Help choosing headshots

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	Topic: Help choosing headshots
Posted : 01/08/10 / Views : 728 / Replies : 7 /
marek.hollands 33 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I have recently had my new headshots taken.I now have over 180 images and I have to choose two of them to be retouched. Please can you tell me how I should go about narrowing them all down to just two- what should I be looking at and taking into consideration. Any advice is well appreciated.

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	Reply #1
Posted : 29/07/10
Mandy.Aldridge 6 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Can be a good idea to look out for 2 contrasting shots. For instance a smart business type one, and a casual boy next door one, or a streetwise look....Not a bad thing to ask someone who knows you well too, to take a look at them. Am of the opinion that it's always good to have a neutral photo in your portfolio. Hope that helps!

	Reply #2
Posted : 29/07/10
kirkmoore 80 posts last on: 13/01/12 send private reply	You (initially at least) should wittle them down with your gut reactions. Go through each photo - think is each one a yes or no... don't think too much, just go with your gut instinct. Discard the nos... Repeat the process until you have about half a dozen to a dozen, then pick your final headshots... It kind of puts you in the mind of a casting director, who may only spend a couple of seconds looking at a shot... you should be able to see the photos that sell the 'true you'... Don't be afraid to ask for second opinions, but everyone is going to have different tastes and agendas when looking at the pics...

Reply #2

Posted : 29/07/10

kirkmoore
80 posts
last on: 13/01/12
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You (initially at least) should wittle them down with your gut reactions.

Go through each photo - think is each one a yes or no... don't think too much, just go with your gut instinct. Discard the nos... Repeat the process until you have about half a dozen to a dozen, then pick your final headshots...

It kind of puts you in the mind of a casting director, who may only spend a couple of seconds looking at a shot... you should be able to see the photos that sell the 'true you'...

Don't be afraid to ask for second opinions, but everyone is going to have different tastes and agendas when looking at the pics...

	Reply #3
Posted : 29/07/10
Fuzz 628 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	I would also go with gut reaction. You may also aspire to a certain image eg. I always fancied myself as the girl in the flake ad in which case I am drawn to photos where I look fresh and youthful. You may also find some photos have captured a moment that seems to bring you to life so that you're jumping out of the page. The photos where the eyes are strong are good for headshots. There may also be some that are a bit quirky or have an edge to them. These will also be good for your portfolio. Just ideas, but hope it's helpful x.

Reply #3

Posted : 29/07/10

Fuzz
628 posts
last on: 07/02/12
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I would also go with gut reaction. You may also aspire to a certain image eg. I always fancied myself as the girl in the flake ad in which case I am drawn to photos where I look fresh and youthful. You may also find some photos have captured a moment that seems to bring you to life so that you're jumping out of the page. The photos where the eyes are strong are good for headshots. There may also be some that are a bit quirky or have an edge to them. These will also be good for your portfolio.
Just ideas, but hope it's helpful x.

	Reply #4
Posted : 29/07/10
CathyConneff 49 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Pick one that looks like the person who is going to walk into the room. I had an awesome headshot where I looked great BUT it looked nothing like me. You need a photo that conveys the essence of you.

	Reply #5
Posted : 31/07/10
RobertLister 15 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	I agree. Gut reaction is so important. Briskly run through them. Be ruthless. The winners will jump out at you. In this digital age, we photographers are easily seduced into taking too many shots. This causes clients a lot of stress and anxiety. I now try and reduce the number of images I take and work much harder on the quality of those I do take. Viewing numerous images of ourselves is emotionally draining and somewhat stressful!

Reply #5

Posted : 31/07/10

RobertLister
15 posts
last on: 06/02/12
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I agree. Gut reaction is so important. Briskly run through them. Be ruthless. The winners will jump out at you. In this digital age, we photographers are easily seduced into taking too many shots. This causes clients a lot of stress and anxiety. I now try and reduce the number of images I take and work much harder on the quality of those I do take. Viewing numerous images of ourselves is emotionally draining and somewhat stressful!

	Reply #6
Posted : 31/07/10
anonymous	Hey Marek, Cathy is right - choose headshots that look like you. And don't have retouching done that makes you look younger/more glamorous etc.. My headshot is a bit extreme in that respect in that most people when I go for a casting say I look better in real life! But my casting type is kind of psycho mistress/lawyer/drug addict so the photographer didn't touch up anything at all! Eyes are really important, so whichever photo has a great "projection" of personality/sparkle/threat, whatever. They should have a double highlight in them, I believe!. If your eyes look dead, move on to the next one. One serious, one smiley might be good, too. Hope this helps a bit :)

Reply #6

Posted : 31/07/10

anonymous

Hey Marek,

Cathy is right - choose headshots that look like you. And don't have retouching done that makes you look younger/more glamorous etc.. My headshot is a bit extreme in that respect in that most people when I go for a casting say I look better in real life! But my casting type is kind of psycho mistress/lawyer/drug addict so the photographer didn't touch up anything at all!

Eyes are really important, so whichever photo has a great "projection" of personality/sparkle/threat, whatever. They should have a double highlight in them, I believe!. If your eyes look dead, move on to the next one. One serious, one smiley might be good, too. Hope this helps a bit :)

	Reply #7
Posted : 01/08/10
RobertLister 15 posts last on: 06/02/12 send private reply	I agree with Vanessa. There should be only minimal re-touching. A casting shot works best if it shows you as you typically are on a typical day. I may be wrong about this, but I get the feeling that actors who use true to life, worts and all images of themselves will get more work over time. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. By all means get some 'ego-boosting' images for publicity. However your casting photo's should be natural shots of the real you, with a vague hint at the sort of character, that you most likely expect to play. It is probably a little over optimistic to attempt at being 'all things to all people'

Reply #7

Posted : 01/08/10

RobertLister
15 posts
last on: 06/02/12
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I agree with Vanessa. There should be only minimal re-touching.
A casting shot works best if it shows you as you typically are on a typical day. I may be wrong about this, but I get the feeling that actors who use true to life, worts and all images of themselves will get more work over time. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. By all means get some 'ego-boosting' images for publicity. However your casting photo's should be natural shots of the real you, with a vague hint at the sort of character, that you most likely expect to play. It is probably a little over optimistic to attempt at being 'all things to all people'

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