[Headshots near me by Vanie]
Let’s say you go get yourself some awesome headshots. 🎉
You go home full of excitement, you look through all the photos, and you do what we all do when looking at pictures of ourselves… you criticize!
Not the photographer of course, but yourself.
Aisha Holden: Edgy Heroine / Student
You start to nitpick every detail— from the mole on your cheek, to your not-so-perfect nose, to your asymmetrical eyes— and the list goes on.
Pretty soon, you’re no longer paying attention to your big picture marketing looks, but instead you’re spiraling down that vanity rabbit hole.
“That shot would be perfect only if that one piece of hair was moved to the left by a 1/4 of an inch.” Or, “If only that shot didn’t have the fold in my armpit showing.” Or, “Oh, and this shot would be perfect if my smile was even.” 🤦♀️
SURELY YOU CAN’T SHOW YOUR AGENT ALL THESE HORRIBLE IMAGES!
Allison Lobel: Love Interest / Gamer / Hipster – Artist
Allison Regen: BoHo / Suburban Mom
So now you go down the path of self-editing— looking for that perfect shot where your face is perfectly positioned, your hair is perfect, the armpit is hidden and you dwindle down your choices to the most perfect ten.
Perfect, perfect, perfect.
You eagerly send off your images to your agent and wait for them to pick out the best headshots to upload to casting sites. You’re so sure that they’ll like them as much as you do because — how could they not? You got rid of all the “bad” ones and you can’t wait to hear from them.
Asher Miles: Hipster – Author / Fashionista
Casey Morris: Detective / Professor / Blue Collar
Anna Baragiola: Hipster / Period / Anti-Heroine
NOT.
Your agent says “None of them are usable.”
Your heart sinks. 💔 You have visions of dollar bills flying off into the sky.
How could this be? You gave them your best shots and you even shot with the photographer they recommended.
Not to mention, you did all the right things.
You researched your looks, you bought all the right clothes, you paid for a professional makeup artist, AND you spent a lot of money on your headshots!
Now you’re angry!
So you call your photographer because of course it’s their fault that this happened. You did your job, so they must not have done theirs.
Sound familiar?
Ashley Popichak: Blue Collar / Office Girl – Secretary
Here’s what you didn’t know. To avoid this very scenario, if you’ve done everything else right, you needed to send ALL your images to your agent.
Over the years, every now and again, I get that call from a client and I’ve become an expert at identifying self-editors.
Diane Sargent: Period / Therapist / Suburban Mom
Garrett Pominville: Best Friend / Blue Collar
When I know we’ve done a good job of communicating, collaborating, and creating exactly what the agent asked for, my first question is always, “Did your agent see all the images?”
And every time, the answer is no.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, if you don’t let your reps see the entire gallery, you won’t give them what they’re looking for. You’ll only give them what satisfies your vanity. You are the worst possible judge of your own headshots. And that’s not good business.
Guy Papa: Police Officer / Country Club
While you’re focused on how you look, the pros are focused on what looks your essence and personality, convey. Meaning, what auditions that headshot will get you out for.
No one— especially casting directors— gives a sh*t if your eyes are asymmetrical or if your smile is crooked. No one every said, “oops can’t bring her in cuz the bottom of her shirt is wrinkled.” NO ONE.
All casting cares about is if you look like you can play the part.
Period.
NEXT TIME YOU PAY A LOT OF MONEY for headshots, don’t shortchange yourself by “self editing” before your reps see all of your images.
Trust them— most know what they’re doing and they are much more objective when it comes to picking out effective headshots, even for YOU.
Have you had this experience yourself? Please share below, let’s keep talking!
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I love helping you by putting out this free information (often written on weekends and evenings) so please help me spread the word by commenting, and or sharing this post on your social feed! 🙏
Vanie, this is great information to have because we can become obsessive with our look.
Anyone who shoots with you will absofreakinglutely L❤️ve their images.
I look forward to working with you soon.