I was just wondering, would it be easier to get headshots done during a senior picture session? Is that even possible? Is there a big difference? Is this acceptable? My D is majoring in theater and needs headshots as well as senior pictures. Thanks!
Completely different…but if you are getting headshots for college admissions I am sure you can just use the senior picture if you want. I have heard of kids getting into programs with a poloroid 
Head shots are very different from senior pictures and while there are certainly high school kids who use them to audition for college, it is a sign of at least a beginner and maybe someone who doesn’t understand the process. If your daughter is majoring in theater in college and about to transition to the professional world, (which seems to be implied) then she will need professional head shots.
My D did head shots- and submitted one as her senior picture. I didn’t want to pay for 2 separate picture sessions, and for us, the headshots were way more important. As Bissou said, I have seen/heard of kids getting accepted with a Polaroid or snapshot- after all, the schools are looking at talent, not photo quality. But for me, it was one of the few areas that I could control, and I wanted to make sure they looked good. Spent $$ to use someone whose work I admired (the local professional community all use him), but I was/am really happy with result. D submitted one to the yearbook- and all was well
What is the best packages or way to get headshot pictures then? Is on a CD the way to go for reprints?
The person I used gave us a CD with ALL the shots (well over a hundred, I’ve never counted). We chose 2 that we planned to use for auditions (one true “headshot”, and one full body, there are schools that ask for that) and had him retouch, and print on special paper that we can run through our printer and print her resume right on the back. That saved a TON of time with literal cut and paste of resumes. There is a whole thread about stapling, gluing and other techniques in that process (which I have done too, in fact, D had to do that for a summer audition b/c we are out of the ones on special paper). The ones we were using for senior pictures I had printed (from the cd, which we had downloaded on my computer) a at Costco of all places. Super cheap and decent quality.
Many high school seniors apply successfully to college programs without professional headshots and if that makes them look like beginners, it’s because they are beginners. It doesn’t at all mean the applicant doesn’t understand the process. On the contrary, it means they do understand the process and that professional shots are not a necessary part of the college application process at all. Pro shots for the graduating college senior? Of course necessary. Your headshot is your calling card for any job application.
I took my daughter’s headshots for her school applications and I’m not a photographer. Many families do that. I printed them at Costco too. They were fine and not the thing that would make her break her applications’ outcomes.
@halflokum is completely correct. Like I said, it was just one of the (very few) things I felt I could control. And having professional pictures made my D feel good which can never be a bad thing. But I do know LOTS of people who have used other types of pictures and done well- pro shots are definitely not a requirement
Son’s head shot and senior picture were shot by the same photographer. Son brought a few different shirts and opted for outside shots. He chose one for headshot, one for senior picture and I chose one for me The photographer had experience in taking head shots, and they did look very different than the senior picture choices. Head shot was on a CD.
I have a friend who took my senior pictures for me. I mentioned I would be using one for my headshot, and he studied headshot photography specifically for me, set up a little studio in his basement, etc. And it worked out just fine. I actually got a compliment on my “awesome headshot” at my last audition!
That’s a special case, sure, but he isn’t a professional - just a nice guy - and I didn’t feel it put me at a disadvantage. (Plus, not only was he cheap, but he also donated all the money we paid him to charity.)
How did all of you who used professional photographers for head shots get permission to print out multiple copies
We were hoping to use the same photographer as our senior photos person and then pick out a headshot that worked for college and auditions. However we found out we can not duplicate and the cost to have the studio print them is too expensive for multiple copies. All we can think to do is take them ourselves but working actors must have a way to print 100s of headshot for auditions. Thanks for any information.
You’re not going to need hundreds of them. Maybe a couple of dozen. The best thing is to find a photographer who will let you have the digital images so that you can print them out as needed. If the school photographer won’t you’ll need to find another. I’d check with nearby community theaters or arts-focused colleges to see if they can recommend someone.
@sbc true “headshot” photographers know that actors need a gazillion copies of their headshot for auditions, so duplication permission is standard. As mentioned above, the photog usually gives you a CD of the session. Many headshot studios will do retouching for you and do printing, but it isn’t uncommon for even students to do their own cropping, retouching and printing. Depends on your level of familiarity with photo work.
The photographer we chose (who specialized I head shots. We did use a couple for senior picture- but to me, the $$ was better spent on headshot than yearbook photo) gave us a disk of all shots (there were over 300). We can print at will. We paid extra for him do do retouching on our 4 favorite shots, and print a 1st batch - but after that have handled on our own.
We did the same as TooWonderful. The school required a certain shot for the yearbook so we went to the studio assigned by the school and paid $15 for that photo. All the rest were down by a photographer who specialized in headshots.