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Would I be able to use my senior pictures as acting headshots?
I'm a low-income student in Los Angeles, who wants to pursue acting. I'm an incoming senior in high school, and I can't afford getting professional headshots. I'm planning on taking at-home headshots sometime in the next few months, but after receiving my senior pictures back, I saw a few that looked like they'd also work for acting headshots, in the meantime. Would it be too unprofessional to use them right now, before I can get better ones taken?
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4 answers
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Cyndi’s Answer
Graduation photography has certainly evolved since my school days. Now, apart from the traditional cap and gown shots, students also indulge in casual photos with a variety of backdrops. You might want to consider trying them out.
Here are some friendly suggestions for you.
* Browse through professional headshots to gain inspiration on poses and styles that you find attractive.
* Make use of a tripod for stability.
* Recruit a buddy to assist with the photo shoot.
* Seek out a photography student at a university who could use the practice.
* Stay authentic and avoid using photoshop!
Always remember, where there's a will, there's a way. Best of luck to you!
Here are some friendly suggestions for you.
* Browse through professional headshots to gain inspiration on poses and styles that you find attractive.
* Make use of a tripod for stability.
* Recruit a buddy to assist with the photo shoot.
* Seek out a photography student at a university who could use the practice.
* Stay authentic and avoid using photoshop!
Always remember, where there's a will, there's a way. Best of luck to you!
Updated
Henrien’s Answer
yes use them until you can make more
Updated
Jie’s Answer
Hi, Lilia
You can create acting headshots yourself using a phone camera :
Composition: Choose a suitable background that complements your features and fits within a comfortable size frame.
Lighting: Utilize strong sunlight outdoors and position yourself in the shadow of a house or tree to achieve soft, even lighting.
Expression: Focus on what you want to convey. Let your emotions show through your eyes to make your headshots impactful.
Editing: Adjust the colors and contrast to match the mood you wish to express. Ensure the editing enhances your natural look without being overdone.
Signature: Add your artistic signature to personalize your headshot.
so, you can create professional-looking acting headshots that stand out.
You can create acting headshots yourself using a phone camera :
Composition: Choose a suitable background that complements your features and fits within a comfortable size frame.
Lighting: Utilize strong sunlight outdoors and position yourself in the shadow of a house or tree to achieve soft, even lighting.
Expression: Focus on what you want to convey. Let your emotions show through your eyes to make your headshots impactful.
Editing: Adjust the colors and contrast to match the mood you wish to express. Ensure the editing enhances your natural look without being overdone.
Signature: Add your artistic signature to personalize your headshot.
so, you can create professional-looking acting headshots that stand out.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello again, Lilia !
I am so glad that you are asking for more advice and I would be happy to give you my suggestions about headshots.
Never use a high school photo for a headshot. High School graduation photos are great for framing and keeping displayed and to give out to family and friends, but it is something totally different than a headshot. With senior grad photos, it is more like a photography studio shot. That is not what a head shot is. I haven't seen the photos that you're referring to, but this would be a rule of thumb.
A headshot is about attitude, energy or lack thereof, and very natural. It is absolutely vital that you look exactly like your headshot when you appear for auditions. Any variation of what you projected in the photo and how you appear to the auditor will be met with the auditor being disappointed or annoyed. This is just how it is. So, really, a senior class photo is not going to be useful for acting.
Another element is that for high school photos, most of the time we get made up a certain way, wear our hair a certain way and pose in a happy way and want to look pretty. That is good for that purpose, but a good headshot will show your type and it's not about looking cute. Project the real you in your headshot. So try not to wear a lot of makeup for your headshot.
I advise not waiting, rather take some photos now with a phone or digital camera. Before doing so, do a search online for articles that talk about what to do for these and what is expected. Look at some examples of actor headshots online and get a sense of what they look like. The luxury of having your photos done with a phone or digital camera by a friend or family member (no selfies) is that you can practically take a thousand photos to choose from. When the photoshoot is finished, upload all the photos to your computer and look at each one. Choose some that look like you everyday, ones that project personality. Once you have some, start to edit them for size and or lighting, whatever editing is needed. I have been adding my name to the photos lately, because you will want the person to associate your name with your face. It was always done this way decades ago, having your name on your photo, then they moved away from doing that and now I see actors doing it again because many times on casting profile sites, your photo is just out there free-floating and you definitely want the casting staff to know your name. With everything being done digitally now, I am happy that they are doing that again. This gives you reassurance that your name will appear with your photo. Some of the software that casting agencies are using leave a lot to be desired and your photo can be there without your name associated on the same page.
I choose four photos from every photoshoot. I happen to have a lot of various looks, so I like to send about four at once. Some casting sites only let you upload one photo to your profile without paying and some free sites allow an unlimited amount of photos to be submitted for your profile. You'll learn more about this once you start registering at casting agency websites.
The next advice - lighting. This is really hard and sometimes editing software does fix the lighting element for the photo. You'll want the lighting to be set up facing you, not behind you. Outdoor sunshine usually works perfectly for me. If you do outdoor shots, do it in a park or a non-public place like a backyard or patio. You can buy photography lighting online.
