Did anybody who first started as a actor take their own headshots? I am trying to start out with projects on actoracess and other casting sites, but I need headshots. Is it a good decision to take my own headshots now or find a professional photographer considering I'm still a teenager. If I do take my own headshots...What would be the process? Thanks in advance for the advice.

My very first headshot was taken by my next door neighbor. The cost? One six-pack of Coors and two hotdogs at Pink's. Pretty good deal? Considering the work it got me, it wasn't a "bargain" after all.

All actors begin their careers penniless and without a job. But as I've said many times, whenever you're ready to pursue acting professionally, you'll need a professional headshot.

I equate doing you own headshots with doing surgery on your own brain... inexpensive, but foolhardy.

"Whatever works."

Would a surgeon operate on themselves? If you want to be treated as a professional, in otherwords, get paid, you have to have to tools of a professional actor. Every WORKING actor I know has great headshots taken by a professional photographer. The so called actors in my class who complain about not getting enough auditions keep submitting terrible headshots of themselves. They refuse to believe that the quality of their headshots says a lot about who they are as actors. Put yourself in the position of a casting director who has a role to fill. Are you going to bring in the actor who submits a decent headshots or are you going to audition the actors that sumbits headshots that jump off the page?

i wouldn't consider myself a professional yet...I'm trying to build up my resume

How are you planning to get there?

I had them them done professionally. I learned, don't bring your step mom to the place, even though, she's a hairdresser. I did my homework, before I started out, including not having my headshots printed here (expensive).

I think I'm going to get there by submitting to student films and local theatre roles first. someone suggested me to take my own headshots by myself, but I wanted to ask for more opinions.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr_kit:
I think I'm going to get there by submitting to student films and local theatre roles first. someone suggested me to take my own headshots by myself, but I wanted to ask for more opinions.

I wouldn't recommend taking it yourself. But, if you're strapped for cash, you might be able to find another actor with a digital camera who'll do it for you. Since you're in L.A., you might want to hook up with these guys:
http://more.showfax.com/bbs2/viewtopic.php?t=5372

quote:

Originally posted by activated:
I wouldn't recommend taking it yourself. But, if you're strapped for cash, you might be able to find another actor with a digital camera who'll do it for you. Since you're in L.A., you might want to hook up with these guys:
http://more.showfax.com/bbs2/viewtopic.php?t=5372

Those shots the actors took are not that good. And since you don't have a resume, your headshots is going to have to be great if you want to get called in for auditions. Do you really think anyone is going to bring you in to audition if you're submitting bad headshots with no resume? Remember, you're competing with actors who are submitting great headshots with decent resumes.

You may be satified with mediocrity, but the people who are shooting commercials and producing, films don't have to settle anything less but the best. You can shoot your own headshots but don't expect any results.

Save your money and pay a professional photographer. If you PM I'll send you a link to my photographer. He recently raised his prices but he's a softy and you might be able to get him to give you a discount.

When I first started, I didn't consider myself a professional, but I took someones advice and had professional headshots taken. With no resume, I was able to get an agent and when I put my headshots on actorsaccess.com and lacasting.com I was called in to audition for national commercials, independent films, and student films. Now that I do make some money from acting, I consider myself a professional actor and I still don't have a resume to speak of. The strength of my headshots gets me in the door and the rest is up to my charm and charisma.

I once showed up to an audition with a snapshot that a friend took and a smile. I truly believed I could charm the pants off of everyone and it wouldn't matter that I didn't have a professional headshot. Well, my smile quickly faded as I was laughed out of the room. Needless to say, my spirit was pretty much broken. I felt extremely uncomfortable because I wasn't prepared. It's easy to be naive when you first go to an audition, but learn from my experience, it's not something that you want to happen to you.

Good Luck!

I am an independent film director, and a headshot photographer, and from my experience I can tell you that a professional headshot is crucial.

We get thousands of submissions, even for short films, and if the picture is unprofessional, rarely is an appointment given.

Ron
www.ronbrownheadshots.com
www.aperfectfitmovie.com

What if you have a husband with a $1500 professional digital camera, Adobe Photoshop on his computer,(and knows how to use it), photography classes under his belt and the time to dedicate to that great shot. Then is it okay? I think so....