Did you use real photos, or would a scan of a photo produced on a good color copier be enough to attach to a resume? We intend on using the yearbook photo. Any tips welcome.
We used a real photo, which was specifically taken for this purpose. I don’t know how much it mattered.
If your child is applying to an acting program that specifically asks for a 'headshot" then the program is looking for a specific format of a photo, and it’s doubtful that a “candid photo” or “yearbook photo” is going to fit the bill. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on headshots, but you and your child should understand the kind of photo you are being asked to submit. Google “headshot samples” and look at the photos.
Thanks @gibby, I know the definition of a headshot. Yearbook photo is close enough, if kid nails the audition, and they like him, and then reject him because his headshot doesn’t match their standards, then its not a good fit for kid.
^^ Many students applying to the same program as your son or daughter will be submitting professional headshots (see post #1 from @Jkellynh17) thereby demonstrating they are prepared and ready to enter the acting profession. Submitting a yearbook photo kind of screams “I’m not sure I’m serious about this acting stuff” – especially when the school asks for a headshot. And that’s true no matter how wonderful their audition might be, as it all goes towards attitude and preparedness (and that is a judgement call a school will make based upon what is submitted).
IMHO: Submitting a color photo taken by mom or dad with a good digital camera, in natural light, against a plain background is infinitely BETTER than submitting a yearbook photo.
Hi @gibby It’s not a traditional yearbook photo, and you’ll just have to trust me that’s its good enough. I get that many will be professionally done, but I also think that for the schools to which we are applying, there will be a percentage of kids with limited funding that need to pick where to spend the money. Also, when we toured Roosevelt, the nice young man giving the tour used his yearbook photo, and yet there he was, giving us a tour. Again, if the school loves the audition and dings kid based on the photo not being professional enough, its not a good fit for us. Going with photos, and not color copies, which was the question.
There were kids both S and D1s year that used both photos and high-quality color copies. I’m not sure it really matters so long as you are happy with the photo and it is presented in a professional manner. You are right - some people will submit professional head shots and some will submit color copies. At the end of the day, it is your audition and how your student carries him/her self that will matter.
A flip perspective… we had headshots done, and then submitted THAT for yearbook/senior picture - saving ourselves the double $$ and focusing on what we thought was more important. @DoinResearch - sounds like you have already had pic taken, just laying idea out there for others
For us- headshots were one of the (very few) aspects in the process we could control. I have no idea if they tipped any balance anywhere- but we felt good about them. I have no idea what the picture in question looks like, it could very well be absolutely fine. But in a more general sense…I’ve heard many stories about people breaking convention - showed up to audition with wallet sized pic in mom’s wallet - (heard THAT one from tour guide at CMU) - only applied to one school (CCM) - sang astonishing/defying gravity/whatever song you shouldn’t sing (several schools) and “got in anyway”… doesn’t’ mean I would recommend those courses of action to others.
^^^same. Used (or using) head shots for all 3 kids (so far) as senior pictures!
Son had senior picture and head shots done the same day/same photographer.
Thanks all! Yes, for Sr. pictures, we went for the look of the headshot, and its good. The a la carte prices are crazy for the photos, so I’ll call the studio and explain the quantity needed and see if I can get a break on the price due to quantity. This is the reality - auditions are expensive, and I’ve created a budget, and I’m not going to feel guilty that I didn’t give kid every possible advantage. He’ll just have to knock that audition out of the park to make up for the good photo that isn’t “the best”.
We did combined Senor photo and head shot shoot as well and it was great. Many people don’t understand that Senior photos these days are not your traditional yearbook photo with a drape or tux as you find in some traditional yearbooks. It should serve you just fine. My suggestions is to try to negotiate a digital file for the photo you select from the photographer. We paid a fee for the file, but then printed the photos at Target for much less than the photographer would have charged. They looked great and D actually got lots of compliments on her head shot.
My daughter had her friend shoot her headshots. They are very good. Her friend will be at Pratt studying photography or something similar this year. We are going to spend the money to have those shots printed by a professional company that does headshots. We saved on the photographer but think that a high quality print may be a good idea.
It may be too expensive for the number of reproductions, but if you have the original jpeg file, you may be able to send it off to a house like reproductions, ideal photo, precision photos, etc… and they will take the image and format it like a professional headshot (with or without a border, and with the name on the front). If you only need 8 - 25 this may not be cost effective.
With the original jpeg file you may also be able to print off 8x10s at Staples, Kinkos, Costco, Walmart, etc… Or, print them at home on photo paper.
