The lighting, the makeup, the alack of any connection with the camera. These are all of the reasons that these shots are awful and will not get these girls any work. You might consider looking for a stock photographer or another photographer who needs practice and you can trade for photos. You work for free, the photog works for free.

if you are for real and not actually the photographer, please do not go to this guy. it will be a waste of your money and you will be so afraid of what might happen with this guy that you will not be able to relax and get a good photo.

How about this guy, also in my price range. Is this better? Or more importantly good enough?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/crs/648138704.html

If you are at the point where you do not have $250 give or take, the last thing on your mind should be headshots. With the amount that you will spend on posting them on sites lacasting, actorsaccess, nowcasting, backstage, it will be more costly when you realize that you will have to re-shoot and repost because you are getting no response. Your headshot is you only way people will see you. You say have no other option than to spend the 120, what is wrong with waiting until you can save a little more cash. I promise it will be worth the wait. You will have a VERY hard time finding a worthwhile photographer under 250. When you get to the 500 range IT SHOWS. You get not just a good photographer, you get a photographer that understands what CDs' are looking for! Thats what you pay the exrta cash for.

I thank you for the response but I do understand all that. What I don't understand is what exactly does a good headshot look like. My philosophy on this is if I spend $500 and don't book anything, I'm down $500, If I pay $120 and book one job it will pay for itself and then I'll gain confidence and spend $500. So, once again, I'm very interested on more opinions on these 2 photographers, not general philosophy on the subject. I have a feeling you guys didn't even click on the links. Thanks so much for your time in advance.

Sorry, can't give you better news.

How did that guy do the make up? Looks like fingerpainting to me.

quote:

Originally posted by daisies82:
How about this guy, also in my price range. Is this better? Or more importantly good enough?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/crs/648138704.html

Argh! What are those people in his shots doing?

Sucking lemons for inspiration?

quote:

Originally posted by daisies82:
I thank you for the response but I do understand all that. What I don't understand is what exactly does a good headshot look like. My philosophy on this is if I spend $500 and don't book anything, I'm down $500, If I pay $120 and book one job it will pay for itself and then I'll gain confidence and spend $500. So, once again, I'm very interested on more opinions on these 2 photographers, not general philosophy on the subject. I have a feeling you guys didn't even click on the links. Thanks so much for your time in advance.

Sorry, darling, that I was so rough.

Look at it this way:

You spend 120$, and get junk. Then you're down 120$ and also down a dream of acting.

You spend, let's say 300, you get a chance like the others do.

Zenial didn't say 500$ He/she (won't do that error again so soon) said it's 250$ as a minimum.

Now doesn't that sound better than 500$?

And is it so far away from 120$ that you would risk your acting career for it?

I'd rather skip restaurants, clothes, etc.

You don't go for the cheapest acting class, either, do you?

quote:

Originally posted by daisies82:
I thank you for the response but I do understand all that. What I don't understand is what exactly does a good headshot look like. My philosophy on this is if I spend $500 and don't book anything, I'm down $500, If I pay $120 and book one job it will pay for itself and then I'll gain confidence and spend $500. So, once again, I'm very interested on more opinions on these 2 photographers, not general philosophy on the subject. I have a feeling you guys didn't even click on the links. Thanks so much for your time in advance.

Ok. I did click the link I'm just not into talking about other peoples art. But since that is what your looking for, here goes. With a photographer, It's their representation of the world around them. In a headshot photographers view, in his/or her art form, his/or her job is to capture YOU. Or at least what he/or she feels represents you best. Some photographers, like the one you have shown, are examples of capturing an image and little else. It takes experience to capture an image that IS you, not of you. Have you ever looked through a photo album? There are lots of great pictures and then sometimes you stumble upon that one picture of your mom, or dad, or sister, or whoever, and you say to yourself that is SOOOO mom or SOOOO dad, or whoever. Well a headshot photographer does not have the luxury of following you around for a few years. It is up to him/her to capture YOU in a few hours. A good photographer can do that. And unless he/she is your friend, it's not going to happen for 120 bucks. Look, for example, at bkheadshots.com you should be EASILY able to tell the difference between the craigslist guy and Bjoern. A good photo somehow leaps of the page. It almost ceases to be 2D, because it captures personality, which cannot be contained by the page alone, therefore it has nowhere to go but out. When you look a a good headshot you feel like you know the person or at least you know someone JUST like that person. AND THAT IS A CDs' JOB. To call in the guy/or girl who is "The right person" not just someone who "looks the part"

Hi daisies,

I understand it's frustrating, photos are expensive. But I have to agree with everyone here. The photos you linked to have so many shadows, and you want your face to be bright, alive, and the absolute focus of the picture. Do you have a job right now? I would highly recommend saving for a month or a couple months or whatever you need to do, to get some professional pictures. I shot with Robert Kazandjian at kazphoto.com. His shoot is $250 and I'm very happy with my new photos.

Also, while you're saving, you could look on craigslist and LA Casting for newer photographers who are building their portfolios. Again, like everyone has warned here, BE CAREFUL on craigslist. Always ask to see some of the photographers work and let them know you are bringing a friend/bf/brother, etc. However, you can get some decent shots from these TFP/TFCD shoots. I did a few of those just to get some experience in front of the camera, figure out what colors, facial expressions, hair styles, etc best feature me and my personality. I used two headshots from these shoots and was going out on 2-3 auditions a week! So you do have options.

Best of luck!

Hi Daisies82,
I know of a photographer who will shoot a "half session" with you. At least then you'll have something rather than nothing...or something awful.Shoot me an email and I'll give you the information.
"hooleydooley1@sbcglobal.net"

WOW get it through your head!!! Everyone hates the photos! Get your ass a job, save your money and go to someone better- like we all do. Sheesh- what is so complicated about that!!!!

You get what you pay for, in this case 125 buys you crap. I suggest going to Kevyn Major Howard, he's not cheap but he works with you and offers payment plans to help the actor that is just starting out. His work speaks for itself and if you're serious about your career get great headshots!!, not mediocre ones you'll just throw away. You can do it 10 times for 125 and end up with shit or you can do it once for 700 and start working.

there needs to be some kind of site that has a ranking for photographers. There are so many out there, I'm sure a lot of people have overlapped.

I found mine through here, mostly because I can see all there portfolios...i'm neurotic like that.

For LA
http://www.actorgear.com/relatedServices.php?city=LA

NY
http://www.actorgear.com/relatedServices.php?city=NY

I heard a rumor that Kevyn Major Howard is a creep. I also would NEVER pay $700 for photos. Ridiculous. $250-$350. NO MORE.

Rumors are but only rumors I had a great expierence there the staff was great and i enjoyed the atmosphere.