Be completely honest . thii shas become one of my favs. But I don't want my like for the picture to cripple my casting chances.

Your expression and smile are great, but the hand placement and head tilt make it feel like a glamour portrait instead of a headshot. Because of that, it makes it feel more amateur than a straight on theatrical headshot.

Thank you! I appreciate your response.

quote:

Originally posted by marbar:
Your expression and smile are great, but the hand placement and head tilt make it feel like a glamour portrait instead of a headshot. Because of that, it makes it feel more amateur than a straight on theatrical headshot.

Hi TarraDenise,
I agree, I don't generally like headshots with hands in them. Hands are not the most appealing and attractive part of a body and your skin tone in the inside of your arm is much lighter so the whole thing looks a little odd. Hands only work sometimes because it has to look like your hand has a purpose or was "caught" in the shot. Your pose and angle in this one looks bashful and shy which doesn't give you the "confident actor" thing that I am always on about. I agree about the "glamor shot" comment a little and In a way, this looks a little like a jewelry add for onyx earrings and matching bracelets.
Hope that helps!
Joanna
www.joannabrooks.com

I love your smile and your look (clothes, hairstyle).

Prefer more face in frame and less body, no hands.

caveat emptor: i'm not the one to ask about headshots.

This is very helpful Joanna! I will get right on arranging a shoot.

The lighting was bad. My hand isn't actually that light :/.

quote:

Originally posted by Joanna Brooks:
Hi TarraDenise,
I agree, I don't generally like headshots with hands in them. Hands are not the most appealing and attractive part of a body and your skin tone in the inside of your arm is much lighter so the whole thing looks a little odd. Hands only work sometimes because it has to look like your hand has a purpose or was "caught" in the shot. Your pose and angle in this one looks bashful and shy which doesn't give you the "confident actor" thing that I am always on about. I agree about the "glamor shot" comment a little and In a way, this looks a little like a jewelry add for onyx earrings and matching bracelets.
Hope that helps!
Joanna
www.joannabrooks.com

I like the demure expression but the hand does make it a little forced.
There's exceptions to every rule, and it would almost slide in this case, but yeah I would much prefer to see the same photo without the hand.

Also, the crop cuts a little too much from the top of your head, it almost touches your hairline. Overall, I think it's a nice shot, but I'd take a second glance at other favorites from that shoot.

Also, looking at it again, the colors and skin tone are a little too cool (read: cyan) to convey a commercial appeal, which I assume is what you're going for here.

If you choose this shot or one similar, it might help to ask the photographer or retoucher/printer to warm up the colors.

Not much more to add to the above (all of which I basically agree with)...but a couple of additional nits: 1) if you re-shoot, kill the jewelry -- or at most wear small unobtrusive earrings; you don't want anything to distract from your face; and 2) I don't love the purple top with the blue background; they're both fine separately, but not together in my opinion.

You've got a winning smile and looks -- now you just need a headshot that sells you a little better. Good luck!

Bret, this is where I get confused. I saw a headshot recently (on David Muller's site, I think?) of a gal who had gorgeous earrings on, and after sorting through hundreds of pics...that was the one I remembered. Is jewelry always a no no?

Mae

quote:

Originally posted by maemidwest:
Bret, this is where I get confused. I saw a headshot recently (on David Muller's site, I think?) of a gal who had gorgeous earrings on, and after sorting through hundreds of pics...that was the one I remembered. Is jewelry always a no no?

Mae

Casting Directors are looking at you, not your jewelry. And no one is going to cast you because of your taste in jewelry. So why take the risk of doing anything that distracts from what your real selling point is: you.

Great advice. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Joanna Brooks:
Hi TarraDenise,
I agree, I don't generally like headshots with hands in them. Hands are not the most appealing and attractive part of a body and your skin tone in the inside of your arm is much lighter so the whole thing looks a little odd. Hands only work sometimes because it has to look like your hand has a purpose or was "caught" in the shot. Your pose and angle in this one looks bashful and shy which doesn't give you the "confident actor" thing that I am always on about. I agree about the "glamor shot" comment a little and In a way, this looks a little like a jewelry add for onyx earrings and matching bracelets.
Hope that helps!
Joanna
www.joannabrooks.com

honestly, some of these industry norms are plain silly. and expensive. i do it because it's necessary.

i've seen stars using the same headshot for 10 - 20 years. it's a joke to some.

Brett, not to get OT, what if a headshot looked like this? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...omedyisnotpretty.jpg

Must we fear agent and CD disapproval? I also prefer no jewelry. But if that'sTarraDenise's style, then why not? Just think of the possibilities... to bolster "type."

quote:

Originally posted by SPYDOG:
i've seen stars using the same headshot for 10 - 20 years. it's a joke to some.

Must we fear agent and CD disapproval? I also prefer no jewelry. But if that'sTarraDenise's style, then why not? Just think of the possibilities... to bolster "type."

Stars may still have black and whites because they haven't had an audition since then. They have "Offer Only Status" and don't have to audition and don't need a headshot.

Jewelry especially in this headshot is distracting. I'm looking at those more than I'm looking at her. So therefore, it does NOT bolster her appearance.

It also makes the headshot too specific and limiting. Had she not worn jewelry, this headshot could be used to portray A LOT more different types than with jewelry. Covering the jewelry up, I see her young enough to pass for shows like Glee or ABC Family. With the jewelry, she looks a lot older at youngest, young mom or young professional. Without jewelry, she could do Glee/ABC Fam AND the young mom/professional.

quote:

Originally posted by SPYDOG:

Brett, not to get OT, what if a headshot looked like this? http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...omedyisnotpretty.jpg

Must we fear agent and CD disapproval? I also prefer no jewelry. But if that'sTarraDenise's style, then why not? Just think of the possibilities... to bolster "type."

As I said above, there are exceptions to every rule. However, they are typically reserved for truly exceptional people. Posting a promotional photo of one of the most recognizable and successful comedians to illustrate your point doesn't really prove anything.

If people were constantly getting huge roles by using headshots that deviated from industry standards, there wouldn't BE such a thing as "industry standard."