected by their own artistic taste as to what makes for a good headshot, and you have to find photographers who, from their shots, look like their attitudes meet yours. It isn't easy, but you should trust your judgement on this, and perhaps stop paying so much attention to everyone else's recommendations, which is probably just confusing you. It is not always necessary to spend vast amounts of money on a photographer - the general recommendation is not to get your next door neighbour to do it for you (unless they happen to hold a photography degree and own their own studio) but some actors get great results from fairly cheap shoots; others pay through the nose, and are not satisfied with what they receive back. It again depends a lot on the style of the photographer concerned, and how well they capture a 'feeling' that you wish to sell. By and large, the reason some photographers are extremely expensive is because they are better established in the profession and have more higher profile clients - obviously, this tends to make their technique better than those who are starting out in the business for themselves, and the large amount of money that they make they re-invest in especially high - end equipment which again gives better looking results. Paying £500 for a shoot will generally produce better results than paying £100, otherwise the prices wouldn't be justified. But just because a photographer is expensive doesn't mean they are better suited to capture your particular style and feel. So don't let money necessarily be the primary deciding factor. The very basic criteria for a 'good' photo (as defined by casting directors etc. whose opinion is the one that counts) is: a picture that is recognisably you. This means simply that, if they look at your face clipped to a CV, and then you walk in the room two minutes later, they can immediately recognise you from the photograph. This is one reason why everyone advises you to steer away from 'glamorous' photos - the more the face is touched up in post production, made up during the shoot, lit from 'interesting' angles etc. - the less it looks like you. Some photographers do like to 'flatter' their clients in this way, and you should try and avoid using them to provide actor headshots. On the other hand, some actors are naturally never without their makeup, always spend hours teasing their hair into shape etc. - if this is the case, then the headshot should accurately depict this - it is all just a question of representing, to the best extent, what you actually look like when you leave the house every morning - at least, within reason (because noone expects a still photograph to depict you 100% accurately). However, it is in your interest, as Jenna said, to try and get pictures where there is feeling behind the eyes, or in the face - this is simply because you wish your face to stand out when your headshot is piled alongside dozens of others on a CD's desk, or flashes up online, and there is no expression, then you are immediately less interesting for casting purposes. One way of ensuring that you get a good range of expressions when you do the shoot is to actually try and think of specific emotions (without trying to depict them, which just tends to look silly). It can be useful to have happy, melancholy, fun, intense, angry etc. shots for your portfolio, and by spending time during some of the shoot working on producing 'other' emotions, you may be more relaxed when you settle back to do a few 'neutral' shots (supposedly what you are aiming to get into Spotlight). Still, every actor is different, and you should play to your strengths in the shoot if you can - so, if you are a person with a beautiful natural smile, get shots that show it off; if you are always look most impressive at your most intense, try to get intense shots; if you a comedy performer, try and get shots that look most guileless and innocent - these all help sell your 'type' later. Part of the point is also that, at some level, who your photographer is doesn't matter quite so much as the fact that you know how to use the session to get the best results for yourself.

Reply #6

Posted : 05/12/09

leeravitz
1543 posts
last on: 18 hours
send private reply

There is no absolutely hard and fast rule about who is a 'good' photographer for you, sadly, and you will have to make a personal, gut choice in the end, I think, in order to be in with a chance of getting a photographer whose style may suit you.

Everyone always asks for recommendations - which is fair, especially if an actor got an especially favourable set of shots from a particular photographer - but, basically, those shots are of *that* particular actor, and just because a photographer captured something good or useful from them is no guarantee that they will do the same for you. Often, the best idea is to try and get a feel for your preferred look and see which photographers appear to have captured people that present the 'style' appropriate to the kind of personality you are selling - for instance, some photographers have a much better eye for taking 'characterful' shots, some are much better at depicting those who are beautifully coiffed and 'classic'; some depict strong, hard lines very well; some produce naturally open, smiley sorts of pictures. The point is that all of them may be good photographers (i.e. they can take a decent looking photo) - the problem is essentially that their own house style (the way they light the picture, where they place the camera etc.) is affected by their own artistic taste as to what makes for a good headshot, and you have to find photographers who, from their shots, look like their attitudes meet yours. It isn't easy, but you should trust your judgement on this, and perhaps stop paying so much attention to everyone else's recommendations, which is probably just confusing you.

