<p>Wow! I never imagined that my question would elicit so much information and such an interesting discussion. It's great to read all of this stuff, and I think the upshot is that it makes sense for my D to get some headshots done now, for use in college auditions and for the next few years. We've done some scouting around about price, and the going rate here seems to be (on average) between $300-$400 for a two or three look shoot with the basic stuff that Susan mentioned. Most professional photographers who do actor headshots around here also strongly recommend that you have a makeup/hair person on site to do that stuff, though they don't insist. I am seeing dollar signs in my sleep! :) (By the way, my D's hs doesn't have the kids get senior pictures. They just get the same school pictures that they always got.:))</p>
<p>NMR.....the thing is....here for senior portraits, you are on your own and so the going rate at photographers for that is very high....did it for our oldest daughter. Kinda blew me away in fact. So, we just didn't do those for D2 and made the headshots also be for "senior portraits" (though she was truly a junior/senior). BTW, just got notice from D1's college where she is a senior (so soon again!!!) about senior portraits there....here we go again....it never ends but I have to have them as it has been since June of junior year in HS since she had ones and this occasion is big....I don't even know the price yet....as it is through the college. </p>
<p>Back to headshots....again, I lucked out at the NYC headshot photographer's as his rate for children is half and my applicant was still a "child" under his guidelines (I guess one benefit to applying early to college, lol). She did not get a stylist. She did her own hair and make up and we felt for her age that it was enough to just look herself. This last time she had shots done (last Dec., age 18), she had the hair/makeup person, but her grandparents paid for everything as a birthday present and that would have been out of my range. But she's older and she is using these for casting, not to get into college or stuff like that. She also "competes" for casting among people older than herself so while her headshots look her true age and should, it is important she not look any younger still. Then again, the young look can come in handy in certain casting situations and recently did in one thing she was cast in. By having two headshots, you can have two different looks for different situations. One of her headshots looks a bit younger than the other. </p>
<p>Yes, this is not cheap. But it is kinda one of the things an actor must have. It is not critical for college admissions purposes but will be needed from here on out. So, if you are going to get them, may as well be used for college admissions auditions as well. They will last a few years....maybe even until new ones for senior showcase, if you are lucky. My D got new ones mid soph year of college as we felt the change in looks from a 15 year old applicant in her other headshots to her current look and needs for the next two years of college warranted new shots, particularly when others are over 20 who are up for the same parts. I guess headshots, are like sports equipment.....a necessary apparatus to do this activity. I've got a kid who is a ski racer....I can't begin tell you the things that activity needs. But we do make such purchases count as their birthday or holiday presents because we can't just get this stuff just to get it. They also have very giving grandparents on both sides who try to help them in their pursuits. These things are expensive, no doubt about it. I'm up to grad school admissions now and my D will need to replicate porfolios and will have to pay for those all to be professionally printed. App fees, GRE fees, visits....it never ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D</p>
<p>Soozievt, I am sure it's different for your D and her peers because they are in NYC and she is able to go to these auditions frequently. But many schools don't have the luxury of that location. Granted, at BW we are constantly having masterclasses where headshots are required, but students do not get to consistantly perform in them till sophmore year. So having professional headshots before sophomore year is a waste of money. This applys for BW, and I'm sure many other programs. If the money is there, then yes go ahead and get headshots. But when you have to spend thousands of dollars on travel expenses just to audition, headshots just don't seem worth it.</p>
<p>And on my coment on strawhats. I attended them last year (along with midwests) and I got work. But I saw many people who probably weren't ready to go. Not that they weren't ready because of their talent, but many weren't holding themselves to a professional standard. And that comes with maturity. I know for a fact I wouldn't have been ready to go as a freshman. Once again, just my two cents</p>
<p>BWMT...my D doesn't audition for jobs that would ever take her out of school. Some do, but she doesn't. But she auditions AT school for one thing. She also has auditioned for summer jobs and other jobs that keep her in school. She has used a headshot since she was ten for casting purposes. She'd be doing that if she went to college anywhere, not just NYC. She is not even auditioning on the audition circuit in NYC out of choice while desiring to remain a student. Sometimes her headshot may appear in a playbill for a show, etc.</p>
