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C &C On my First Head Shots!
I was recently hired by one of my clients to do some head shot work. I had never ever done any kind of head shot work and I thought I would put two of my favorites on here to see what I could do better. Thanks:D
1)
DSC_0124 by gambrel photography, on Flickr
2)
DSC_0062 by gambrel photography, on Flickr
1)
DSC_0124 by gambrel photography, on Flickr
2)
DSC_0062 by gambrel photography, on Flickr
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If you haven't seen it, have a look at this post about headshots and, more particularly, the links in that thread to some other terrific articles/sites - that will give you some ideas
Of the two you've posted, I prefer the second as a headshot - the un-lit eye in #1 minimizes how she engages with the viewer. You can also see just how pretty she is in #2!
James Croft Photography
http://www.JamesCroftPhotography.com
Photography makes life worth living, or at least makes it more attractive.
Although she looks very pretty in 1.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
Spread the love! Go comment on something!
Forum for Canadian shooters: www.canphoto.net
Before you start advertising your goods, get familiar with type-ing and what casting directors are currently looking for. You obviously know how to take a decent picture, but for headshots, that just isn't enough - the headshot is what gets the actor into the audition (after that, it's up to them lol), but if the shot isn't interesting/engaging/expressive enough to catch the CD's attention amid hundreds (sometimes thousands) of other shots to GET the audition..... then it isn't doing it's job. The shots above are attactive, but I don't get ANY of her personality from these - she's very pretty, but I have no idea what roles she considers herself suitable for, or what she might bring through the door at an audition other than a slim, pretty face.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I'm a "poacher turned gamekeeper" (!) and this is exactly the reason I got into headshots with my own photography. As a performer myself, I got frustrated with good photographers offering headshot services when they didn't really understand the needs of actors/musicians, and that the shots need to be a lot *more* than a flattering portrait. What makes that performer unique and how do you translate that into an image while still projecting their roles/types and "they'd be great to work with!"? That's what the headshot needs to do - it's a LOT of information crammed into one photograph! Also, a good headshot photographer IMO actually needs to be *more* knowledgeable about types and trends than the actor/musicians, particularly in the case of young'un's just starting out who don't really know what to ask for yet and are looking for advice as much as a photograph.
If you're serious about headshots, dig into the galleries of those out there already doing it and learn what actors expect from you and their images - the market will become clear as you get more involved in this part of the arts world
I personally would start by reading the Bonnie Gillespie articles (the examples are a little dated - the articles are from 2006 - but the principles she talks about are still 100% relevant) and browsing the Reproductions directories (as linked in the sticky thread) - there are sooooo many working photographers on both coasts linking galleries there that you can get a pretty good idea what's "selling", and what the current trends are by looking through those.
The other stuff - types, roles, commercial vs theatrical, "fachs" for classical singers etc - you probably just need to research for yourself, particularly if you've never been active in the theatre/movie/music world; the info is out there, you just need to become familiar with those things to better understand what the performer seeking a headshot needs to project through their images.
When casting people look at headshots they are usually looking for a "type".
Find out what "type" your client wants to be perceived as and work to capture that in the headshot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
I know I am asking alot of questions but I want to make sure I get this right for my clients.
Thank You!!
Generally (although not always) yes. Consider this: would you shoot a golfer, a wrestler, and a baseball player using exactly the same kind of look/feel for the finished image? Possible, but probably not.
Google:
actor type
commercial vs theatrical (very important concept difference, related to your question above)
TPY
what makes a good headshot
That should start pulling up a lot of articles and links (although the ones in the sticky thread are a great place to start, too).
"Type" is more important than specific roles although knowing the roles in a show can really help, and headshot photographers do, IMO, need to know the repertoire enough to determine how to shoot a potential subject (which includes deciding how to light them, too - a commercial shot wants a different feel than a theatrical one, which can at least in part be helped along by lighting choices). Example: Using your Sound of Music example, you're not going to want the same "type" for the actress who will get cast as the Baroness (mature, sophisticated, fairly glamourous 30-40something - mature leading lady type) as you would somebody going for Liesl (naive, slightly rebellious 15 year old - just as likely to be cast by an actress playing younger than she is as an actual teenager), as you would Maria (romantic heroine, but very strong and quirky character; looks less important than for many romantic leads).
Those are likely to be three different actresses marketing themselves as different "types". Shots can only *suggest* the actual characters, but most performer's tend to find a niche into which they fall - their "type" - especially since typecasting is quite commonplace in the US.
Moving into opera (a whole 'nuther market): in my own recent shoots, I was faced with two interesting paradoxes.
1. In Nicole's session, she was GREAT at turning on the sexy, voluptuous Carmen vibe. Problem? She's not a mezzo, and her vocal repertoire is actually the put-upon, tragic, soprano heroines. This is one of the reasons we opted for a very casual set as part of the shoot, and also for lots of natural light, and smiling shots, to try and tone down her naturally intense looks and vibe.
2. Similarly Lisa: she plays a lot of "soubrette" roles, which are generally perky maids and charmingly devious schemers. Problem? She freezes in front of the camera meaning all that perkiness vanishes in the images. Since I was struggling a bit to get her to "play" during the session, I decided it was best to play up her sexy-girl-next-door looks and fabulous figure (the artsy ones are just that, and aren't intended to suggest her "fach", but just pix for her to dress up her website); she has a great set of all-purpose photos, and if she picks one serious one and one smiling one, she can cover all her bases as far as her various roles.
Sorry this isn't really the straightforward answer you'd like, but there's more to it than do it this way/that way/this light it this way/light it that way. You can't serve your headshot clients well and establish your market, without knowing more about THEIR market. I know this sounds fussy and like a non-answer, but IMO it's kind of essential background knowledge if you're serious about headshot work.
Enjoy!
I am not for sure if I will ever do one of those sessions again but I feel like if I do I have a better understanding of what needs to happen to make a "good" head shot. I thank you all for your time and I will continue reading and learning for a bit.