Why do so many of the headshots have the tops of the client's head cut off? Is that okay? We just had updated headshots and many of the shots are "cut" this way. I noticed many of the ones posted on this board are too. It looks odd to me - like part of the head is missing!

This is a common practice.

If you doubt it, just look in any popular magazine, and you'll see dozens of ad photos featuring models with various degrees of their heads cropped out (as in your thumbnail photograph).

This is a technique used to bring attention to the eyes, or in advertising, to the product.

When done in moderation, it works. But when done habitually for every, single headshot (as is some photographers' style), it becomes redundant and ineffective.

“Whatever works.”

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Thanks Mr. Kim - for once again, educating me! I really do appreciate you and this board....it keeps me from saying some pretty stupid things out loud!

Don't we all?

Glad to help out.

it hides the horns!

That, too.

I've spoken to several CA's that said cutting the head annoys them and they don't like the trend. I do it sometimes and like the look as an alternative but am inclined to go with what the final decision maker is interested in seeing.

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence Smith:
I've spoken to several CA's that said cutting the head annoys them and they don't like the trend. I do it sometimes and like the look as an alternative but am inclined to go with what the final decision maker is interested in seeing.

as soon as those casting associates gain some experience they will realize that robert kim is right. acting is revealed in the face. you don't have to see the top of a person head to know that it's there.

The problem is that a lot of photographers think they know more about marketing than agents. The truth is that once your headshots are done, the photographer isn't the one who has to use them to get you work. That's my job. (And to a lesser degree, it's also the job of a casting director who passes the picture on to her director.) And none of us like pictures with the head cut off. Actually, we HATE them.

It's the wrong way to go for many reasons but one of the big ones is that tight shots limit your cropping options. I'd rather the orginal be wider so I can then choose to crop it if necessary. The other problem is that your picture often gets cropped even more when it's posted on the submission site. So by that point, you end up with a super tight shot that just doesn't work.

Now, don't get me wrong. A good photographer can help bring out the best in you. He or she will work with you and your reps to accomplish your goals. They want to do a good job because that leads to repeat business.

But...

The photographer's opinion means nothing to me. My job is to represent the actor. A photographer is hired to provide a service and that's it. If they want to cut off heads, they can go audition for a production of Sweeney Todd.

quote:

Originally posted by Secret Agent Man:
The problem is that a lot of photographers think they know more about marketing than agents. The truth is that once your headshots are done, the photographer isn't the one who has to use them to get you work. That's my job. (And to a lesser degree, it's also the job of a casting director who passes the picture on to her director.) And none of us like pictures with the head cut off. Actually, we HATE them.

"CSilvera" will certainly find exception with your post, S.A.M. Be forewarned.

She always recommends The Hoebermann's for headshots on this site, the first photographer in New York to charge a thousand dollars per session. Kristen Hoebermann made a fortune cutting the heads off all her subjects.

The controversy continues...

“Whatever works.”

www.robertkim.com
Check out our all-new “Before & Afters”
www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/