<p>Again, with summer stock work, professional summer theater, and StrawHats and NETC....many of her peers, including herself (she was only 17) got cast for the summer, as did peers of hers who attend other BFA programs. They needed headshots to audition. Maybe some do not feel ready, I can't tell you but these kids were all accepted to audition at either StrawHats or NETC or auditioned at places like MUNY, etc. and got cast. I'm sharing this for anyone out there who is not only trying to get INTO college but hopes to audition for shows AT school while in college and then for summer theater or whatever else. Headshots are needed and it is no longer high school.</p>
<p>Also, if you do not need a headshot until soph year at your school (though not having one would preclude you from summer stock auditions), if you got one senior year in HS, you can use it for college admissions auditions, and then while IN college for auditions for college shows, and summer work.....it fulfills many purposes at once....and in some cases, can even be used as senior portraits.</p>
<p>When I was talking of auditions while IN college, I was speaking primarily of all the auditions for productions AT the college.....which my D has and I imagine kids at other schools also have. They have to present a headshot and resume for casting auditions for every production they audition for.</p>
<p>Sorry for a stupid question> When you refer to a headshot, what is photographed/appropriate for either BFA applications or regional theater auditions (we have done a few- one successful, with homemade photo). My S is a nice looking facially, but also very athletic. When we did homemade shots (8*10) we had him lean forward and from an angle captured his body from hips up, arms leaning on thighs - Catholic HS dress shirt and tie with tie undone at top - sort of 'History Boys' look, I am assuming that this is a bit over-the-top.
We plan to go to a decent photographer soon, but are not willing to drive hours to get someone who specializes in these things, at least not now. For a male, what is appropriate - shoulders up, face only, waist up, dynamic (I do not mean like a football photo) or more passive, etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>Brian, not a stupid question at all. :) A while ago, CoachC shared this link to the CMU showcase site:</p>
<p>There are a few headshots for each actor (click on the thumbnail shots). You might find it interesting to see the selection there.</p>
<p>Thank alwaysmom. Well, not much variance. I was definately over the top with my homegrown conception.</p>
<p>briansteffy, be sure to click on the individual CMU showcase headshots....you will be shown some alternate headshots of each actor. There are variations, and some are very creative.</p>
<p>Would black and white really be considered "behind the times?" My D also dances and the dance headshots are all still black and white. For college auditions, since at this time she still intends to audition both for dance programs and MT, we will probably just use her dance headshots. Her school brings in a professional photographer who does them all without a sitting fee so all we pay for is the printing. Currently she also uses these for local commercial work. When she commits to moving to a bigger venue, we will probably invest in more than one style of headshot, but I just wonder at the college audition level if it matters.</p>
<p>Thanks - I could not access the multiple shots without going back to CMU's site. Now I am confused again. Back to my original question. These photos are for the Showcase. Can someone advise me whether a half-body shot would be appropriate for BFA applications. I feel that the fuller body shot helped my S get an offer playing Russion Soldier Fedkya (sp?), in a 'Fiddler' production (his first non-HS audition) staffed principally by NYC actors, but staged in our regional theater. Had to turn it down because they did not know that, though 18, he was in HS and could not come to the practice sessions. At the BU summer theater program, he excelled in movement (conceiving and doing) - his fencing, football, etc. background - should have sent him to dance classes. Though perhaps crass, we would not mind capitalizing on this asset via his headshot. Any advice, though I acknowledge that the photo does not matter in the admissions process, unless it was inapproriates, indicating poor social judgement.</p>
<p>To keepingcalm, </p>
<p>It doesn't matter if they are black and white OR color....for college auditions OR for casting situations. Black and white are still used. It is just that color is the newer "trend." For college auditions in particular, this is a non issue. If you are getting headshots down the line for auditioning to use the next few years, simply saying color is becoming more standard whereas in recent years, black and white was more standard. Both are used. College auditions are less particular as they just want to remember you and are not even asking for professional headshots in the first place. For your D, given the dance and MT auditions, I would go with black and white. However, some photographers, like ours, make a CD of the photos and they can be printed in either black and white or color and so you can have some made of each. When my D applied to college, black and white was more standard and that's what she used for headshots. But we ALSO had some prints made in color for family as it was her "graduation" portraits as well. So, if your photographer can shoot the film to be printed either way, you can have some color and some black and white printed up.</p>
