<p>Now that I'm getting up there, looking into starting off in professional theatre, the time has come where I'll need professional headshots. However, my parents are unconvinced that headshots are so necessary when I could get fifty-dollar pictures from someone they know. </p>
<p>Well, I'm not buying that! But for my parents to buy headshots, I need a good explanation coming from a not-me source. Chime in, folks! And just to get you started: </p>
<ol>
<li>Why are headshots worth the (extreme) price?</li>
<li>What is the differences between portraits and headshots?</li>
<li>Why is having a professional headshot important?</li>
<li>Do you have any personal experience, recommendations, etc. to share?</li>
</ol>
<p>A headshot is different from a portrait in that it really shows your personality and “type.” A good headshot can be very helpful in getting an audition.</p>
<p>Songsearcher, I believe you have posted elsewhere that you have already graduated from college. Perhaps you have already thought about professional headshots and have been earning some money to cover part of the cost yourself?</p>
<p>We spent $500 for headshots by Paul Sirochman in Philadelphia. They are light years different than the $50 headshots we had done previously by our local camera shop in their studio.
We ended up with about 200 choices, and selected 5. The ones we chose are all different and make my D appear younger in a couple of poses and older in the others. Like three to 4 years older. Crazy!
It was remarkable how different he made her look with different lights and angles. We discovered that some angles and positions were actually unflattering. Others were just right for her.<br>
We did use his make up person and that was part of the fee.
I think what it comes down to in the end is - do you want to be wondering did you not get the job because your headshot didn’t portray you in your best light? I know it’s a minor piece compared to your audition but its one you can manage and get right and not have to worry about.</p>
<p>NJTheatreMOM: I have not graduated from college yet - I am still in school! Unfortunately, school is draining everything I’ve ever earned from my bank account and so, I’m asking my parents to consider headshots as an alternative to Christmas presents. Even if I had the money, I would need my parents’ support because there are no local photographers who understand headshots for actors. Still, despite my own circumstances, I thought this might be a useful topic to others as well!</p>
<p>You need real headshots to work and depending on where you are in school chances are you will need new ones when you graduate. So the question is do you really need them now? But you definitely need them eventually. $500.00 sounds about right.</p>
<p>My son’s college had a connection with a headshot photographer who gave the seniors a discount. You might want to check on whether your school offers something similar.</p>
<p>We also used Sirochman in Philadelphia and he was wonderful. We paid less than $500, though.</p>
<p>That price was the 2 hour sitting, the makeup artist and the 5 files we selected in electronic form with a few prints as well. Might have actually been 475; somewhere around there.
We were very happy with the results!</p>
<p>Totally worth it-- if you’re applying to schools, you can do fine with a headshot taken by a parent or friend. But as you start out auditioning-- a professional photographer can show SO much more-- can make your face stand out from all the others.</p>
<p>songsearcher, you definitely, 100% need headshots once you start auditioning. It’s a necessity. Casting directors, agents & theatre directors all use headshots to screen you. A bad or unprofessional or smutty headshot can get you screened out from the get go; a good headshot can land you a job. In fact, sometimes casting agencies will have a client book you purely from your headshot (not even audition!). A good headshot is one of the most essential costs of doing business as an actor, more than a suit would be if you were working in an office. </p>
<p>A headshot is very different from a portrait. A director/casting person/agent looks at the headshot to see if you are right for a part and also if you ‘speak’ to the camera, if you have a unique look, if you look professional and easy to work with, and so on. However, you don’t have to spend $500. If you’re very savvy with grooming/make up, or know someone who is, you can save money there as well. I think it’s a good idea to ask your parents for this as a Christmas present. If they’re tight for money, perhaps it could be a present from several family members. There are also cheaper photographers, but I think $200-$300 would be the expected range in most places, excluding make up.</p>
<p>It’s very, very important to find a good photographer who specializes in actor headshots. These folks know what the directors/casting people/agents are looking for. NYC has the most expensive prices; other cities are usually cheaper. Ask for references from your school or theaters or someone you respect. Then look at the person’s website. Do you like the headshots featured? You can tell a lot by the featured headshots.</p>
<p>songsearcher, a professional headshot and a well organized concise professional resume are your calling cards. These are what will get your foot in the door, without these two tools you will not be taken seriously by casting directors. I suggest that you and your parents peruse professional headshot photographer websites and compare the photos there with those of a high school yearbook or a photographer who specializes in high school senior photos. The senior photos sort of say : This is who I am. A headshot suggests who you can be and the possiblity of what a casting director can see you as. The eyes in a headshot should draw you in and entice the viewer to want to meet you. The facial expression should show your personality. It is very important that you hire a photographer that has experience in acting headshots. You should check out the photographers gallery and be excited by the potential in the faces that you see. </p>
<p>Perhaps you could split the fee with your parents.</p>
<p>I’ve seen the gallery of Sirochman from PA and I think his work is fantastic.</p>
<p>Yes, songsearcher, it is a very useful thread. I am even thinking about going to PA to get headshots for my D! Has anyone had a good experience in NYC? My D and I will spend a week there in the end of August and I would love to have the headshots done there.</p>
<p>I don’t think it could be that bad, dramamom0804. My son went in for the shoot by himself the summer before his senior year in college, and he said he loved the experience and never even commented on the location.</p>
<p>I am a Philly girl myself and have used Paul several times, as well as his makeup artist (even used her for my wedding). </p>
<p>I can see how people view the area differently. Coming from center city Philly, you drive through very nice residential areas. Coming from the north or western part of Philly, you can hit some very depressed areas. </p>
<p>And yup, professional shots for an adult are highly recommended. Not only do they showcase your personality better, but casting agents may not view you as a professional if you show up with portraits from Kmart! ;)</p>