Professional headshots will help you to get noticed, while the weak ones may ruin your success in being chosen. What this means is, when the casting directors get thousands of headshots of actors, sometimes most of them look quite similar. Hence, they have a hard time understanding who stands out. They will try to pick the most professional headshots at first. If they choose your headshot, after this, only you will have an opportunity to show your personality besides your appearance.

If you go to the right Los Angeles headshot photographer, they will already know how to make your headshot stand out as an outstanding marketing tool. Yes, headshots are marketing tools in acting, as, depending on how you will present yourself, you will be either chosen or not. People usually try to pay attention to headshot pricing and then choose an affordable headshot option for them. But the most important part is to be sure the quality will be high. Even if you are quite far from photography, you can notice which headshot will make you stand out, which not. Below, we introduce some tips on what makes the headshot ruined and less effective and how to avoid it.

1. No Concentration on Eyes

It is not a secret that movies have an emotional influence on the viewers. And, oftentimes, we choose what to watch based on our mood. The ones who transfer the emotion and feeling to the audience are the actors. Hence, the casting directors will, first of all, look at your headshot. They will pay attention to whether your headshot is effective or not. Indeed, there are some deadpan characters for whose role it will be arduous to find the most efficient ways of transferring emotions. However, some methods can always be used for professional headshots.

One of the best ways to be effective is to do it through the actor’s eyes. Your Los Angeles headshot photographer will concentrate on your gaze in the headshot. Our eye contact and gaze behavior are some of the most critical parts of our non-verbal communication. They are parts of our body language, where we express ourselves parallel to or without words. Good eye contact can break the ice and make a connection between people, while a bad one can cut the link.

It is also essential that the casting directors are not only affected by your gaze but also see that it is natural. You have to see your nature in it too and be in your most relaxed condition. This is the key in professional headshots, and headshot pricing should, indeed, include trials of making you comfortable and natural. Indeed, as we mentioned in the Actors’ “Type” in Los Angeles blog, you can expand your characteristics and personality a bit to fit the character you want.

2. No Plan

To succeed in our initiatives, we need to have a clearly defined purpose and see the target outcome beforehand. Just as a business tries to make a final product to sell, you are trying to make a final professional headshot to be accepted for the role you want. Before doing a headshot affordable for you, you should do long research and understand your purpose. What genre of movies is the best for you? Which character personality suits your traits the most? What kind of shows are you the most obsessed with? Create a clear vision, also by using the methods mentioned in the previous blog on how to find your “type.”

It would help if you never left the question of understanding your headshot’s purpose to the imagination of the casting directors. You should show it on your own, without letting them come to a wrong conclusion. Indeed, we often have one professional headshot for several roles, like we adjust our resume for different jobs, but you have to be realistic. It is obvious that you cannot present yourself with the same headshot to get both the role of a kind, loving dad and a serial killer. Again, you cannot have the same headshot for the role of “girl next door” and “queen bee.” If you choose a place with affordable headshots, you can get two separate headshots for the two roles. But, again, make your purpose and vision clear, then discuss it with your headshot photographer in Los Angeles to find the best option.

3. A Wrong Background

Professional headshots’ main concentration is on the person. However, the background is also something noticeable and essential in your headshot. They try to choose beforehand what to hold the photo camera’s focus on before starting shooting. And, your Los Angeles headshot photographer will know that it should exactly be you. There should not be very colorful, huge, and distracting objects in the background. They will distract the attention of the viewer from your eyes to the background, which is not beneficial for you. The eye effect is essential, while the red picture in the background, for example, will catch the attention first.

Colors are significant. They should create the mood you want and be corresponding to the character’s traits you are willing to get chosen for. For getting the role of “bad boy biker,” you have to create a dark and mysterious atmosphere, indeed. However, pay attention not to blend into the background. Imagine you wear a black leather jacket that suits the mentioned role to get the headshot, and you have black hair. If you choose a black background, it will ruin your headshot. The latter will underline just your floating face. You will profit if you try to examine not only headshot pricing and lead yourself with them, but also the previous works of the photographer. This will help you to be sure he or she is good at this part.

4. Unprofessional Makeup

It is well known that women use makeup to look more good-looking and highlight their beauty in daily life. However, makeup is also often needed in an acting career, where you have to present yourself right under different lighting, for instance. But, before getting to the movie, you have to introduce yourself in your headshot right to be chosen. Professional makeup will make both you and your headshot look professional, while the bad one may spoil the opinion about you.

