My daughter needs headshots?

Question

my 13 year old daughter is in to acting and theatre. We are sending in her resume and head shots in for J.O.N.A.S., Camp Rock 2, and a few other disney things. We cant afford headshots right now. Can I get butcher paper and hang it up and take her headshot myself? If not, how can I find a way to get her headshots to send in, also should I glam her up? Or what? I honestly really need help. Please help.

Answer 1

if u cant afford headshots right now, wait until u can get them proffessionaly done because casting directors and agents dont like to see that they werent because it gives them the idea that u are not serious about getting into the acting biz. Also, if u cant afford headshots now, how are u expecting to afford transprotation to get ur daughetr around to each audition, and get an agent and stuff? I suppose u can try to make the headshots as proffessional as possible.

-8x10 photo

-preferably in black and white

- make her look as natural as possible! (Not too much makeup!

-only head and shoulders in the shot

Good luck!

Answer 2

I know this sounds bad, but you should find a way to afford it. A girl going for professional acting can't just send in an amateur headshot and be taken seriously. You need to get something professional done. Just dress her up nice and make sure she looks really pretty. She needs to look her best. Also, have the photo in black and white instead of color.

Answer 3

Alex hit it.  As for the B&W pushers... what market are you in?  Disney is in LA and color has been en vogue here for quite some time.  B&W is still acceptible but most kids I've seen (and most adults for that matter) have been in big bright color.

Also, although the casting director info has been put out there for all those Disney shows, I highly doubt that they will call your daughter in.  Unless they are having a talent search (like the reality show for HSM) I'll bet they are only calling in represented talent for most projects.  Plus, have you seen the brekdowns?  Do you even know that your daughter breaks down for a specific role in the show?  Are you marking your submission packet correcctly?  If not then your package could be going straight into the trash.  The CDs don't have the time or resources to sit and try to figure out what the heck you're submitting for.  You need to have the training and experience to get an agent then have your agent submit you for everything you're right for.

As for taking your own shots?  You can but butcher paper?  Yikes.  Find an interesting natural background.  Go to a park or in your backyard.  Focus the camera well.  Make sure there's nothing distracting in your frame.  You NEVER glam her up, she's 13 and you NEVER try to make her look older.  That's such a huge mistake, I don't know why so many people think that.  No one wants to hire a 13 year old that looks 15 or 16.  They prefer an 18 year old that looks 14 because they can work longer hours and they wouldn't have the additional cost of a set teacher.  It's a business and people forget that.  You need to think that way.  It's marketing.  The headshot is your most important marketing tool so are you willing to go that cheap and make big mistakes or can you spare a couple hundred to do it right?  Are you that talented a photog to do it yourself?  Do you know your market well enough to make the right pose, make up, hair and clothing decisions?  You can find a pro who knows what their doing and it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg.  By the same token if you really know what you're doing of course you can do it yourself but do you really know??  You can't even get your foot in the door without a headshot.

good luck,

Marianne

Answer 4

You can do the photos yourself, but afterwards getting the 8 x 10 glossy will cost you a few dollars.

Answer 5

You have to remember that the headshot is sort of yor calling card, and it's literally the ONLY thing you have in a 1-3 second span to grab a CD's attention. Consider for a moment that if a CD receives 300+ submissions per role for a major film you can imagine how much time each picture receives.

That being said there is a DEFINITVE difference between professional shots and amateur. A lot of people will tell you that you can fake it with your point and shoot and a little advanced knowledge of photoshop. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You may actually take a great picture of your child, but is it what CD's will be looking for? Does it portray them for who they really are and who they represent on screen? Added to which parents and relatives are the worse ones to choose headshots for their children. A photographer who specializes in headshots will be able to layout several choices for the pictures. As well as being able to define several different style for use in commercial, television and theatrical submissions. And yes they are all different.

As for comfort level, you should interview the photographer prior to booking a session. Not only to make sure that you feel comfortable with them, but that their ideas for the shoot and yours are on the same page.

As for cost, you don't need to go overboard. There are plenty of photographers, many who have shot celebs before, who offer deals like 3-4 or unlimited looks with 2 touchups and chance for a reshoot for around 250 dollars. Add to that the cost for prints you're out mayb 400 bucks. Small price to pay for what it could open the door for.

Now more than ever this business is more competative than ever, it would be a shame to seel yourself short by trying to cut corners on something that's this important.

Answer 6

Yes, you can so take them your self! You don't need a proffesional, just get a nice pose together. Most people think they have to spend like $500 on head shot, but its easier to take them your self. Plus you feel more comftable and can open up to more smiles and faces.

By the way i'm 13 and have been trying to get an agent since i was 5. If its possible could you please tell me who your daughter got? It would be amazing! Thank you.

Answer 7

I'll give you some general tips. Professional is always preferred, but a lot of people can fake it!

Ask around at your local high school or community college to see if any photography students would be willing to take headshots for her- talk to the teacher about class credit for the student. If you can't find a student to do it for you, you can do them yourself. Make sure your daughter is outside, as it provides the best natural lighting that headshot photographers would acheive with fancy equipment.

Take a good 150 shots of her against a plain background, a brick wall, the sky, etc. and go through them afterwards to pick out the ones you like. (the joy of digital cameras, right?) Have her wear a solid-colored shirt that isn't overly trendy with a scoop neckline. Keep jewelry to a minimum- a pretty pendant on a silver chain and conservative earrings is good. Don't glam her up too much-have her wear makeup but not go overboard- a little mascara, some eyeliner, a non-flashy lip gloss. Her hair should be neat and not in her eyes. Let her show a little personality, it will make her stand out. A wide grin, the brick wall of her favorite theatre as a background, creative poses, you get the idea.

As for posing, look through headshots online with your daughter for inspiration and try out as many poses as you want- again, the joys of a digital camera! Be sure her whole head is in the picture, along with her shoulders.

DO NOT get a headshot taken in black and white. It's actually very 'out' right now, and if you get it taken in color you can always alter it to black and white- especially if you take it yourself or get the rights to it if a pro does it. If you take it in black and white, that's what you're stuck with forever.  

Best of luck!

Answer 8

You are wasting your time cutting corners on the cheap. The entertainment business has become more of a business than ever before. It is very corporate these days.

The days of handwriting your resume on the back of a cocktail napkin then stapling it to polaroid are long since over and will never be coming back.

Save your money until Camp Rock 3 (and there will be one!!) and do it right.