What Makes A Stellar Headshot?

The Path of Resilience

January 7, 2022

February 5, 2022

What Makes A Stellar Headshot?

You. It’s about you and showcasing yourself in the best light possible figuratively and literally. Today’s post is going to have a few tips when it comes to preparing for one, types of headshots, and a list of photographers in Edmonton that you can go to now to capture you!

1. It Takes Some Savings!

Spend money—it’s worth it. I recommend asking a friend or folks around who did their headshots. I believe that it does not have to be expensive nor with a professional photographer. I love supporting emerging photographers but make sure you ask for their portfolios before booking with them. Typically, you should go to a professional, and with a professional headshot, it may cost between $300-1000, CHING CHING. It’s the big bucks but trusts it is worth the payoff. Also, I highly recommend if you are a melaninated folk like myself to go for photographers that capture folks with darker-skinned well, and respectfully too. No white facing you or lightening your skin to the point it does not look like you but your twin from a fair n’lovely advertisement. And some might say that anything cheaper is probably just a glorified passport photo. So start saving up!

2. Headshot Should Showcase You

Casting directors expect you to look just like your headshot, and would not appreciate it looking like you 20 years ago or maybe you’ve changed your hair drastically. When they are hiring you they are hiring your current look. So another note if your hair is different when they see it in person, if you are like me who can afford to change their hair every other month then explain to them that look you had can come back whether it be wig, crochet, braids etc… They are not looking for beauty, it’s about showing yourself with all that glory, mole, wrinkle, or dimples and all. It should show what you look like now.

3. Types of Headshots

Theatre Headshots
- Theatrical headshots are moodier. You want to see your emotional depth. It’s all about the eyes and the types of gazes you can create. Should you smile? Well usually no, or it’s not a full smile but a Tyra Banks model smize instead. They want to see vulnerability, and that is why smiling would mask that at times. Typically you would wear earthy or rich tones like deep green, maroon, or royal blue. Recommend a shirt that matches your eyes if you have green or blue eyes to show it off. They want to feel like they are seeing into you and what potential characters you can play. What I do going into it, is pick a specific character’s body or archetypes. For example, a Queen, or child (innocence), or I make a look as if I have a secret that I won’t tell you about. It’s a lot of fun and patience with your face. I do some jaw warm-ups and massage my face in-between rounds to keep my face from tightening up or getting twitchy. Your photographer will also guide you hopefully, and give suggestions.

Commercial Headshots
- Energy and charisma! Pull out those pearly whites (don’t forget to brush your teeth too!). You can laugh in these shots, smile, giggle, smirk, and flirt. The background of your photo is brighter, and sometimes photographers just use white backdrops. It’s meant to show that you can lift your room with your energy. It’s you on a good day!
- Film headshots can in fact go either way, and typically depends on the role you are gunning for!

4. A Little Word of Advice

A word of advice from Madame Brady herself on headshots:

“Acting headshots represent so much, from the range you have as an actor to your personality. A good question to ask yourself before getting headshots done is, “how do I want artistic directors to see me?”. Your headshot is your first introduction to the directors, so the quality and tone matter. For me, communicating my personality through my headshot matters the most. At the end of the day, I want people to know that they’ll always enjoy working with me and that I’m a quirky gal. What I loved about getting my headshots done with Ryan is that he took time to go through all of the different looks we did and helped me pick out which headshot would represent me the best.It can be daunting to look through 25-50 images of yourself by yourself, but looking them through with a professional headshot photographer who is also an actor was incredibly helpful.”

5. Photographers from E-Town

Emerging Photographers

Emerging does not equate to inexperience. Trust, these artists are incredible photographers! With the emerging photographers in this post, I am showcasing either a photo they took of me personally or one of their self-portait. SO if I were you go click on that link and check out the full scope of their work.