I wanted to know if there is anything that could be done to make my son's future shots look more model like I know he has a long face and forehead is there anyway to hide that so it isnt so obvious?

were using this shot for three months and will take new photos when he turns three in June.

Photography is all about lighting and angles.

This looks like a school shot and isn't terrible. BUT modeling photography for children is also about finding a photographer who really has the time to make the shots great, especially when you are starting with a really new "little one" in the business. It needs to be fun for the little one and still accomplish the goals you need to achieve. There are photographers who can make this happen. The "spark" needs to come through from the child. That can only happen if the child is really having fun. This little guy looks like he still isn't sure.. just give it time. Modeling and acting are a road you travel. There can be lots of rest stops along the way.

I would also like to add, that children "look how they look" and usually that's the way they book in this business. It is unusual for casting to want to change how a child looks and over the years I have found it works best when you nurture a child's strong suits and looks, not try to change them. Each child is unique and beautiful in their own way.
In the shot above, there looks as if there was a flash used or a light directly on his forehead which may just be the soft box high lighting his forehead a little more than needed but he has a wide forehead, some would say that makes more room for a larger brain, making him smarter..

You must use photos for submission that look like the child or you are wasting your time because if you don't casting will be expecting one type and get another. They don't really care for that.

No headshot photog in my area will shoot him this young this shot is just for submissions i'd rather use this than my poor snapshots. he was very happy at the shoot but with a limited number of shots that can be taken (9) and her industry inexperience I dont think she captured him at the correct times.

since this looks like a school photo should i have the original photo re-cropped to make it more suitible?

It's fine for submission at this age...the problem is not the shot. The problem is that he looks unsure. My honest opinion as a mom and as a person in this business, based on the shots I have seen of this little guy, is wait 6 months and try it again. He just doesn't look ready to me. That doesn't mean he won't be ready in few months.

Photographers who are shooting jobs don't have time to wait for child to be in the perfect mood. I'm not speaking about a photographer who has a lot of experience shooting young children when you are paying them to make enough shots for a comp card. You may just need to tell them you have a child who needs extra time. The job photographers have a limited amount of time to get the shot. I just don't think these shots will get this little guy called in but I have been proved wrong before.

The overall shot (school looking or not) is fine for a little guy, it's his expression that isn't working for me. I know he is cute but he just doesn't seem ready. At 2 you have plenty of time.

I do not think that this photographer made a bad photograph at all. It's a perfectly nice photo of this child.

There is a magical sparkle behind the eyes of some children. You can't make it happen, it's just there and the ones who just have it are the ones who get called in the most and book the most. It come naturally and eventually every child has a photo made where you can see it. It's the consistency that makes a child or an adult a good booker.

In children sometimes it is the photo that was taken when they didn't know the camera was there and there is genuine laughter, happiness and excitement.

One thing I have learned not to fight in this business is.. you can not accelerate time. Sometimes children need to grow into themselves.

IMO

Thanks for your input i do appreciate it i'll see what this photo accomplishes if anything. if not we'll do the ones in june and see how things go then.

Take lots of photos of him yourself. As long as he likes the camera it will help him get used to it and not see the camera as something he has to perform for. You will get great shots which are keepsakes and may find that it helps him relax around the camera. Time changes everything.

ive been trying to do that he seems to like the camera some what we'll see how it progresses over the next few months what were focusing on now is the interview he has on the 24th. I'm confident about that because he really is a people person.

This original post really bothered me

I know it may not be my place to say...
But you asked is there a way to hide his "long face".
Please keep in mind he is your child and not your package of which to sell. He doesn't need to hide ANYTHING and I hope to God you don't talk about him like that in front of him.

I think that this mom was was just trying to tone it down a bit. I don't think she meant it the way it may have sounded in print. You know, some people have better left side than right side ...
every child is beautiful in their own way and I am sure she was just hoping to make this cutie more beautiful for a great picture.

I am sure she wanted to just get the best angle and possibly didn't choose the best choice of words.

quote:

Originally posted by FaithLove:
This original post really bothered me

I know it may not be my place to say...
But you asked is there a way to hide his "long face".
Please keep in mind he is your child and not your package of which to sell. He doesn't need to hide ANYTHING and I hope to God you don't talk about him like that in front of him.

I KNOW he is my child please dont go there with me you know NOTHING about me or him. I would never say anything negative about my son to him or to anyone else. I asked that question because it was bought to my attention I never noticed it before myself. I am not trying to sell him I am not that type of parent. I just want to make sure his best is presented as I'm sure most parents here are doing the same with their child. So thanks for your concern but there is no need for it.

Childacts: thank you i appreciate it I just presented the words in the same text they were presented to me.