headshots Los Angeles by Vanie
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If you ask 50 people what they think of your headshots,
youâll get 50 different opinions. Thatâs just a fact. Everyone has an opinion, and almost everyone with an opinion on headshots is sadly misguided.
Amy Landon: FBI Agent | DaNaé West: Hipster
Quinn Gasaway: Bad Guy, Good Guy đ
Iâve heard opinions range from âyou shouldnât have arms in your photoâ to âyou should show a little bodyâ, âyour head should be centeredâ, âmost of your head should fill the frameâ, âYour photo is too closeâ, âthere should be no shadows in your photoâ, âthe background should be realâ, background should be whiteâ etc. etc. etc.
All these comments focus on subjective and shallow aesthetics, and they donât serve to help you figure out how to get an effective headshot.
Jenna Doolittle: Love interest, Romantic Lead
 Dawn Brodey: Quirky, Working Class, Edgy
UNFORTUNATELY, the actor that becomes most confused by such criticism is usually the one that needs the most help– the actor without an agent and the one thatâs unwilling to budget in a professional headshot session.
Jodie Bentley: Soccer Mom, Suburban Mom, FBI Agent, Lawyer
 Vann Duke: DA, Dad
Most seasoned actors know how the game works.
They have agents advising them (usually the best people to listen to since they work with many casting directors). They go on frequent auditions and know that what makes a headshot effective is not only having it be done professionally so that the casting community takes them seriously, but making sure to showcase âtypesâ as well as personality. Â Thatâs it.
Julie Brett: Lawyer | Dan Louis: Hipster
Quynh Thi Le: Sexy Love Interest, Gamer
Rachel Henn: Business, Mom
I can tell you in my 16+ years as a headshot photographer, Iâve never heard comments based only on aesthetics from reputable agents.
To take that idea a step further, in my opinion, an effective headshot is one that speaks to the viewer emotionally. In other words, one that exudes a certain emotional reaction because your personality is coming through.
EVERY THING ELSE IS GARBAGE.
There are no rules, and there certainly arenât any rules that canât be broken if an image can capture the viewerâs attention. Good luck!
 Bex Carney: Detective | Suzanne Petrela: Hipster
Jennifer Laughnan: Business | Philip Levien: Dad