I was curious, so I went through the pics and resumes for our incoming first year musical theatre class (that is what I have access to in my office)… For what it is worth, approximately:
41% had an 8x10 (or 8.5x11) picture on photo paper that was formatted like a traditional headshot (color, with or without border, name on front…
33% had 8x10 (or 8.5x11) picture on photo paper (most in color, 1 in B&W)
16% had 8x10 (or 8.5x11) B&W picture on standard copy paperr
8% had a more standard size (4x6, 3x5, 5x8) color picture on photo paper or standard copy paper
None of these were at the level of picture that we expect our current students who are going out and auditioning professionally to have, but are fine pictures, and look like the students.
I no longer have the files from students we accepted but matriculated elsewhere, nor the students whom we did not accept… but I can honestly say the picture did not weigh largely on the admissions decision.
We do not specify a 8x10 headshot for auditionees… I think if a school does specify 8x10 headshot it makes sense to try to format whatever picture you have like an 8x10 professionally formatted headshot, but that can be done at home with a digital image, photoshop, publisher, etc…, and a color printer.
This is an expensive process… in addition to the regular application fees, there are often additional audition fees, travel for auditions, etc… There are many ways to cut costs on pictures, pre-screen recording, audition prep, printing, etc… Every family has to figure out what works best for them, and ultimately it mostly comes down to the audition (and interview, grades, etc… when a factor) itself. When in doubt, ask, but try not to overthink… it may lead to more stress than is already a part of the application and audition process.
Follow directions for each school. Do what you can do, and feel comfortable doing. Trust that this will be over in 9 months, and this time next year you will be getting ready to send your child off to (… or go to, if you are the student) a school, or a gap year (if that is the choice), or some other opportunity that may not even be imaginable today. <3 <3 
Thank you @KatMT, the stats are helpful not only for me, but for every other parent that comes along with head shot questions. We’re almost done! We were able to order a high resolution pdf, we’ve cropped, and we just need to send to a printer.
Sorry, but if your child chooses to become an actor after graduation, the audition process will only become much MORE intense.
When I applied to conservatory theater training programs circa 1973, a headshot was an absolute necessity. Back then, a headshot meant an 8" X 10" black & white photograph that featured an actor from the sternum up. I can’t remember what my parents spent for the cost of my headshot, but it must have been several hundred dollars – and that was in 1973 dollars, so it must have been upwards of $500 today.
As a professional actor, with over 40+ years of experience in SAG-AFTRA and AEA I think parents (and students) should understand the start-up costs associated with becoming an actor. I recently had my headshots redone and spent $1,800 for them – which includes the cost of the photographer, make-up artist, hairstylist, and digital retoucher. And that price, does NOT include the cost of actual reproductions – those show-away 8 X10’s your student will be mailing to casting folks and agents.
If your student wants to enter into this “business of show”, they (and you) will need to spend relatively the same amount of money to have a competitive headshot upon graduation, as casting is all done electronically these days. In other words, it’s like “Tinder”. If the casting director doesn’t immediately respond to a headshot, they don’t swipe right to look at the actor’s resume and reel. If they don’t swipe right, an audition appointment will NEVER be given – that’s the reality in 2017. So the quality of your headshot is actually MORE important today than it was back in1973.
Here’s an excerpt from my website relating to how I got started in this business, as I think parents (and students) need to understand the level of competition beyond theater school admissions for an actor. FWIW: the headshot I submitted for my Boston University audition in the summer of 1973 was the exact same one I gave to my first agent in the fall of 1973.
No doubt @gibby Our kids are just beginning. My senior S (MT) is heading to NY in a few weeks to have professional headshots done and group shots for showcase and they are pricey. This is part of the start up costs of which you speak - launching into the professional world. I would not have spent $1,800 for college audition headshots. I won’t speak for @KatMT but assume she meant the college audition process will be over in 9 months.
@gibby – I meant that THIS particular process will be over in 9 months… Of course the costs associated with doing business ass a performer will continue, and can be high.
I agree with your points above … particularly about the start-up costs, and the level of competition post-graduation. Parents will (hopefully) be less and less involved in the day to day as their children progress through college and their careers post-graduation.
I also want to encourage the young actors that they can still get into a college even without the “best” headshot costing big bucks. A good head shot with medium bucks might do the trick depending on the schools to which you apply, you can decide for yourself. I absolutely do not want my kid feeling “less than” because of a headshot. I realize that the time will come when he’ll need to step up the headshot. Every person is different, and I’m grateful for all that shared experiences. But to those on a budget at this point in their lives, I will continue to encourage not only my kid, but every other kid trying to make due with the resources available to them. The question really was about photo/paper quality, now I want to encourage other parents to forge ahead with questions when they’re trying to get creative due to budget constraints.
Professional head shots in Chicago cost my kid $500. (His photographer also shot Larry Yando, if you know Chicago theater, this is pretty close to top of the heap.) Just saying, you can get very acceptable H/S for less in regional markets.