It is not *always* necessary to spend vast amounts of money on a photographer - the general recommendation is not to get your next door neighbour to do it for you (unless they happen to hold a photography degree and own their own studio) but some actors get great results from fairly cheap shoots; others pay through the nose, and are not satisfied with what they receive back. It again depends a lot on the style of the photographer concerned, and how well they capture a 'feeling' that you wish to sell. By and large, the reason some photographers are extremely expensive is because they are better established in the profession and have more higher profile clients - obviously, this tends to make their technique better than those who are starting out in the business for themselves, and the large amount of money that they make they re-invest in especially high - end equipment which again gives better looking results. Paying £500 for a shoot *will* generally produce better results than paying £100, otherwise the prices wouldn't be justified. But just because a photographer is expensive doesn't mean they are better suited to capture your particular style and feel. So don't let money necessarily be the primary deciding factor.

The very basic criteria for a 'good' photo (as defined by casting directors etc. whose opinion is the one that counts) is: a picture that is recognisably you. This means simply that, if they look at your face clipped to a CV, and then you walk in the room two minutes later, they can immediately recognise you from the photograph. This is one reason why everyone advises you to steer away from 'glamorous' photos - the more the face is touched up in post production, made up during the shoot, lit from 'interesting' angles etc. - the less it looks like you. Some photographers do like to 'flatter' their clients in this way, and you should try and avoid using them to provide actor headshots. On the other hand, some actors are naturally never without their makeup, always spend hours teasing their hair into shape etc. - if this is the case, then the headshot should accurately depict *this* - it is all just a question of representing, to the best extent, what you actually look like when you leave the house every morning - at least, within reason (because noone expects a still photograph to depict you *100%* accurately).

However, it is in your interest, as Jenna said, to try and get pictures where there is feeling behind the eyes, or in the face - this is simply because you wish your face to stand out when your headshot is piled alongside dozens of others on a CD's desk, or flashes up online, and there is no expression, then you are immediately less interesting for casting purposes. One way of ensuring that you get a good range of expressions when you do the shoot is to actually try and think of specific emotions (without trying to depict them, which just tends to look silly). It can be useful to have happy, melancholy, fun, intense, angry etc. shots for your portfolio, and by spending time during some of the shoot working on producing 'other' emotions, you may be more relaxed when you settle back to do a few 'neutral' shots (supposedly what you are aiming to get into Spotlight). Still, every actor is different, and you should play to your strengths in the shoot if you can - so, if you are a person with a beautiful natural smile, get shots that show it off; if you are always look most impressive at your most intense, try to get intense shots; if you a comedy performer, try and get shots that look most guileless and innocent - these all help sell your 'type' later. Part of the point is also that, at some level, *who* your photographer is doesn't matter quite so much as the fact that *you* know how to use the session to get the best results for yourself.

	Reply #7
Posted : 07/12/09
akta 21 posts last on: 50 min send private reply	(FYI I'm also a Headshot photographer so must declare an interest in this discussion : ) Price means NOTHING! just look at their WORK, they(we) all have websites so its easy, if you like the shots from a 100 quid photographer then that's all that matters!!! In fact the more money you are risking the high the possible stress and that's always bad. please don't ever just assume a high price equates quality, in anything that a recipe for getting ripped off Anyway nice you find a photographer whose WORK you like try and contact an actor they shot to see if they were easy going and professional. Ask what the deal is if your not happy! Personally I don't charge until 3 days after the shoot, and its always a 100% risk free deal. Good luck. Jon campling

Reply #7

Posted : 07/12/09

akta
21 posts
last on: 50 min
send private reply

(FYI I'm also a Headshot photographer
so must declare an interest in this discussion : )

Price means NOTHING! just look at their WORK, they(we) all have websites so its easy, if you like the shots from a 100 quid photographer then that's all that matters!!!

In fact the more money you are risking the high the possible stress and that's always bad.

please don't ever just assume a high price equates quality, in anything that a recipe for getting ripped off

Anyway nice you find a photographer whose WORK you like try and contact an actor they shot to see if they were easy going and professional.

Ask what the deal is if your not happy!

Personally I don't charge until 3 days after the shoot, and its always a 100% risk free deal.

Good luck.

Jon campling

	Reply #8
Posted : 07/12/09
jodyleeharris 5 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	Try John Clark...he was going to be my choice if I didn't end up getting them done in LA...which I did. But his headshots look good and lots of working professional actors, known, use him. Jody

	Reply #9
Posted : 07/12/09
akta 21 posts last on: 50 min send private reply	just to clarify (after re: reading my post) by.... `ask what the deal is if your not happy` ...I meant, what happens if after seeing the shots you don't feel you would want to use any of them, and that you should ask what they offer in that scenario. My original version was rather ambiguous i realised, soz : )

	Reply #10
Posted : 08/12/09
Reuben Liburd 103 posts last on: 38 min send private reply	John Clark is simply the best. Go with John Clark. I recently got my headshots with John Clark and now I'm getting more and more auditions. I'm very proud of my headshots and dam I look so good. Reuben Liburd

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