You guys are the best. I love the wonderful advice about headshots you've given, especially TruthTeller59 and Miss Stone.

I've tried to follow it (though I missed the memo about landscape - oops!) and now need some advice picking the best ones for commercial and theatrical. I tried to really think about what roles I'm best for before doing these shots, and I came up with these as examples 1) quirky, creative young professional or college intern, 2) high school senior, on the more intellectual, girl-next-door side, and 3) angsty, rebellious young adult. Please give your honest feedback as I want to get the most out of my submissions!

Thanks in advance


16)

64)

48)

149)

83)

110)

174)

212)

187)

218)

226)

251)

FAIL Don't know why those photos didn't work. Trying again...

16)

48)

149)

70)

93)

83)

174)

212)

218)

187)

226)

251)

Too much makeup in the bottom ones (251)

I think #149 is my favorite. Not too crazy about the other ones.

Do you regularly wear glasses or are those prop frames? I really like your smile in #83.

I do wear glasses - can't really drive or, you know, read a teleprompter without them But I took the lenses out for the shoot, so I guess they're sort of props here.

Thanks for your feedback! What do you think for a theatrical shot?

I agree with 149 for the commercial. On the first two, you look too hesitant and self-conscious.

I definitely like 187 for the theatrical. You have good connection with the camera there. I agree that on some of the others, the eye makeup was too distracting, but not on 187.

To be honest, I do not like the lighting. Perhaps if the exposure was dialed down quite a bit it would look like the main light fell across your face instead of looking so flat.
212 and 218 need some work in PS. 187 is the best. Just my preference. Otherwise these are useable photos.

You are SO cute. Nice shots.

I like 187- you remind me a little of Maggie Siff from "Sons of Anarchy" and 93 as it is kooky and FUN and shows personality.

I like 93 and 83 very much. I think the lighting on the first several is great.

83 makes you look much younger due to the little "shrug"...

Sorry for the delayed thank you. You guys were so great in helping me pick out my new shots (check out my new avatar - it's my theatrical shot!). I really appreciate your advice.

Now, to put these new photos to work! Don't be surprised if you see them on postcards all over town - I'm sending out about a bazillion

Cheers,
Michelle

Hey Michelle, I saw your acting website and it looks good!I also saw that you are or used to act in the SF/norcal area. I also am currently acting in Norcal before I make the big move to La. Did you move down to La or do you go back and forth? Who is your representation in SF? When you did student films/ independents up here did you mostly use SFcasting? What else did you do to get experience up here? An advice you can give is appreciated!

Hi AustenCA,

Nice to meet another SF actor I live in LA permanently, but do go back up to SF frequently to visit. I wouldn't advise trying to go back and forth if your home base is SF - I did that for a while, and things just happen so quickly here, you have to be able to drop everything and just BE there.

When in SF, I relied heavily on LA Casting, and would check Nancy Hayes Casting's website often for specific calls. I love them there - they are super nice. I found a lot of indy films - a step up from student films, but I did my share of those (at Ex'pression Center for Digital Media, SF and SJ State, etc.) One student film was actually one of my all-time favorite projects (http://www.michelleannharrison.com/videos_and_clips/our_neighborhood.html) because it had a social message and was really well done. But there are plenty of bad films out there (indy and student alike), so just be careful what you attach your name to. Mostly in SF I did commercials and commercial print. That's really the only market for paid gigs in SF, and it was really fun.

If you're committed to being up there for a while, get a good agent. There are only like 11 SAG franchised agents, so submit to all of them every few months and change agents if you don't have one that's working for you. Make sure your agent is OK with you getting your own work on indy films, etc. and then submit to everything you'd want to do and are right for. Try castingconnection.com too. Good for unpaid student films. Build a reel, get some commercials if you can, take classes (BATS is great for improv, SF Acting Academy is in the building with Beau Bonneau Casting and many instructors are session directors, I studied with Shelley Mitchell and she is great), save your money, and then come to LA and let's get coffee and talk about how we miss the fog (haha jk, I HATE the fog!!)

Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Michelle

Your website is very nice.