[Professional Headshots by Vanie]
I recently had a phone conversation with an actress who had just spent $150 on headshots, but her agents were NOT happy with the shots.
After seeing them, they suggested she get headshots taken by one of the photographers on their preferred list.
She told me that her favorite photographer on their list was too expensive, and that her NEW budget was $200.
She’d decided to do her own research and found me… but her budget was only $200. 😬
Lindsey Wilson: Edgy badass / Love Interest / Office Girl
Ellin Britton: Heroine / Artist or Hipster
I think you know where I’m going with this… she wasn’t going to pay for MY services either, because I’m also “too expensive”.
My advice to her was that she invest with the photographer she liked that was on her agent’s preferred list.
My reasoning was that while her budget may be $200, she’ll now be spending a total of $350 because she has to re-shoot, and yet she might still not have headshots that work! 🤷♀️
Diane Sargent: Date Night / Doctor / Suburban Mom
AT THAT POINT, she may or may not learn a lesson—sometimes, you get what you pay for– and she’ll have spent $350 for nothing.
She may eventually spend the $500 on the “expensive” photographer, rocketing her TOTAL spend to $850.
Of course, she may not learn that lesson, and continue to spend $200 over and over again… putting her career on hold, and risk losing her agents. 🙁
Steve Connor: Professor / Villain
Liz Hackworth: Teacher / Edgy Friend / Heroine
Because if they see that she’s not willing to invest in her career, they’ll eventually drop her. But why might the $200 photographer not provide her with headshots that work?
Because the $200 photographer is probably just starting out, putting together a portfolio, or is doing photography part time to supplement another income. 💁♀️
And while there’s nothing wrong with a part time photographer, or one just starting out– this usually means they’re not in the know on industry standards and don’t understand that headshots are a marketing tool for YOU, not pretty pictures to satisfy their own desire to produce those kinds of images.
Anastasia Stanfield: Studious / Hip / Disney Kid
The reason your reps have a preferred list is not because they want to make your life more expensive. It’s because the photographers on their list consistently provide them with the headshots that help them get you auditions. ✅
They WANT you to work because they rely on you to make their income!
Headshots are an investment, not a cost. The idea is, you invest in the proper marketing tools and that investment makes you money.
But if you keep seeing it as a cost, you’ll just end up stuck in a loop of “spending” $200 indefinitely, eventually racking up your spend to $800 but with no results and no way to make your money back.
Don’t take my word for it– see for yourself how casting directors judge your headshots.
Read this article and follow the link to the provided SAG panel.
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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! 🙏
I understand that newer photographers start out charging less money but here’s my question: why do seasoned, or preferred, photographers feel a need to charge more for headshots? They’re still industry standard headshots, shot in a 1, 2 or 3 hour session! Am I paying for their knowledge? Or their different lens’s? Or a name that’s become successful in the headshot arena? Just curious. Thanks!
Hi Vicki, I can’t speak for everyone else but in my case you’re paying for the value add of a photographer who gives you more than just headshots. I provide the knowledge base and resources to make sure you come in prepared and have a successful shoot. One such example is this blog and another being my consultation videos (which you may receive by emailing us) as well as monthly tips to my list. Also when a photographer is successful, that almost always insures your success with the headshots they produce, thus the higher price. This is not taking into consideration the higher cost of operating at a large level like studio rent and insurance etc. Hope this sheds some light!
How much are your headshots for my 10 yr old daughter who is with an agency.
Depends on how many outfits and who you shoot with! I’ll email you all the options.
Thanks for all the helpful info!