Step Five: Final Headshot Selection

Forewarning you! This is a lot of me!
You'll first see examples of THEATRICAL headshots (theater, film, television);
then COMMERCIAL headshots (just commercials). Then, you'll see my final selection of both!
[for better understanding of theatrical vs. commercial headshots, click here.]

You can do a few different things to get the best headshot. First, you narrow it down by your:

1) Look

• you want each look to be expressive, open, and clear. the goal here is to let casting directors see you, see into you. your eyes is one way you can tell if it's a good shot. do they say something to the viewer?

2) Composition

• once you have your favorite looks picked out (it could be 10 or 50), you can crop your pictures to your liking. headshot trends show that its now popular to have a "head and shoulders" image. the ratio is 8x10. color. and could be portrait or landscape view. 
• portrait is more traditional and is easy for casting directors to look through, but landscape has gotten popular because it previews film better. 
• for landscape: casting directors have to turn the picture while going through a pile, which could be a good thing or bad. Bad, because it could be considered an annoyance; ood, because they look longer at it.

3) Communicative Power

• many shots will appear to be the same, but don't be fooled. one slight degree of the corner mouth or eyebrow can change the whole look and feel.
• for example, the pictures to the right appear very similar, but they are very different: the one above communicates power, mystique, is almost villainous. the picture below communicates vulnerability, worry, doubt. you see the difference?
• choose images that communicate something important like: this is me and i'm proud of it or i know i am right for this role. the goal is to have it be communicative enough where casting directors will want to stop and look longer (even just a few milliseconds) at your headshot because it speaks more than just "this is a pretty picture."

4) Intent

• for what role do you want this headshot to be? do you want to spend time picking and printing different headshots or is the "money shot" the best option? I like to be prepared for both scenarios. the "money shot" would communicate what you want but it could be versatile for every role to which you apply. this is the most common. however, with the popular growth of online portfolios that allow many different headshots, be prepared to select other images that express something different.
• emotions that could be conveyed in my different headshots: confident, right, declarative, wild, sure, deviant, poised, suspect, whimsical, innocent, vulnerable, etc.

COMMERCIAL is similar in that you want to consider look, composition, communicative power, and intent. However, to me it is more basic, light, and fun. Wear light colors, have a happy and open expression as well as pose. If you have a nice smile, show it. These were my final choices:

NOTE: make sure your headshot looks like you! Casting directors hate it when they looked at your headshot and in walks someone who is completely different. It should look like you and capture your personality as well as your intent.

It is smart to ask family, friends, and strangers their opinions. Ask them which is their favorite and which really communicates something. It's also a hint if they end up looking at a particular one for even just a second longer than the others.

Finally, my current final picks are.... drumroll.... but you can already see them. So take back drumroll and instead... i'll just say....... BAM! what do you think? be honest. i want what works and it was a hard decision for me.

Step Three: Headshot Photoshoot

1) Headshots: the 1st feeling of actual progress

i knew i needed headshots before anything else. you need a headshot to apply to open casting calls and to apply to get an agent. this was the first step. (again i cannot recommend highly enough headshots101.com)

2) Jessica Dall Photography

That's when I decided to ask amazing photographer and friend Jess Dall, to do my headshots. We set up a photoshoot and got down to business. I had four different costume changes--which gives me a lot to work with when deciding what shot to give for a specific casting call. this was the first photoshoot i'd ever done. i'd never had any such experience, but she made me feel comfortable and professional. make sure you pick a photographer who will do the same for you as well as helping you pick out your best shots and edit them.

3) Image Selection
Headshot selection is very important. Out of the 200 images that were taken during the photoshoot, I had to narrow it down to the 20 best. When I say best, i mean the ones that best COMMUNICATE something to the viewer. you speak to the camera with your eyes, facial expressions, and pose.

Once I have the best 20 photos picked out, I'll post another step that goes into headshot specifics like cropping options and public opinion surveys that really help with final headshot selection.

Below are examples of each outfit I wore for the shoot. 1) light and fun for commercial; 2) plain but brilliant blue T for anything; 3) white T with tan leather jacket for a little drama; 4) business apparel for formal casting.

Step Two: Headshots and Casting (very important)

In acting, headshots are the foundation for your business (study and practice is the foundation for your craft). Getting headshots is the first place to start because they act as your business card, resume, and foot in the door. It is usually an 8x10 portrait in color (5 years ago, color headshots were very rare but now they are a must). Headshots should be updated every year or every 10lbs lost/gained.

"Step One: Research the Industry" made me understand that before i do anything in the biz, i've got to have my own calling card. this led me to a very good website:

1) Headshots
[headshots101.com created by experienced L.A. photographer Jessica Pettyjohn]


this website really is amazingly informative for the starting actor. i cannot recommend it enough. it provides a detailed account of the purpose and types of headshots (commercial vs. theatrical) as well as the process before the photoshoot, during and after the shoot, and what to do next as an actor.

2) Casting

Casting was an abstract concept for me. I have no experience in the industry so how would i even know what casting i should try to fit? Casting is what you would be cast as. It would be what you are personally aiming for in your career. It would be what a casting director would see fit for you. It would be what you show the casting director what your are fit for. -Pettyjohn

A good exercise that is enlightening and helpful to determine your own casting (my answers shown):

1. Name three or more actresses that you admire and want a career similar to theirs.
1. Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Leighton Meester, Kristen Bell, Amanda Bynes
2. Name three rolls in three different films that you feel you would have been perfect for had you had the chance.
1. She's the Man (amanda bynes' role), Model Behavior (main girl), Hunger Games (katniss)
3. Name three TV shows that you would be thrilled to be on.
1. Gossip Girl, Fringe, Psych, New Girl, SNL, (old: Smallville, Buffy, Charmed, Friends) 
4. On the TV shows listed above name what type of characters. (i.e. if you named "24" then would you be a terrorist, a field cop, or someone in the actual office? If you named "CSI" would you be a victim, the bad guy, a new detective? Would you be the lab tech, etc?) Shape it. Name it. 
1. My answers for any show: 
1. 1. Competition (girl who seemingly does everything the same or better than main character--presents main character with lame competition); 
2. 2. Schemer (helps pull off a scheme, plot, and can manipulate well); 
3. 3. Funny Sidekick (comic relief but actually has it all cool underneath the surface); 
4. 4. Vulnerable Newcomer (to be shaped up and transformed); 
5. 5. Kick-ass Newcomer (has it together, other characters admire)
2. for Fringe, it would be fun to play another FBI agent like Olivia Dunham, or a person who dies in a really weird way
5. What are your strengths in acting? Are you better at comedy that drama? Are you able to laugh and smile naturally? Are you more of "an actors actor?" Take a look here. And answer honestly.
1. i have good comedic timing and whit. i can smile and laugh naturally. i aspire to be an actor's actor. i am very coordinated. i have an artistic eye. i am a fast learner.
6. What age ranges are you able to play easily?
1. late high-school to college-age and post college (about 17-25)
7. What is your body type? Are you bald? In shape? Out of shape? Thin? Fat? Gorgeous? Pretty? Unique facial characteristics? Not so pretty?
1. athletic, 5'8", muscular, in shape, can be ugly and gorgeous, unique facial characteristics: two dimples when I smile, good-length eyelashes

Right now, i am just studying and learning still, so i haven't fully come to terms on my casting. I know who and what i like, but i need to figure out if i am fit for it. who says i'm not fit? i am the only one who can determine what is most natural and best for me. But for now, i know enough of my casting to pull off my headshot photoshoot... oooh me so excited!