Acting <span title="Headshots???((Retouching))?">Headshots???((Retouching)...</span>

Question

I am taking a photoshoot next week. Im a beginner. The rate im paying is $125 for 1-hour session, 50 shots, and 1 image lightly retouched. I want to add other headshots. About how much more images out of the 50 shots should I Retouched. She charges $25 dollars per image for retouching which includes: Blemish removal, skin smoothing, eye brightening, ect. and she has another price for retouching that is $10 dollars per image for:Overall levels, contrasting, and color correction......So About how much more images out of the 50 shots should I Retouched??? and should i take the $25 dollar retouching option or the $10????

Answer 1

Sounds like you&#039;re getting a good deal on the photography and retouching.  Don&#039;t retouch too much, however, as the main rule of head shots is that you must look like your picture when you go on auditions.  As to how many more images should you get retouched, well, you should wait and see how many are usable and what you want to use them for.  As a beginner, you probably should stick with 2 shots.  To make it simple go for what is called a theatrical shot (not smiling) and a commercial shot (smiling).  The theatrical shot you submit for stage work, TV and film roles and the commercial shot you would submit for commercial work and maybe soaps if you&#039;re going for that.  As a beginner, two is plenty.  As I said look like yourself.  As a male, you don&#039;t want too much makeup and in no event should you look like you have makeup on.  If you don&#039;t have a professional do your makeup, you probably shouldn&#039;t wear any.  That&#039;s where the retouching comes in.  Don&#039;t retouch out moles but its okay to make blemishes and under-eye circles go away, but in the case of under-eye circles, don&#039;t retouch them out totally.  Like I said, be real.  Once you get the 2 shots, get the theatrical one copied on photographic paper but not too many to start.  You can always order more later.  For your commercial shot non-photographic paper is okay and you can get more (because you will have more commercial auditions than film, TV or stage), but consult with your agent on this if you have one.  If you don&#039;t have a commercial agent, you won&#039;t need as many pictures just now.  Just starting out (and I assume not in a union) you should do anything and everything you can from community theatre to student films, music videos, extra work...anything that puts you on a set in front of a camera.  But never, ever pay anyone to be in their project.  They may not pay you, but you&#039;re working for experience at this point.  Don&#039;t pay to be in a directory either.  The ONLY thing you pay for is a photographer and printing. Even websites now are good, but when you get some credits.  Most working actors I know have pages, but they still don&#039;t seem to be used too much.  When you get credits they will be on IMDB anyway.  You might also want to get some postcards made from one of your pictures and or a business card size with your cell phone number on it.  When you are on set, it is important to keep your mouth shut (unless you&#039;re acting, of course) and your eyes and ears open.  Pay attention to everything.  Listen and learn.  It&#039;s not a social gathering, its a job.  It&#039;s okay to chit-chat with the other actors in order to keep up on upcoming projects, auditions and agents, but you must pay attention to what&#039;s going on and never distract another actor from their work or rehearsal, especially a professional one, as you are soon to be!  Hope this helps.   Good luck!

Answer 2

Good answer above.  Just to summarize:

Two shots are enough (the photographer will recommend ones they think are good).  

Don&#039;t change anything except a temporary blemish in the retouch.  Don&#039;t smooth your skin or brighten your eyes; you have to look like your headshot.  

And color and contrast correction should be part of the photographer&#039;s fee.

Answer 3

You only need 2 headshots - 1 commercial and 1 theatrical.

Answer 4

Headshots can be tricky if you are not guided in the right

Have a look at this page on retouching. I interviewed a New York retouching specialist for my site for new and aspiring actors who talks about the retouching process and how much retouching is too much.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/photo...

Also have a look at this page!! http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/heads...

This is a whole section on head shots, how to get the best ones, how to make sure that you get the right head shot photographer for you, the right questions to ask, how to evaluate which head shot photographer to use, and so on.

Good luck!

Tony