To Headshot Or Not To Headshot? (Updated)
Actors get a bum deal : A 95% unemployment rate average and an expensive list of must- haves in order to even be considered for roles.
(Taken by @ammonite on our first date- this one is too close up. Headshots need to include head and shoulders)
The headshot is a crucial part of this list which include fencing classes, singing tutorials, and the like. Moreso than your CV, your professional profile shot is what casting directors and directors look at to confirm whether or not they will call you in or not. However, I know from personal experience that the cost can break any jobbing or resting actor's wallet. I have paid anything from €500 to €0 for my headshots and no matter what I have paid or not paid, there has always been some industry professional who has told me that they "can't use these as you are too fat, too old, too young, too thin, too intelligent, too gormless" or whatever. This is so frustrating as once you have paid for them - it is way too expensive to justify getting more. Besides, other industry professionals "love them".
So you end up with a variety of headshots - each cherry-picked for the various casting directors and directors that you are looking to work with.
Recently, an acting friend of mine has trained up as a portrait photographer and now he specialises in Actors' Headshots.
This is the one which he took of me:
(Photo by Eddie Murphy at www.edshots.ie)
I know deep in my gut that there will be at least one casting director or director saying "you look too XYZ"! So, taking the camera into my own hands I have decided, after a painful consideration, to send my own headshot as a professional backup:
(Taken by myself, in my pram)
Please do let me know what you think as advice from peers and professionals is key to anyone's career path.
Thank you for reading and letting me share a small part of what it is like 'Behind the scenes' as an actor/actress.
Kisses x ;-)
PS
Having got advice from @ammonite I realised that I hadn't tagged my post properly and I have tidied up some typos and dodgey photos. That's why no one should ever post at 6am without coffee!
It must be the actor in you but you look completely different in all three photo's! ;)
Lol! Or more like - give a toss, half give a toss, couldnt give a toss!
Lol. That could be the title of your new one woman play! :)
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