Headshots 101

Out of the blue, someone asked me for some guidance on taking headshots.

Headshots are extremely hard for some actors to take, which is really silly considering we all want to work in front of a camera.

Now, I'm so old, I remember when they did headshots in black and white. And used film. Ancient, right? (There's no WAY I should be playing 22!) Today it's color and digital.

Headshots and reproductions are the most expensive things for a struggling actress. More often than not, you are looking for an agent. You save up all your money for a headshot photo shoot($300-700, not including the $125-175 makeup artist), then reproduce two of your favorite pictures (both your theatrical serious picture and your commercial smiley picture(probably 100 each, so about $225), and then you send them all out by mail to agents. (You redo your resume, make 100 copies at about $8 plus $1.25 to cut them to 8x10, then get manilla envelopes at about $18, and then mail about 100 of them at about $10. So let's see, that's $688-1,125. Holy Shit!)

And once an agent meets you ,they say, wow, you need new pictures.

But that rarely happens for me because I know how to take a good picture. Half of it is just sheer luck and hamminess, the other half is learning from my own experience.

So here's 101.

Know your type. Are you chubby and round faced and always told how cute you are? Then you are not a smoldering sexy leading lady. You're best friend! You will find lots of luck in commercials and sitcoms.
Are you a size two with double d's and plain faced? Then you are not a best friend. You are a sexy leading lady! You will find this out when the makeup artist is done with you. And you'll find lots of work regardless, especially if you don't mind going topless.
(I once had an acting class where we all stood up and were judged which type we ladies were. I was both. "Oh great," I had sighed, but the instructor thought it was a boon to me. He said I get to choose which one I want to be at every audition. But it's also a lot more work.)

You only get 3-4 looks with most headshot photo shoots. Use them wisely. I didn't. I did a sexy lady look several years back. Guess which look I never blew up into an 8x10. No one wants to see a sexy chubby girl. (Chubby in the midwest is what, 14? In LA chubby is a size 6. If you want to be a leading lady you can be no larger than a 4)

If you don't know your type, ask your friends. Ask your family. If they're not sure what you mean, ask them to imagine a commercial that you're in. What's it for and who do you play? (I always get "shampoo commercial!" So I became a hair model. I'll teach you how to do that too.) Same thing with your theatrical looks. Who do you play on CSI? The investigator? The suspect? The corpse?

So by now you probably have a few "characters" that your friends and family agree are your type. Excellent! Now go through your closet. You got 14 Old Navy tank tops in various colors? Hmm, that won't help. Go to your friends' closets. Okay, better. Alright, now go to Forever 21 and Ross. There! Finished! You've got some clothes to work with!

Back in the days of black and white, jewelry was frowned upon for headshots. That doesn't seem to really matter anymore. If you've got some great earrings, cool. Wear em. Just don't let them be of the incredibly large and dangly variety.

What you DO need to do, however, is LAYER your clothes. I do not want to see any bare shoulders, ladies, I'm serious! If you must wear your spaghetti strap camisole, fine, but there better be a colorful cardigan on top of it! So much bare skin looks weird on blown up 8x10s. Even weirder as thumbnails on breakdown express, the submission website your agents and managers use to submit you. If you have trouble layering things, check out the Gap and see how they do it. They seem to be geniuses about that stuff.

These are color headshots, so make your clothes colorful! And know you're color wheel. Blue and Yellow, Green and Red, Purple and Orange, those colors all compliment each other. If you don't believe me, fine, I hate you and never want to see you again! Okay, just kidding. Come back! No seriously, I was joking. I was acting. ::sigh:: Sarcastic text never translates.

Oh, you're still here! Great!

You can wear black. But I'll grumble about it. The black better be layered. I wore a bright pink tank under a black v neck. It looked nice.
If you are pasty white like me and can see veins in your arms, cover them up! If you're dark skinned, bright bold colors compliment your skin beautifully.

Do NOT wear white. White reflects all the light from the flash and is the brightest thing in your photo. Our eyes immediately go to the brightest thing in your photo. Your white tank top pulls focus from your face, and if you're a girl, flattens your bust.
We want to focus on your eyes, as it's your most important feature. Period. We need to see who you are through your eyes.

So yay, we covered the colors that are on you. Now how about behind you?
I once had a photographer hang up a background that matched my burgundy shirt perfectly. "That's a pretty background," I said, cause compliments are always good right before a diss, "but I was wondering if you had any dark green colors." Don't you dare make me all matchy matchy and get lost in the background so it looks like my face is floating! How dare you! Do you even Know what you're Charging me to take these pictures?!
But I knew a dark green would compliment the color I was wearing and make my headshot prettier. Just know your shizz, ya'll.