So remember, your headshot is not a glamor pic, not a posed typical studio photo, rather something that shows the real you and what type of characters you can play. That is what casting people are looking for. There's a lot of information and videos on You Tube that are very helpful for us actors when it comes to taking photos with a phone or digital camera. Most of your photos will be seen online because no more is anyone actually asking actors to mail an 8 X 10 with their resume stapled to the back. It may be the case for some theatre auditions, perhaps, so you could print out your photo and resume to prepare it that way only if asked.
I am excited for you taking this important step for your acting career. You will repeat this task over and over during your whole career and it can really be a fun adventure. Always know that you can return here for more advice about the business and I wish you all the best !
I am so glad that you are asking for more advice and I would be happy to give you my suggestions about headshots.
Never use a high school photo for a headshot. High School graduation photos are great for framing and keeping displayed and to give out to family and friends, but it is something totally different than a headshot. With senior grad photos, it is more like a photography studio shot. That is not what a head shot is. I haven't seen the photos that you're referring to, but this would be a rule of thumb.
A headshot is about attitude, energy or lack thereof, and very natural. It is absolutely vital that you look exactly like your headshot when you appear for auditions. Any variation of what you projected in the photo and how you appear to the auditor will be met with the auditor being disappointed or annoyed. This is just how it is. So, really, a senior class photo is not going to be useful for acting.
Another element is that for high school photos, most of the time we get made up a certain way, wear our hair a certain way and pose in a happy way and want to look pretty. That is good for that purpose, but a good headshot will show your type and it's not about looking cute. Project the real you in your headshot. So try not to wear a lot of makeup for your headshot.
I advise not waiting, rather take some photos now with a phone or digital camera. Before doing so, do a search online for articles that talk about what to do for these and what is expected. Look at some examples of actor headshots online and get a sense of what they look like. The luxury of having your photos done with a phone or digital camera by a friend or family member (no selfies) is that you can practically take a thousand photos to choose from. When the photoshoot is finished, upload all the photos to your computer and look at each one. Choose some that look like you everyday, ones that project personality. Once you have some, start to edit them for size and or lighting, whatever editing is needed. I have been adding my name to the photos lately, because you will want the person to associate your name with your face. It was always done this way decades ago, having your name on your photo, then they moved away from doing that and now I see actors doing it again because many times on casting profile sites, your photo is just out there free-floating and you definitely want the casting staff to know your name. With everything being done digitally now, I am happy that they are doing that again. This gives you reassurance that your name will appear with your photo. Some of the software that casting agencies are using leave a lot to be desired and your photo can be there without your name associated on the same page.
I choose four photos from every photoshoot. I happen to have a lot of various looks, so I like to send about four at once. Some casting sites only let you upload one photo to your profile without paying and some free sites allow an unlimited amount of photos to be submitted for your profile. You'll learn more about this once you start registering at casting agency websites.
The next advice - lighting. This is really hard and sometimes editing software does fix the lighting element for the photo. You'll want the lighting to be set up facing you, not behind you. Outdoor sunshine usually works perfectly for me. If you do outdoor shots, do it in a park or a non-public place like a backyard or patio. You can buy photography lighting online.
So remember, your headshot is not a glamor pic, not a posed typical studio photo, rather something that shows the real you and what type of characters you can play. That is what casting people are looking for. There's a lot of information and videos on You Tube that are very helpful for us actors when it comes to taking photos with a phone or digital camera. Most of your photos will be seen online because no more is anyone actually asking actors to mail an 8 X 10 with their resume stapled to the back. It may be the case for some theatre auditions, perhaps, so you could print out your photo and resume to prepare it that way only if asked.
I am excited for you taking this important step for your acting career. You will repeat this task over and over during your whole career and it can really be a fun adventure. Always know that you can return here for more advice about the business and I wish you all the best !
Hello again! I'm so grateful to hear back from you once more. It's unfortunate I can't use those photos (they did look pretty natural, but oh well). I have a 2007 Sony Cybershot camera, which I was toying around with earlier and found out takes really good pictures. They're not 'vintage' looking by any means, but they do bring out the best look in me, somehow. Would that be okay to use to take pictures? Do you have any advice for how to pose in the photos? I've read about headshot photographers being able to guide people to pose, but if I'm by myself...I'm guiding myself, essentially. Again, thank you so much! You've been a huge help in navigating all of this.
Lilia
Maya, I knew I forgot this, so I'm adding this here. Many casting websites request a full head to toe photo and sometimes one from the waist up. Take some of those photos and have them on hand in case you register at the sites that request that. Being prepared with these will make it easy to create a full and required profile. They're all requesting different things, but it pays to be prepared. Best wishes !
Michelle M.
Maya - That camera will be fine for you to do photos with. Yes, a photographer is great for bringing out mood and the like while photographing. My Hollywood photographer when I lived there is probably super duper expensive right now or I'd refer you to him. He was great. I have advice for posing, just kind of set the camera on a timer and move around. If it has a video mode, do a video and pull screenshots from the video. Try everything and get ideas for this on the internet, too. Most of all HAVE FUN ! You can do this ! : )
Michelle M.