Hi guys! I've been a long time lurker and gotten a lot of fabulous advice from this board so far about how to start out

I just got my first ever set of headshots done by Bradford Rogne (who is wonderful!) and I wanted some feedback as to which ones (if any...haha) would be usable. Also feel free to throw in a type/age range, I'm very open to outside opinions! Thanks

http://s708.photobucket.com/al...w81/vicki_headshots/

I like commercial 4 and theatrical 5

I think between the two you could probably pull off 16-24.

I love your eye color by the way.

Bradford does a great jobs as always. You're gorgeous as well.

For commercial:
5-High school/college

6-Great for if you have to audition for a more athletic/outdoorsy commercial.

8-Business/upscale commercial

Theatrical:
00 and 5

I know I listed multiple numbers, I believe you should definitely have multiple looks on LA Casting. And if you have the money, multiple hard copies.

The only criticism I would give would be to have more serious looking expressions in your theatrical choices. They all still look happy and cheery. You're smiling with your eyes.

I've been teaching cosmetology for 17 years. This is obviously a very pretty woman but I just can't get past the make-up. It's flat and pasty, not enough eyes, her lips are too pink and glossy, and who did her hair? The lighting is extremely flat and her expressions are as flat as the make-up. Maybe it's the Brooklyn in me coming out, but "FABULOUS" "WONDERFUL" and "GREAT" these pictures aren't. I think this young lady could do much better.
Is this as good as photography gets in L.A.?? PA-LEEZE.

Oh the magic of retouching.

quote:

Originally posted by alicia_c:




I've been teaching cosmetology for 17 years. This is obviously a very pretty woman but I just can't get past the make-up. It's flat and pasty, not enough eyes, her lips are too pink and glossy, and who did her hair? The lighting is extremely flat and her expressions are as flat as the make-up. Maybe it's the Brooklyn in me coming out, but "FABULOUS" "WONDERFUL" and "GREAT" these pictures aren't. I think this young lady could do much better.
Is this as good as photography gets in L.A.?? PA-LEEZE.

You noticed the makeup too? I thought it was just me!!!

I went to the "Bradford Rogne" site just now. It was packed full of male models and a few, perfect model-type women. These headshots look NOTHING like the work I saw on his site. I also noticed that Rogne also advertises himself as a "professional make-up artist." NOT!!! Sorry, but hunky, half-naked men don't qualify as good acting headshots and neither do these pictures. They're terrible.

The pictures are good... the makeup is not.


Tell your retoucher to work up the eyes and darken the gloss a bit, then they should work well.

You have good energy in all of these!

What's "good" about these pictures? Is it the lighting (it's flat and uninteresting)? The expression? (she looks completely bored). We already discussed the make-up. And what about that tacky drape in the window?? Uh-uh honey, NO amount of retouching is going to rescue these turkeys. I've seen $100. guys who turned out this kind of work (I should know, I've worked with all of them) and in NO CITY would this be seen as top-quality work.
I'm not here to hurt anyone's feelings, I just know that v.ki could find a much better photographer than this. I just hope she didn't pay a lot of money for these

Bradford Rogne is considered one of the top photographers in LA because he does almost everything that is right with a headshot.

Keep in mind, these are his raw photos. They're NOT retouched.

What he does right:
-He doesn't make people do silly poses or dress in tacky outfits.

-He has a very sharp quality to the extent where it doesn't even look like a photo.

-He's one of the best people in LA who uses a combination of natural and studio lighting effectively.

-Fair pricing. He charges within the usual $250-500 range.

ARE WE LOOKING AT THE SAME PHOTOS???

Could you give us an example of what a quality headshot should look like? Maybe yours?

I have to agree with Alicia ... what is good about these? She looks so uncomfortable, and unless I am mistaken, she's wearing way too much makeup.

A good headshot is about the subject, and in these, you look like you'd rather be anywhere but in front of the camera. I would ask for a reshoot.

-J

quote:

Originally posted by JanieZ:
I have to agree with Alicia ... what is good about these? She looks so uncomfortable, and unless I am mistaken, she's wearing way too much makeup.

A good headshot is about the subject, and in these, you look like you'd rather be anywhere but in front of the camera. I would ask for a reshoot.

-J

I have seen better work from Bradford, to be honest.

But I do believe there are some very good shots here as well.

Guys, the photos just need some retouching. It's not horrible... These could work for her after some colour correction and makeup editing which can both be done in photoshop.

Her energy is ok, not super fantastic... but not "dead".

I think the one in the pink top is the best for her skintone.



That being said, I always found Bradford to be highly overrated, no offense to him or anyone. His work is good, but he's not freakishly amazing as some would have him portrayed. When he did have headshots on his site... they were all supermodel looking people. No one looked like characters or every day people. I don't think he can do unglamorous shots, honestly.