Headshots

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 10:21am

If you can't get real headshots done, is it ok to use a digital camera and a white surface or is that just too unprofessional? I only need a headshot for this one audition for a musical a composer I know is writing.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 12:24pm

My opinion is that it might be better not to have a headshot rather than submitting something that will look inferior to everyone else's.

That said, I have seen some very nice home-made headshots. If you have a really good pic, I would crop it and have it printed on the best quality paper available. Perhaps Kinkos could help.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 12:26pm

Find a friend who's good with a camera...don't try to do it yourself. Everyone knows someone who loves to take pictures and is pretty good at it!

[ckeaton]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 4:31pm

I love to take pictures. But I only like to work with nudes, Jaily. So if you want a headshot, don't come to me unless it's for a different kind of audition.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 12:36pm

Thanks! These are good suggestions. I'll try to see if I can get around to it. Once school starts, everything really starts to happen at once, so I have no free time.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:19pm

While we're at it...

Would I be totally wrong to use my yearbook picture until I can get real headshots done?

[kelzama]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 3:37pm

Yes, totally wrong, especially if you used the "portrait collar" or are sitting on a giant 2006.

If you can't have professionals done, just have a friend snap 40-50 digital pictures, preferably on a nice, overclouded day. You should get at least one decent one out of the bunch. Main thing is you want to look like you. The trend in headshots seems to be 3/4 body full-color.

Add your name to the headshot in some paint/photoshop program. Save to disk then, take it to some mass merchandiser (Sam's, Costco, Target, Walmart) and print 8X10. Make sure the focus is good, or don't bother.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 9/2/06 at 6:05pm

Yes, totally wrong, especially if you used the "portrait collar" or are sitting on a giant 2006.

I don't know what you mean by "portrait collar," but there are no giant 2007's involved.

Thanks for the tips, though.