Sorry if this has already been posted. I am new here.

I was wondering, to update headshots, how often should you do this? After a new hair cut or if you change your looks or just every year?

You don't need to update your headshots until they no longer reflect accurately what you look like.

If you no longer look like your shots, it's time to update.

Best,

Ron

Once a year or if your look changes before that. Whatever comes first.
Good Luck
www.avenue22photography.com

quote:

Originally posted by RonBrown:
You don't need to update your headshots until they no longer reflect accurately what you look like.

If you no longer look like your shots, it's time to update.

Yup. You can keep the same pics for a few years if they still look like you!

You need new pics if...

your hair gets a lot longer...

your hair gets a lot shorter...

you dye your hair a different color...

you gain weight (more than just a few pounds)

you lose weight (more than just a few pounds)

you look older than you did in the pics (you start getting wrinkles/crows feet, more lines in your face -- etc., anything that will make you look visibly older than you did at the time of the headshots)

HTH!

You're forgetting the single most important reason for updating your current headshots.

WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER GETTING YOU AUDITIONS.


“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647

quote:

WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER GETTING YOU AUDITIONS.

I don't know why a good headshot that has already been "getting you auditions" would suddenly "stop" getting you auditions. If it was good enough last year, it's probably good enough this year (the exception being if the prevailing headshot styles change -- for instance, B&W photos now look out of date no matter how beautiful they are).

I still think the reason to update a good headshot is when your looks change. From my experience, there's nothing more disappointing to call someone in for an audition based on a headshot that I liked, and a completely different person walks in the room!

Make an honest assessment of whether or not your looks have changed and base your decision on that.

Good luck!

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by RonBrown:
You don't need to update your headshots until they no longer reflect accurately what you look like

This individual's answer supplies only HALF the equation.

In the acting book, “An Actor's Guide -- Making It in New York City” by Glenn Alterman, here is my answer to the question of when an actor should get a new headshot, reprinted with the author's permission:

“The only time you should get a new headshot is when, 1) Your old ones are no longer working, or 2) You’ve changed the way you look (gotten heavier or thinner or radically changed your hairstyle or color). Arbitrary answers like, “Your need a new headshot every year” are ill-advised conclusions, based upon generalities, not fact.”

It’s obvious by my answer that I understand the necessity of getting new headshots whenever you’ve changed your looks. But let me thoroughly explain my first point. Unknown to less experienced actors, headshots do not have an unlimited shelf life! Your old headshots will eventually lose their charm. When you’re submitting your headshots on a regular basis, casting directors will often become so used to seeing them that you’ll need to change them occasionally -- whether you’ve changed or not. You cannot continually pound agents and CD's with the same old headshot without them eventually losing interest. This is not to mention the obvious fact that whether they’re five years old or only five weeks old, if your current headshots aren’t getting you auditions at any time, replace them immediately.

One more thing...

What I’m going to say next will surely upset a lot of headshot photographers, but nonetheless, it’s the truth. You’ve heard the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If your headshot is continuing to book you lots of jobs, EVEN IF IT ISN’T CURRENT OR ISN’T EVEN VERY GOOD, DON’T REPLACE IT!! Having a headshot that makes you money and gets you lots of auditions is so important, there is no need for getting new ones until as I said before, “they are no longer getting you auditions.” The single most important goal of a good headshot is to get you work. If they succeed at this single job, you have a winning headshot. On the other hand, if your current headshot isn’t opening doors, don’t even hesitate -- get a new one as soon as you possibly can.


“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647