Was there ever a picture that some of you armchair critics liked? I have to say that I have been reading this forum and am appalled at some of the comments I see here and how some seem to have made it their past-time picking apart others. I guess they must be just oh-so-perfect themselves. So perfect that they have all this time to criticize instead of being out auditioning, rehearsing or booking actual acting jobs.
If someone is here looking for advice about headshots, then it might be nice to advise them on their HEADSHOT instead of their personal features which they obviously can NOT change. Some of the crass, rude and ridiculous insults I have seen here are a bit much.
I do believe the purpose is to advise about headshot factors such as lighting, cropping, wardrobe choices etc.
Jeesh. With the group that seems to have taken up residence here I dont know why anyone would want to post their headshot at all unless they were a glutton for punishment. Good luck to those brave enough to do it!

Vaguely recently; this is the business. You need to be near perfection at your ability. We see potential, and it is worth it, speaking for myself, to let the user know the reality of the picture. Nothing needs to be suger coated, you post your pictures asking for feedback. You'll get feedback.

If everyone post a picture thinking they want to be called, "Wow amazing headshot! Beautiful eyes". Then why bother, when it looks awful?

---an example that was great
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/474108971

Well those headshots you linked are indeed excellent headshots but that person also had the benefit of using a photographer that doubles as a professional make-up artist. So he got not only a great photographer but the make-up and probably retouching too which makes all the difference. No argument from me, those were good headshots but not everyone in America can use Bradford R.
And as a side note, getting called in often has more to do with your resume and who your agent is than the actual headshot. Over-stylized headshots are not always preferred unless the actor plans to show up at every audition with their make-up artist and a lighting crew in tow. If you show up looking NOT like your headshot you are most likely going to piss off the CD and not be called in again anytime soon.
Dont get me wrong, a good headshot will give you an edge but you dont need to look like a supermodel. You need to look like YOURSELF.

quote:

Originally posted by Actorsmommy:
Was there ever a picture that some of you armchair critics liked? I have to say that I have been reading this forum and am appalled at some of the comments I see here and how some seem to have made it their past-time picking apart others. I guess they must be just oh-so-perfect themselves. So perfect that they have all this time to criticize instead of being out auditioning, rehearsing or booking actual acting jobs.
If someone is here looking for advice about headshots, then it might be nice to advise them on their HEADSHOT instead of their personal features which they obviously can NOT change. Some of the crass, rude and ridiculous insults I have seen here are a bit much.
I do believe the purpose is to advise about headshot factors such as lighting, cropping, wardrobe choices etc.
Jeesh. With the group that seems to have taken up residence here I dont know why anyone would want to post their headshot at all unless they were a glutton for punishment. Good luck to those brave enough to do it!

I wouldn't call myself "an armchair critic." I do have some experience in the field.

This site caters to newbies. I doubt you'll find Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie cruising these pages looking for advice.

The fact is, most of the work you see posted here is amateur work. How many times have your seen questions like, "DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SNAPSHOT THAT MY MOTHER TOOK OF ME IN THE BACKYARD WILL GET ME WORK?" The answer is usually painfully obvious.

In a perfect world, everyone would love your pictures. And everyone would know the difference between a good headshot and a bad one.

www.robertkim.com
Special Back Stage Discounts
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

quote:

The fact is, most of the work you see posted here is amateur work. How many times have your seen questions like, "DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SNAPSHOT THAT MY MOTHER TOOK OF ME IN THE BACKYARD WILL GET ME WORK?" The answer is usually painfully obvious.

True but I've also seen a fairly large number of perfectly good headshots get ripped to shreds too. They may not be the most artistic but they are certainly useable headshots. I think advice about making them even better like cropping etc. would be more helpful than the barrage of insults I've seen. Clearly, most people can not afford to run out and re-shoot and even less are going to schedule a plastic surgery appointment for lip injections, lipo, total maekovers etc. So it would be nice to see comments that are actually helpful and do-able instead of just raw insults from amateur photographers. I also find it very interesting to watch some of the professional photographers comment on their colleagues work.
Headshot styles are evolving rapidly. Just a few short years ago (as few as 3-4 yrs) black & white photos were the norm. So it's pretty hard for a newbie especially to keep up with what the latest treds are.