Here are some common types of good and bad makeup. We already said that eyes and gaze are a crucial part of your headshot as they create connection and underline your personality. That is why you have to be very attentive to your eye makeup. Too heavy eye makeup will hide the message your eyes should transmit. Make sure your foundation does not look like clay or is gray. Also, pay attention to matching skin tones. This is one of the most obvious problems that will make you look less professional.

Your makeup should be appropriate for you. It should be suitable for your age, first of all. If you are relatively young, do not use too dark colors. On the contrary, it is not appropriate to use the brightest colors if you are going to apply for the role of a grandmother. Examine your character beforehand. Understand its personality and traits. Choose makeup and colors based on it. Headshot pricing, indeed, will not include doing makeup. If you are used to doing your makeup yourself, this time, probably, you will need professional help. If you choose an affordable headshot, you will have the opportunity to save money for this. The professional will notice what you are doing wrong and advise on how to be more effective. Surely, as in the case of headshot pricing, you will look at makeup pricing too, but, again, try to choose a professional with high-quality works.

5. Badly Chosen Wardrobe

You should research beforehand to find out your “type” as an actor and find it out based on your personality traits and other dimensions. Knowing your type in advance will also help you to have an appropriate wardrobe for it. This is because you will already know that you are the best at serious roles such as a lawyer, for example. And, hence, you will have an appropriate wardrobe, including costumes and ties. For “bad boy biker,” as mentioned above, you will need a wardrobe full of black leather jackets, for example.

However, be attentive while choosing how to appear to your Los Angeles photographer to get your professional headshot. Your clothes should not be the first thing the viewer notices. On the contrary, it should be the last thing. Any distracting thing on your clothes or your clothes themselves can ruin your headshot. Such can be some shiny buttons or snaps, very light designs, etc. These will distract the viewer from your eyes, which is the most crucial part of your headshot. Headshot pricing often does not include clothing. However, you can discuss your appearance with your photographer and take advice.

Another aspect here is that appearance is not the most crucial part of an actor. The most vital is how the actor creates the personality of the role right, how he or she plays and transfers emotions to the audience. Hence, your distracting appearance in the headshot may tell the casting directors that you will appear with similar clothing if you get the role. In addition, this may suggest that you will choose something that will make you move with difficulty, for example, and disturb acting properly. That is why, while choosing a photographer for an affordable headshot and managing to save money for your clothing, try to be wise while buying clothes. Choose clothes corresponding to the role, but avoid anything distracting. 

6. Wrong Lighting

Light is one of the keys in photography. Not only is the photo successful with the presence of appropriate lighting, but also the lighting is what creates the wanted environment. With the company of shadows, you will create a mysterious atmosphere, for example. While a luminous environment will be a sign of lightness and easiness. No need to tell that you can make you more corresponding to the role you want in this way.

However, again, the most essential part of your professional headshot is you, not the environment. Your face and head are the things which should be seen the most obviously. This is because the casting directors want to know who they are going to work with. They want to know your exact appearance characteristics, and it would be great to see your eyes clearly. Imagine a shadow on one of your eyes; it will cut the link. Indeed, you will need some shadows for some edgier characters, but make sure to let your eyes be highlighted. Overall, make sure your headshot pricing includes this important aspect too, and discuss the lighting with your headshot photographer in Los Angeles beforehand.

Summing up the Professional Headshot Mistakes

To sum up, we went through how headshot shooting details may ruin your headshot and make you look less professional. Besides, we went through how to avoid those mistakes and get a strong headshot to get chosen for the role you want. Remember, your eyes and gaze behavior are the most important. Do not try to hide them; on the contrary, underline them. Also, pay attention to the lightning; it should neither cover your eyes nor other essential parts of your face. The casting directors want to see it. Do not forget to do research beforehand to find out your “type.” This will help you understand better what environment to create and how beneficially introduce yourself. Avoid distracting background and distracting clothing. Anything that can move the acting directors’ attention from your eyes you should avoid.

Indeed, your Los Angeles headshot photographer should know these details. Hence, you can always discuss them with her or him and get advice. Make sure the headshot pricing includes all the essential elements you already know about. Consider that makeup and wardrobe are your responsibility. Hence, pay attention to choosing an affordable headshot session to do your preparation correctly. If you want to get some information about pricing and find an affordable package, you can visit our headshot pricing page.

Hope this was helpful!

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