A good headshot for a budding actor or model could be the deciding factor that lands you the audition. Meanwhile, many corporate professionals use headshots to help build their personal profile and establish their expertise in the sector. Remember that a headshot can really affect that critical first impression, so make sure yours reflects the "real you".
Headshot Tips
If you want a great headshot, a professional photographer that specialises in this area will help you capture the image you need. Meanwhile, many aspiring photography enthusiasts with great SLR digital cameras may choose to experiment with headshots. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Find a good location - a plain background, such as a blank wall, will work best for headshots. Meanwhile, some people will feel more comfortable doing their shots in the outdoors - just ensure the background is plain and simple.
2. Prep your subject - instruct the model to wear clothes that fit the impression that they want to make. Clothes should be relatively plain and not draw attention away from the face. This usually means a collared shirt and suit jacket for corporate headshots while a more relaxed and casual look will work for modelling and acting portfolios.
3. Pay attention to lighting - ensure you're shooting in a well-lit location, using diffused lighting when shooting indoors. Consider a hair light above your subject's head for more depth of field.
4. Get the equipment - a sharp focus is critical for a headshot so make sure you've mastered the settings on your camera. Wide and mid-angle lenses tend to distort the subject so stick with a 90mm lens or higher for your SLR digital camera.
5. Focus on the eyes - as the photographer, it'll be your job to get the most natural expression from your subject. Be sure the facial expression reflects the person the headshot represents - a comic actor shouldn't be scowling (unless that's how they're funny).
Tip: For actors looking to land that dream audition, consider including a video sample along with your headshot. High definition cameras make it easy to include a video clip, so you can give a living example of your abilities.
Headshot requirements
There are a number of entertainment industry standards and guidelines that you should be aware of:
" Black and white - the industry standard for most headshots is for a black and white 8 x 10 inch photo while some modelling agencies may ask for a colour shot as well.
" Plain background - unlike portrait photography that captures the subject interacting with the environment, headshots should have a plain and simple background that will not detract from the face which needs to be the only focus of the image.
" Extreme close-up - a headshot is an extreme close-up of the subject's face, with just the tops of the shoulders visible and the background should hardly register at all. The person should be looking straight into the camera or just off to the side.