Especially since some photographers will throw shizz at you. I mean, ladies, come on. Why does a photographer send you to a corner and then have you put your hands on the wall and look at the camera? It looks retarded! It looks like this! Great for thong underwear, bad for headshots! You just look stupid.

And as lame and as silly as it sounds, this works extremely well: Interior monologing while your photo is being taken. Now, I am as far from "Bad Girl" as you can get, but I really love auditioning for those roles. The Mean Girl is fun! So I asked the makeup artist to give me heavy eye makeup and we blew out my hair, and while my picture was being taken, I kept thinking, "What the fuck are you looking at?" "Leave me alone!" "Idiot," and since I was thinking them, they came up in the pictures, very subtle. I had the hardest time picking out which of these shots to blow up because they were all super awesome, if I do say so myself. And look, I just did.

GET YOUR PICTURES RETOUCHED. A lot of times, you'll see one "free" retouched photo per look in your headshot package. Great! But oftentimes, you'll blow up another one and not feel like paying the $15-35 it costs to photoshop you photo. DO IT. It is seriously the determining factor on whether or not your photo is professional. If your photo doesn't look professional, the actor doesn't look professional. And green actors do not get called in for co-star roles.
A retouched photo isn't only just getting rid of stray hairs and small blemishes, they'll whiten your teeth and your eyes a bit, and the best part: they'll burn your background. I know only basic basic photoshop, so I might even have that word wrong, but they'll blur the background a bit so that you are the only thing in focus. And your skin looks amazing, and your eyes sparkle! GET IT DONE!

So what about photographers? There's so many! So do yourself a favor, ask all your friends for their Actors Access link, like this one, and look at the photos. If you like it ask who did their headshots. In the example in the one I gave you there are three great photos: The first is a GREAT theatrical shot. This guy looks like he solves crimes and has his own show about it. The second photo is a perfect example of a goofy commercial headshot, and since this guy has been doing improv for so long and is excellent at it, he can also use this photo as a postcard to promote his improv shows. The third one is a pretty good theatrical shot as well. I do, however, wish there was a regular smiling picture of this guy for a commercial shot. Commercial casting directors want to see your teeth. But check out the lighting on pics 1 and 2. That's some good lighting!

If you want me to critique your photos, hells yeah, I'll totally do it. Just send me your link.


And I believe that covers it for 101.

Class dismissed.

Agent Meeting!

So I had my agent meeting. It was short and simple, but the best part is how freakin NICE this guy is. I just handed him my contracts but he's already been submitting me like crazy. On what, you ask? How about your favorite shows, like CSI and Grey's Anatomy?

Now of course, just because I'm submitted doesn't mean I get to audition. But it's nice to know that it COULD happen.

He told me he'd give me a call next week to check in.
An agent who actually wants to build relationships with his clients, instead of just taking on as many as they possibly can!? Awesome! I am feeling very good about him.

That Callback that Never Was

Thankfully, LA is actually quite the small town. For instance, people really seem to stay in the 10 mile radius that is their neighborhood. I've seen the same woman at my gym, at Fryman Canyon, and at Trader Joe's. I almost feel as if I should say hi to her, but we've never exchanged hellos or names. I give her a small nod, as in "Hey! We're neighbors but don't talk because we live in a suburb, and people in suburbs do not talk to one another as they pass by, but I'll acknowledge you because it'd feel weird if I didn't and I'm a bit neurotic having lived in LA for several years now!"

So at my audition the other day , who do I run into but April Wade! It was so nice to see her! Especially because the audition was running way late and now we both had someone to talk to! We actually had the following day set aside for us to get together to find places for our Festival screening preparty happening next month, but we both weren't expecting to see the other and we both thought of the other when first reading the sides. You could say we're the same type, however she's quite a bit edgier than me. Curly hair just isn't edgy.

At any rate, she went in ahead of me and when she came back out, we chatted some more. Good times. And this will be very relevent later on.

I do my audition and at the end of it they told me, "You are definitely getting a callback!" The Hallelujah chorus switched on and I was very happy. "You're available for callbacks tomorrow?"
"Yessir! I am!" I hugged myself in proud accomplishment. "Great!" They said, "We'll see you tomorrow!"

I go to work, come home, check my phone and emails. Nothing. Well, that's weird. I mean, normally, one gets a phone call or an email with the official callback notice and a time to, you know, come back.
But I figured there was some miscommunication. Perhaps they had already thought they had given me the time to come back. It happens. Auditions are a very long, long process. Because this particular web series was non-union, I can guarantee there were a lot of inexperienced actors who were not up to snuff. Going for a 9 hour auditon day, like they did, is taxing on the body and mind. Especially the mind. Cause when we actors are bad, we think we nailed it. And we're a sad thing to watch.

