Unveiling the Actor Headshot Session: What to Expect
Preparing for an actor headshot session can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, as someone who has gone to many headshot sessions as an actor myself since I was a teen, I know this all too well! It's crucial to have a clear understanding in advance of what to expect during the session to ensure you make the most of your time and this valuable opportunity. In this blog post, to help manage your expectations, I’ll look into the details of how often a session works, providing insight from how I conduct my own sessions with actors.
Chatting Through Your Expectations In Advance:
Before the actual session takes place, I offer to give you a ring to discuss the types of photos you are after, any experience you have and to answer any questions that you might want answered before you visit me. This chat helps establish a collaborative understanding between you and me as your photographer, to ensure the session will be tailored to your specific needs.
Wardrobe Selection:
I go into this within my FAQ page but choosing the right wardrobe is a vital aspect of an actor headshot session. Prior to the shoot, if we arrange a call, we’ll discuss wardrobe options. I recommend to bring a variety of clothing choices (preferably ironed please!) that reflect different casting types and styles. On the day, I provide guidance on what works best in terms of colors, patterns and textures, ensuring your outfits complement the overall vision for your headshots and the backdrops I have to choose from. Don’t forget, for headshots we are only concerned with your top half so feel free to come in comfy joggers if you so wish, we don’t see them!
Hair, Makeup, and Grooming:
Again, I go into this within my FAQ page but essentially, it is important to arrive well prepared and well groomed to ensure you look your best in the headshots. I offer either 1hr or 2hr sessions and I would much rather we spend the time wisely taking lots of lovely photos of you, than the time ticking by because you need to do a full transformation in the mirror! Remember to aim for a natural and polished appearance that allows your unique features to pop.
Direction:
During the session, I will guide you through various poses and expressions to capture a range of emotions and characters. I will provide direction on body positioning, head angles and facial expressions to showcase you at your best. I like to show examples of the photos we are getting as we go, so that both you and I can be certain that we like the direction the session is going. I always say, don't be afraid to ask questions or seek clarification if something isn't clear or if you don’t particularly like a certain style of photo that we’ve taken. I’d much rather we quickly change direction than you come away with any particular photo styles you are not keen on!
Reviewing and Selecting Headshots:
After the session, you'll have the opportunity to review the images and select the final headshots. I send these on the day, once you have left so you can browse through them in your own time and in the comfort of your own home. As your photographer, I can provide guidance and recommendations, helping you choose the headshots that I think best represent your unique qualities and casting potential. If you already have agent representation, you might also like a second opinion from your agent before making final selections.
An actor headshot session should be an exciting and collaborative hour or two, after which you will come away with a shiny new set of professional photos ready to take the casting world on by storm! By understanding what to expect, from the initial chat/enquiry to wardrobe selection, grooming, direction on the day and final image selection, you can approach the session with confidence, knowing what’s ahead, which if I do my job right, should be super chill and good fun!