Which is why I seldom do it.

Often photographers will slam other professionals work simply because they're competitors.

Like most of the posts you see here, it's always wise to determine what the actual motives of the posters are and take everything with the proverbial "grain of salt."

I don't think that the original poster is disputing the fact that there have been some really bad headshots posted, but that instead of talking about what is technically wrong with the picture the discussion turns to you need a new hairstyle, you should pluck your eyebrows, you should get a nose job. While yes, you should present the best you possible in a headshot the truth is some people like their bushy eyebrows and some people like the color or length of their hair and unless those are things they are ready to change and maintain on a regular basis, then their headshots should reflect what they will look like when they go on a call. There are many famous actors with noticibly blemished skin or crooked teeth and obviously they didn't run out for microdermabrasion or braces to fix those things. Now if someone is wearing an outfit that detracts from the photo, then yes comments should be made, but on the other hand if the outfit is just ugly or not stylish and that is the wearer's style we should respect that.

I don't think it does posters any good if the critiques are less picky than that of a CD who might be looking at the shot.

The whole point of the shot is to get you called in for work. It is a critical marketing tool, and the criteria is far more stringent than if your Auntie would hang it on her wall. If you've ever been in front of a CD or agent in a major market, you'd know they won't hesitate to tell you what they think of your weight, hairstyle, grooming, or anything else that turns them off. The first time a CD says your haircut is dated and makes you look older... blow them off. The third time???

Two of the most prominent CDs in Philly offer a 1 hour session for $100 where they pick apart your look, headshot, monologue, and everything else that might help answer the question, "Why won't they call me in?". Guess what? LOTS of people pay it gladly and thank them for it.

It's the nature of the beast. It's the way this business is. It's NOT just the posters on this board.

Ditto.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography:

quote:

Originally posted by Actorsmommy:
Was there ever a picture that some of you armchair critics liked? I have to say that I have been reading this forum and am appalled at some of the comments I see here and how some seem to have made it their past-time picking apart others. I guess they must be just oh-so-perfect themselves. So perfect that they have all this time to criticize instead of being out auditioning, rehearsing or booking actual acting jobs.
If someone is here looking for advice about headshots, then it might be nice to advise them on their HEADSHOT instead of their personal features which they obviously can NOT change. Some of the crass, rude and ridiculous insults I have seen here are a bit much.
I do believe the purpose is to advise about headshot factors such as lighting, cropping, wardrobe choices etc.
Jeesh. With the group that seems to have taken up residence here I dont know why anyone would want to post their headshot at all unless they were a glutton for punishment. Good luck to those brave enough to do it!

I wouldn't call myself "an armchair critic." I do have some experience in the field.

This site caters to newbies. I doubt you'll find Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie cruising these pages looking for advice.

The fact is, most of the work you see posted here is amateur work. How many times have your seen questions like, "DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SNAPSHOT THAT MY MOTHER TOOK OF ME IN THE BACKYARD WILL GET ME WORK?" The answer is usually painfully obvious.

In a perfect world, everyone would love your pictures. And everyone would know the difference between a good headshot and a bad one.

www.robertkim.com
Special Back Stage Discounts
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

Then again, you just never know if Angie is cruising this website. Anything possible.

She might be thinking one day, "Oh I am in the mood to see how Robert Kim is doing". Searches your name, "Oh in google it mentions "BACKSTAGE", I wonder what this is about?" Clicks. "Oh this is cool, he comes here! Awesome!"

third link
fficial&hs=In2&q=robert+kim&start=20&sa=N" TARGET=_blank>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&cha...rt+kim&start=20&sa=N

I think a strong headshot can take the place of a so so resume. I think from what i have seen a strong headshot is better to have then a so so resume if one had to choose best to have both.

Instead of worrying about what OTHER people look like, why dont some of you watch a SAG video and learn something that might actually help you down the road. Something of relevance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkmKbRSfTlI&eurl=http://...ehollywooddaily.com/

And to the person who likes to pay to be picked apart I say this: If your nose is too big for a particular role, it's going to be too big regardless. Are you going to really consider a nose job for a role?