I find the original breakdown and send a text to the casting director asking when callbacks are and apologizing for texting at 11:30pm.

The following morning: nothing. That's strange, I think. So I go through my emails and find the director's email. Oh damn, it's one of those gmail accounts especially created for this casting project. How do I know? cause it's CastingAnna@gmail.com. Damn it. That means the director might not even check it, but I sent an email out anyway saying how much I really want to read for him again.
Two hours later, nothing.

Finally I think, well, heck, I'll just CALL the casting director (it should be noted that she was most definintely not a casting director but rather a friend who was helping) knowing that she'd be busy auditioning people, but sure she'd find a minute to check her voicemails.
But I get her directly.

When you are in LA and you have a cell phone and a number comes up you don't know, do not answer your phone with "Hello?" It's unprofessional. You say your name. "This is So-and-So." Because we don't know it's a cell phone and it annoying to have to ask if it's you. But I knew this was her cell phone because she had an out of state area code. Be professional!

This is our conversation:
"Hi So-And-So, this is the Struggling Actress. I auditioned for you yesterday and was told to come back to read again so I was wondering what time callbacks are."
"Oh. Scott made a mistake. He didn't mean to call you back."

I was quite taken aback. The guy who TOLD me I was DEFINITELY called back had suddenly rescinded his offer?
Doubleyou tee eff?!

Now, I know she had no idea who I was as they saw around 100 people yesterday, all with similar names like, "The Pretty Actress," "The Actress/Producer," "The Singer/Actress." There's no way she could have remembered who I was. But I was so taken aback all I could say was, "He didn't? Oh. Okay. Thank you."
Cause I wanted to say, YES HE DID, YOU IDIOT! I even wanted to pull a diva "Do you know who I am?!" thing, but without all the entitlement and all, cause I know she didn't know who I was and actually did need clarification.

Oh man, was I upset. It was like being promised a fancy special birthday party at Disneyland with only your family and friends and getting there only to be taken inside to a gynecologist's office instead and getting your family and friend's fingers up inside you. Not exactly the happiest place on earth.

Now, remember when I told you April and I were supposed to be out location scouting today anyway?
So when she asks me how my callback was, I told her I didn't have one and went through the whole story.

Turns out, she had some inside information:
She was out at a bar last night for a kickball league afterparty and three people kept pointing at her and waving. She assumes they know her boyfriend because everyone knows her boyfriend, but no, they mean her. They finally go up to her and say, hey, great audition! You had a really great audition today. And she thanks them. She mentioned me. She said, "Hey, I know you're calling back my friend tomorrow. That's so great." And she told me that they just looked exhausted after she said that. They told her they saw over 100 people and they were so tired. They weren't sure they were going to even have callbacks the following morning, because they had no time to go over the tapes they made of everyone's audition and they were absolutely spent.
Plus, when I had my audition, one of them had mentioned to me that they were waiting on a phone call that day to see if he was going to be shooting something in Tahoe for the next three weeks, leaving in three days.

So that put everything in perspective: A non-union production has no money. Half the time, the only thing they DO do is auditions, and it never goes anywhere as the production just falls apart.
I'm not saying this production fell apart, but who knows? Perhaps it's their first major production and the whole process became overwhelming because they ddin't expect it to take as long as it did. Casting can be quite arduous. And most auditions don't have call backs the following day; there's usually a day or two lull in between so that the producers and director can get their final approval on who is returning and who isn't.

What this was, however, was a huge letdown.

This actress will continue to struggle.

Agent Meeting!

This is exciting. Not only am I to drop off contracts and headshots, but I believe I'm actually having a meeting. Not quite sure what it entails, but I'll let you know.

Callback!

Well, that's a nice feeling! There's nothing better than being told "You are definitely called back!" right after your first read.

Callback is tomorrow. I'll update in the evening.

And, look! It's for Anna (lest you forget)

[ANNA ]
Female Early to Mid 20's. Anna has been working at the company for some time. Though she knows the company inside and out she is surprisingly unaffected by it. She retains a degree of innocence and grace in a place surrounded by sex and smut. She also loves her job. She is the off-on interest of Tom's affection.

Looks like I CAN play early 20's. Boo Yah!

That's Funny

Hey all, I'm working on a Headshots 101 post, but have to leave for an audition and then spend some quality time with a friend of mine who has been in hibernation for the last few months and who I've sorely missed.