<p>Brian,
To answer your question....there is no right or wrong with the type of headshot....but the head should be the main focus....to be able to really see the face. My personal opinion is to use either full headshots that are mostly the shoulders and up or else ones that are the chest or waist and up. A 3/4 shot is also nice to own and is OK, but I think it is better to have at least one shot that is featured on the face. My D owns two headshots. one is mostly her head/shoulders. The other is from just below her chest and up. I prefer at least waist and up. Again, the 3/4 or fuller body shots are nice to own but if you can only have one headshot, I would go with one that is at least the waist up. I just helped a client pick her headshots and while there was a lovely shot of her entire body, sitting.....I suggested to get that for family but to pick two of the other many great shots that were closer ups. If you look at CMU's actors' shots, many of them have two or three poses. So, some have a close up of the head, some have a waist up shot, some 3/4 shot. They may own more than one pose for different purposes. So, if you get two, you could opt to get one that is mostly head/shoulders or maybe chest and one that is more of the body. But if you only get one, get one that shows the face close up enough. It is good to own one like that. If you look in a playbill, you will often find a true headshot and not a full body shot. So ,most actors own at least one that is focused primarily on the face as a certain portion of the total picture.</p>
<p>I just got the headshots I ordered. While the picture is well done, and paper was much thinner than the headshots we had done 2 years ago. I called and the company explained that theydo the headshots on standard weight Photo Paper, while the headshots I received in the past must have been "lithographs". The clerk went on to say that the phots paper is actually a better picture and now a days most people put their headshots on phot paper, rather than the cardstock. I have the option of returning the headshots and shopping elsewhere. The picture is really well done, however currently the pictures are bowed. Again, the company said that comes from coming off a roll and they will straighten out with time. Does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Picture paper is better than card stock. Put th stack of photos under a heavy book.... also -- once you styaple your resume to the back they will stiffen with the extra paper.</p>
<p>Should the student's name be printed on the headshot photo? We had nice headshots of my son taken, and they need to be touched up and printed ASAP. Any advice about printing the name on the photo would be appreciated!</p>
<p>The name definitely should be on the photo! Especially if your resume is not printed on the back, but attached with (dare I say it...staples or glue). The name usually goes in an uncluttered corner or centered on the bottom; sometimes photos are done with a white border and the name is printed in the border. I've also seen the name on the top -- it just depends on how your picture is laid out and what looks best.</p>
<p>Thanks! Would you recommend the performance resume be printed on the back? For college auditions, I was NOT going to do this. . . .but, I suppose it would be possible. The resume changes so frequently. . .</p>
<p>The proof CD I have has the photographer's name as a "watermark." I assume that's so I cannot reproduce the photos myself and print them at home with the resume. I will ask her about that.</p>
<p>letsfigureitout, I think it is more than acceptable for student actors to staple their resumes onto the back of their headshots. Also, you will get a more professional looking headshot print if you have it printed at a place such as Kinko's rather than trying to print them out yourself at home, from what I hear. Just make sure the headshot photographer gave you a copyright release.</p>
<p>The photographer proposes the following charges for audition 8X10 headshots: first 5 at $10 per shot; after that $5 each. (We have already paid a sitting fee.) She also posts them to a website where you can order photos, but I haven't checked that out. She is used to doing family portraits, weddings, etc., not specifically headshots, but I think the photos of my son turned out great. I'm not sure how much it would cost to do them at Kinkos. . .I will check about the copyright. I would be less cumbersome to just do it myself, even if I go to Kinkos, so I will inquire. She is pretty accomodating, but I don't know what to expect, or ask for, in terms of audition shots.</p>
<p>The photographer who did my D's headshots charges one flat fee and then gives the actor a CD with all the shots on it. She (the photog) recommends not printing them out onself, as she contends it does not look professional. She recommends contacting a repro house and ordering prints from there, or else going to Kinko's. She did give us a document, signed by her, transferring the copyright to us, else places such as Kinko's and so on will not do the job.</p>