Yes it's wise to have your hair and make-up looking the best you can for your headshot and to have good lighting and wardrobe choices but some of the crtics here are going a bit too far and actually believe some of the crap they are spewing. In some cases you want people to look way beyond the realsm of what they are capable of looking like and that is just ridiculous. I find this funny considering that by some of your own accounts you are not exactly successful actors yet and some havent even begun to work on a professional level. This business has room for all looks. Not everyone is aspiring to be the next Brad Pitt or Anjelina Jolie. Some people have realisitic aspirations of just being working actors.
I hate to break it to some of you but those who enter this craft because they want "to be a star" very rarely actually make it. Those who want to work and sustain in this business do it because they love the craft. Put as much energy into honing your craft and building a resume. Those are the things that matter most and will get you called in consistenly. Commercial castings arent even ACCEPTING headshots anymore. They take a digital picture of you at the casting so your headshot is worthless there anyway. Want to know why? because they know that most people are coming in NOT looking like their headshot and they want a reference of the REAL you. That's a fact.
Go sit down and watch ten commercials on TV. You will see that the majority of the actors in them look like the amateur headshots you are all picking apart here. Commercial castings want REAL looking people. NOT supermodels.

When you actually have an agent and are known to casting directors in town your headshot doesn't mean anything. Your resume DOES and your headshot will NEVER win out over your resume and talent. Film & TV auditions are taped and you book according to your talent on that tape. Most "new" people you see landing TV roles or films are people who have been known to casting directors for a long time and have been at this a while. They are not unknown actors who just happenend to have a great headshot. They are actors who have been in the game honing their audition and acting skills. Trust me when I tell you that their ultimate success had little to do with how fabulous their headshot was.

Awww Actorsmommy, you certainly live in a fantasy about this business. Some of the things you made sense, but really I don't know what world you're living in. They will look at the person with the best headshot first off, or else you go into the garbage with the rest of the amateurs. You are saying to the people who are deciding for the role, "Don't cast me! I can't afford to be professional! I don't know what I am doing!"

The person with the great headshot is saying, "Hire me! Put that loser headshot into the garbage. I have what it takes, I pay for this headshot because I am SERIOUS about my career!".

If this wasn't a big deal, then why would there be a whole thread place dedicated for headshots?????

This is a serious business. This isn't kindergarten where they guide you by the hand.

One great headshot is like a gateway into the market, you need to be this much more competitive than the next person if you want to survive. It is a tough and grueling business, and you need to be at the top level of everything. Everything must be at that level.

quote:

Awww Actorsmommy, you certainly live in a fantasy about this business

I live in a fantasy world? Listen doll, my child happens to have done quite a bit of television and has also done several commercials while you have yet to even begin a career. So perhaps you need to re-evaluate who is actually in fantasyland. We are at real castings almost daily. I think I have a pretty good grasp of how they work.

There are others actors here who have found equal success if not more so and I think they would confirm this. Plus, I have actually worked castings before. Have you?

I have always recommended that people go the extra mile and pay an extra few bucks for a quality photographer. One who will guide them in the right wardrobe choices, light them well etc. But my point in starting this thread was to draw attention to the fact that some of you are being overly critical in areas you really know nothing about...to the point of starting to border on the ridiculous. Not all of you. SOME of you. And until you are willing to post YOUR actual headshots, perhaps you should learn to be a little less critical of the people here who are brave enough to do so who came looking for real advice. Let the photographers give them the tips or at least know what the heck you are talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by Actorsmommy:
When you actually have an agent and are known to casting directors in town your headshot doesn't mean anything. Your resume DOES and your headshot will NEVER win out over your resume and talent.

I have a two questions, Actorsmommy.

What if you DON"T have an agent and you AREN'T known to casting directors?

And second, what do you think CD's look at FIRST, your headshot or your resume?

I've only been doing this most of my adult life, so I may be biased. But I think you're seriously underplaying the necessity of having a winning headshot.

www.robertkim.com
Check out our all-new “Before & After” Headshots
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/