But this morning, I went online and eagerly checked this blog, wondering if anything new had been written while I was sleeping.

Actresses can be smart.

Sometimes.


I think.

Oooh! An Audition!

BLUE MOVIES is an original web serial that showcases the trials and tribulations of the number-two pornography company is the valley shooting for the number-one spot. 30 Rock meets Boogie Nights. It is being produced in early March with a quick turnaround expected and an online distribution strategy.
[ANNA ]
Female Early to Mid 20's. Anna has been working at the company for some time. Though she knows the company inside and out she is surprisingly unnaffected by it. She retains a degree of innocence and grace in a place surrounded by sex and smut. She also loves her job. She is the off-on interest of Tom's affection.

Yay! Web series! Those are fun! I mean, have you seen Hell Froze Over?

As a struggling actress, my week has absolutely no routine. When am I working my part time job serving tapas and sangria? When will I get an audition? When will I make enough money to buy my own purple boots?

In fact, the first thing I missed once I graduated college and moved to LA wasn't the people I went to school with. It was writing essays. I missed writing essays! Then I missed the structure.
I mean, I'm a "creative type" who doesn't like rules and coloring inside the lines, but I do like knowing what to expect and knowing what crayons I have laying around.

So a struggling actress must create her own routines.

For instance. I wake up, I go to the bathroom, put in my contacts, and then sit for about five minutes reading Entertainment Weekly. Then I make my bed. Then I check my email, Twitter, and see if Di played her turn on Lexilous. That's what I do. Every single day. Monotonous? No! I have structure! It's great!

So when I have an audition and have to learn the sides, I have a ritual:
I read it over once, then highlight my lines, then go to my bedroom, light my frosting scented candle and break it down.

Rituals are of a huge importance in a struggling life. Plus, candles that smell like frosting make things feel like a piece of cake.

Don't You Wish You Were a Struggling Actress?

Because then you could submit and audition for such wonderful roles as "Male Enhancement Spokeswoman"

[ SPOKESWOMAN ]
Caucasian female. Preferably Dark hair pale skin; 20-33 years old. She will be dressed in bra and panties and will need to look sexy/intelligent. The story is that the spokeswoman is in a bedroom dressed in Bra/Panties and she is promoting a new Male Sexual Enhancement Pill. There is no nudity. She is going to be talking directly to the camera about the Male Sexual Enhancement Pill. The spokeswoman needs to be intelligent and her attitude is both informing the male audience about the pill and egging them on, 'you know you want to try it.'

Unbelievable

I'm kind of having a hard time believing how popular this blog has already become. It's only been launched for one week, and already, I have 10 followers, and people from New Zealand visiting the page! The feedback has been wonderful.

I don't feel like I'm struggling when I'm surrounded by so much support.

Thank you.

The Struggling Actress Can Answer Your Questions!

Loyal reader Lost and Lonely sent me this question:

The agent I first signed with after college (when I was 21) calls me once a year to send me on an audition. Mind you, I have never been in to the office, or given new photos. I've had other representation, and feel like i wanna just give her the big "F-YOU!!" What do you think?

Well, L&L, this is a great question. Your agent is still sending you out because it sounds like, as far as she knows, she hasn't ever been dropped. She believes you are still a client.

So give her the big ole F-You, but do it officially and pleasantly, because you never know what may happen in the future. She could hire on another agent in two years who discovers you at Jennifer's Coffees over in Studio City and would work extra hard for you, so always be kind in your drop letter.

From the start of the initial contract, (when you sign your contracts and give them to your agent [after having made a copy for yourself!]) SAG allows a 120 day opt-out for whatever type of contract you sign with a SAG franchised agency. If you don't get work (not just auditions, but a bona fide offer of employment) with them in the first 120 days, you can terminate your contract with your agent but you must notify them by certified mail. That's right. Certified mail. Remember the last time you did that? For college apps? Well, the postal service still offers it for around $3.
But since you've been with your agent longer than that, I've got good news: If you haven't received an offer of bona-fide employment from your agent in the last 91 days, you can terminate, or drop, your agent, again, by certified mail.

And keep your letter short and simple, something along the lines of:

I am afraid I must release myself from our contract due to no employment offers in the last three months. I wish you continued success for your clients and your company. Best, Lost and Lonely.

Your relationship is still good as you're just stating a fact instead of blaming your agent.

Agents work hard. They don't get paid until you get paid, but sometimes the agent you're with isn't the right one for you. Keep on trucking. You'll find the right one eventually. And then you won't have to struggle anymore.