How to Have Great Headshots for your Child

Dawson Dean

Getting the right headshot for your child can be very challenging. Your child's headshot is the first thing that a talent agent and casting director look at before they see your child. You want to make sure the headshot is correct so that your child as a chance of getting an audition. Here are some tips to help you get the best headshot for your child, whether you take them or a photographer takes them.

Things You'll Need

• Camera/Photographer

Instructions

1. 

   Do not put on makeup. No matter how tempting it may be to put a little make up on, never do it. Makeup is a big no-no. Casting directors can see it and they do not like it. They want to be able to see your child, warts and all, so never put makeup, even chap stick on your child in a headshot. You also, do not have to worry about boo-boos, braces, flippers or casts. There is no need to cover up as it is all a part of childhood and agents love natural looking kids.

2. 

   Clothes are important, too. Never put revealing clothes on your child. Always have a shirt on the boys and girls. No high heels. Let your child be a child and wear child clothing. Clothes with no logos that are simple are the best. You want your child's face to shine and be noticed, not the faux mink collar or rhinestones.

3. 

   Have one photo of your child smiling for commercial photos and one of your child serious or not smiling for theatrical photos. Your child must always look directly into the camera. Their eyes must be looking at the camera as though they are looking at a person. Be aware of how close you are, so that you are not too close, but not too far away either.

4. 

   If you do not have an agent, it is not necessary to spend money to have a photographer take the photos. Take the photos yourself. A good rule of thumb is to take at least 100 photos. You should be able to get at least 1 to 2 photos from the 100. After you get an agent then you can invest in aprofessional photographer, but with today's great cameras, you may have gotten such a great shot that you don't need,too.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to IMDB.com to look at head shots of child actors and study them to see how your child should look and pose.

• Child actors only need headshots they do not need full body photos. That is for modeling and that is called comp cards or zed cards.