I've seen one headshot done by him and the girl whom it belonged to looked nothing like the photo. She looked pretty in the photo, almost soft focus, but in reality she was just a normal looking girl. Also she was heavy in real life, but he had her positioned to look thinner.

I am aware that he is highly thought of because he is a former actor (he had a decent sized role in Full Metal Jacket).

quote:

Originally posted by The Apprentice 1122:
I know Kevyn personally, and half the stuff you have all said about him is way off. Kevyn is actually running a special right now for $500 plus the cost of hair and make up. He has never been 1200.00 since ive known him. If you're serious about you career i suggest you shoot with him.

Looks like he has an even more special special. I just went to his website and he now charges 400$ for 3 looks plus hair and make-up.

But what one poster said is, that he does the printing himself, and it is expensive.

So it looks like his basic shooting fee is small, but then add this, add that, and add that, too, and you're beyond the clouds, price-wise.

I think it best if you know what you are paying walking out the door. It's only fair.

quote:

Originally posted by tuscanigirl:
I've seen one headshot done by him and the girl whom it belonged to looked nothing like the photo. She looked pretty in the photo, almost soft focus, but in reality she was just a normal looking girl. Also she was heavy in real life, but he had her positioned to look thinner.

I am aware that he is highly thought of because he is a former actor (he had a decent sized role in Full Metal Jacket).

Yeah, it's quite stylized. The faces look kind of flat.

I really appreciate all the content that my thread started. I'm currently in Orange County work-shopping a new musical (I have the lead role) that opens in 2 weeks in Palm Springs (then it's potentially Broadway bound.

I need to look here for a photographer who is resonably priced and good. I don't have the time to go all over So CAL and my agent is after me to get new headshot for submission.

Nobody ever complained about spending top dollar for the best quality/service. However, I'm not interested in paying for someones self inflated (real or not) ego. I can always get more money, I can't get more time and if I waste time or allow someone to waste my time on mediocre shots that's stealing my life and I don't get that back!

A good friend (amature photog and their posted on BSW, I'd attach one but can't figure out how!!!) took my current headshot, is it studio quality...NO....am I getting a lot of work from it...YES. (I also use a comp of several stage and film character shots, and have had a lot of positive feedback about them)

But you know how Agents/mgrs can be, you gotta be in their defination of a "BOX"!!! Soooo, I'm how looking for a shooter in OC and need to get it done fast.

I had hoped some responders to this thread having more than a few posts would give input.

Not that I don't appreciate all you comments, but any time someone jumps into a topic and is a newbie or has few posts it's always a question as to their personal interest.
Best regards and thanks again

Regarding Kevyn (is that right: Kevyn, but not Kevin?) Major Howards photos:

when I look at them, it reminds me of these tinted mirrors, where everybody looks good.

He doesnt do the printing himself. he uses Pixels Print www.pixelsla.com And they are pretty damn good price wise

I wouldn't say those prices are pretty damn good. Less than a dollar a shot is pretty standard, but if you look at the bottom of the page, they stick you with a $25 set up fee. Plus, I'm pretty sure he makes you use that printing place, which is ridiculous.

Someone posted a total of 1600 out the door.

Could that be creative fee charging? I mean, charging less for the actual shoot, but then there's a lot to add.

this is still going on eh?



Anytime you go to a printer.....they charge you a setup fee. Even for biz cards. Its a service to provide many many copies over time....not just one.

They keep your photo on file then you order as many as you like for a nice price.

My biz cards cost me 149 for 500 plus a 20 something dollar setup....standard practice

quote:

Originally posted by tuscanigirl:
I've seen one headshot done by him and the girl whom it belonged to looked nothing like the photo. She looked pretty in the photo, almost soft focus, but in reality she was just a normal looking girl. Also she was heavy in real life, but he had her positioned to look thinner.

I am aware that he is highly thought of because he is a former actor (he had a decent sized role in Full Metal Jacket).

Lol

She most likely simply gained weight and looked different from the time she shot.

Its a little silly to me that if someone does not look exactly like a photo its the photographers fault....not the actors who gained weight or changed hair style

quote:

Originally posted by The Apprentice 1122:
He has never been 1200.00 since ive known him. If you're serious about you career i suggest you shoot with him.

This is totally inaccurate. You HAVE to use his make-up/hair people and his printing services on top of the actual sitting fee - it's not optional. So basically you are stuck with a sticker shock at the end of the day.

I have friends who shot with him when they first arrived in L.A., paid well over 1,000 bucks, and never returned to him again because his pictures didn't get them work.

My agent claims he is purely a 'one-trick pony' (she says ALL his images look identical and you can't tell what the actor really looks like so she tells her clients to go to 'anyone but Kevyn Major Howard'.

Personally, I have yet to see one single well-known actor in his portfolio (if he is so good getting people work, how come we don't recognize any of the actors in his portfolio?! Most, if not all, other super-expensive headshot photographers have at least a few recognizable faces among their headshots).

Photography wise, it seems he never bothers to white-balance his shots and they turn out blueish (sometimes a weird green) - a big no-no for anyone who knows a bit about digital photography.

The guy is obviously a master of self-promotion (kudos to him for being a savvy businessman), but his headshots are not a smart option in L.A. But they might work really well in other markets - what do I know?

Seriously, it's frustrating to read these. Everyone seems to "think" all these things and no one does the foot work themselves. An actor has a responsibility to make sure it's going well. I don't defer my talent as an actor in front of a camera. You think a talented director asks other directors what they think before they do something? It's absurd. You keep listening to the cattle but the actors that are already working don't have time to post opinions. Most of what is said about him is false and I know for a fact that a lot of agents and casting directors, hell I was referred by William Morris. If you choose to keep listening to everyone else you will never be taken as a serious actor. Does anyone understand what artistry is?

quote:

Originally posted by Blackouttsi:

quote:

Originally posted by tuscanigirl:
I've seen one headshot done by him and the girl whom it belonged to looked nothing like the photo. She looked pretty in the photo, almost soft focus, but in reality she was just a normal looking girl. Also she was heavy in real life, but he had her positioned to look thinner.

I am aware that he is highly thought of because he is a former actor (he had a decent sized role in Full Metal Jacket).

Lol

She most likely simply gained weight and looked different from the time she shot.

Its a little silly to me that if someone does not look exactly like a photo its the photographers fault....not the actors who gained weight or changed hair style

No, she had just had them done. That is why she was showing them around the meeting. She really liked the photo, but it just was not her in real life.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackouttsi:
A friend of mine asked me to take a look into KMH photography from a photographers point of view.

Is he warm and friendly, probably not. But that should not matter much.

That always matters. It is called customer service and is important in any service oriented business.