How to Do Inexpensive Headshots
Professor of theater at the College of William and Mary, Louis E. Catron states on his website that the headshot for actors is much the equivalent of a business card for lawyers, insurance agents and other business people. While many actors opt to get this important part of their portfolio done professionally, it is entirely possible to do headshots yourself much more inexpensively. A headshot is essential to your acting career, and you should not let a lack of money keep you from having a great shot to share at auditions and castings.
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Things You'll Need
- Hair products
- Makeup
- Outfits
- Digital Camera
- Computer
- Photo editing Software
- CD or Thumb Drive
Instructions
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Choose your headshot style. For theatrical applications, the shot should usually just be from the neck up. For film or commercial applications, pictures should be a three-quarter or full-body shot. It is important to choose your style before beginning so that it can inform your choices in clothing and background.
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You want to look your best in a headshot, so make sure that your hair and makeup are done well.
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Prepare several outfits for your photo session so that you can change and get variety in your pictures. Clothes should ideally be neutral and unfussy, as the focus of a headshot should be you and not your clothes.
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Find the appropriate background and lighting. Backgrounds should be fairly neutral so as not to take focus off of your face, and the best lighting for portraits not done in a professional studio is natural light. Try to pick a spot outdoors or near a window to get the best light. If natural light is not an option, light the area with several bright indoor lights.
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Have a photography savvy friend take plenty of pictures using a digital camera. Try different poses and facial expressions, and change outfits a couple of times to get the widest range of shots during your session. Keep in mind that the best headshots allow the viewer to see who you are, so let your personality shine through.
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Hook the camera up to a computer with photo editing software, and review and edit your photographs. Pick the shot that looks the most like you and that shows you in your best light. If desired, you can use the software to convert your chosen shot to black and white, the traditional format for headshots. Adjust the contrast and brightness of your picture, and edit out any unwanted blemishes.
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Burn your chosen photograph(s) to a CD, or download them onto a thumb drive. Take the pictures to a facility that prints digital photographs and have them print your picture in an 8 by10 format.
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Tips & Warnings
If your photo editing software is capable of it, consider adding your name in text on your digital image. This can add an especially professional touch.
Do not print your headshot at home, as photographs printed on home printers often appear grainy and amateurish.
