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Bonnie Gillespie

Jan 20, 2019

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10636 Burbank Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
323-856-6156
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Your acting headshot is not simply a nice picture. Your acting headshot is not simply a nice picture.

🚫 That’s a mistake most novice actors make.

āœ… Instead, your headshots need to

1ļøāƒ£, market you SPECIFICALLY for the type you’re auditioning for and

2ļøāƒ£, bring out your personality.

✨ Your type, or what I call a ā€œmarketing look,ā€ is based on your age range.

If your age range is 18 to 23, your marketing looks may include ā€œthe girl next doorā€ or ā€œthe love interest.ā€

šŸ‘‰ If you don’t know what looks to choose, COMMENT with the word ā€œlooksā€ and I’ll send you my look guide.

✨ Your personality is what’s going to sell you for the role you’re auditioning for. 

So it’s really important you work with a photographer who can bring out authentic expressions.

šŸ‘£ Hit FOLLOW if you learned something new!
If specific headshots didn’t work for you...šŸ‘‡ It’ If specific headshots didn’t work for you...šŸ‘‡

It’s because you think that changing outfits IS a new look.

āŒ It isn’t.

✨Here’s the deal.✨

ā€¼ļøGiving the same ā€œsexy faceā€ in a hoodie, a suit, and a cardigan doesn’t mean you have three different looks.

I see it constantly: actors frustrated that their ā€œspecific looksā€ aren’t working.

But when I look at their headshots, there’s a total lack of variety... in their essence.

āŒ The ā€œMomā€ can’t have the same sultry, seductive essence as the ā€œLove Interest.ā€

āŒ The Blue Collar Guy can’t have the same sultryness as the Leading Man.

By mixing them, you send a contradictory message.

āœ… Your essence has to match the look or you negate the purpose of getting sepcific!

āš”ļøTo convey a different look, you must change THE ESSENCE of the character.

šŸŽ¬ That only happens when you act on camera instead of just posing.

Hi, šŸ‘‹ I’m Vanie (Vah-nee), the LA Headshot Photographer for actors who don’t like to pose. I use improv to direct you, bringing out an emotional range for every character so you embody the look and don’t just change outfits.

Want to master your looks?

āš”ļøComment with the word ✨looks✨ and I’ll send you my Ultimate Look Guide for actors. 

Here, headshots of the lovely actress @raeshan.nate
If your specific headshots didn’t work...šŸ‘‡ It’s b If your specific headshots didn’t work...šŸ‘‡

It’s because you think that changing outfits IS a new look.

āŒ It isn’t.

✨Here’s the deal.✨

ā€¼ļøGiving the same ā€œsexy faceā€ in a hoodie, a suit, and a cardigan doesn’t mean you have three different looks.

I see it constantly: actors frustrated that their ā€œspecific looksā€ aren’t working.

But when I look at their headshots, there’s a total lack of variety... in their essence.

āŒ The ā€œMomā€ can’t have the same sultry, seductive essence as the ā€œLove Interest.ā€

āŒ The Blue Collar Guy can’t have the same sultryness as the Leading Man.

By mixing them, you send a contradictory message.

āœ… Your essence has to match the look or you negate the purpose of getting sepcific!

āš”ļøTo convey a different look, you must change THE ESSENCE of the character.

šŸŽ¬ That only happens when you act on camera instead of just posing.

Hi, šŸ‘‹ I’m Vanie (Vah-nee), the LA Headshot Photographer for actors who don’t like to pose. I use improv to direct you, bringing out an emotional range for every character so you embody the look and don’t just change outfits.

šŸ‘£ ā¤ļø Follow for more daily tips like this one and DOUBLE TAP if you learned something new today!

Headshots of actress @raeshan.nate
What are staple looks for actors?šŸ‘‡ The basic 4 he What are staple looks for actors?šŸ‘‡

The basic 4 headshots hat almost every actor needs.

1ļøāƒ£ Business

2ļøāƒ£ Girl/Guy Next Door

3ļøāƒ£ Mom/Dad

4ļøāƒ£ Edgy

šŸ’šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø Of course each of these categories have specific looks within them.

Here Caitlin demonstrates each category in her age group:šŸ‘‡

āœ… Business: Student
āœ… Girl Next Door: Friend
āœ… Edgy: Troubled Teen
āœ… Girl Next Door: Love Interest... cuz she’s too young for Mom.

Don’t know what looks to get?

Comment with the word ✨looks✨ and I’ll send you my Ultimate Look Guide with the popular headshot looks agents and managers are asking for right now in your age group!
Comment ā€œlooksā€ and I’ll send you my Ultimate Look Comment ā€œlooksā€ and I’ll send you my Ultimate Look Guide for actors.

Learn: 

āœ… The most popular headshot looks agents and managers are asking for right now!

āœ… Plus what acting looks are right for you in your age group. 

In this session: The lovely actress šŸŽ­Erica McNeal with the following looks:

1ļøāƒ£The Survivor
2ļøāƒ£The Hipster
3ļøāƒ£ The Suburban Mom
4ļøāƒ£ The Detective
I’m so angry. And I don’t know how to be angry wit I’m so angry. And I don’t know how to be angry without losing control.

When I see people say they’re angry in a calm and collected way, I wonder if they know what anger is. Though my therapist would of course say they do.

I’ve been told to stay in my lane by people on my email list and on socials. They tell me it’s not ā€œprofessionalā€ to talk about politics when they follow me for my photography business.

This is MY business and this is how I choose to run it. By taking a stand. And if my values don’t align with yours, byeeeee šŸ‘‹. I don’t want you in my studio anyway.

And I really do believe we’re on the verge of a civil war. Groups of people will reach a limit where they simply stop ā€œtaking itā€ and start fighting back with their own g*ns.

I hope I’m wrong. I truly do. But this is the ā€œhard lessonā€ this country seems to need before it can find its way back to a true democracy. It’s like the measels virus: it’s going to have to run its course and kill hundreds of thousands of people before the unvaccinated movement finally wakes up to the error of their ways.

As a photographer, I refuse to document this world through a lens of ā€œpolite silence.ā€ 

What’s happening here, and in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran, is wrong. It’s heartbreaking, maddening, and I am so, so angry. šŸ’”

As a partner, I don’t know what to do. I really don’t. All I know is that I’ve been depressed about going to Detroit since I booked our plane tickets.
Back when ā€œICEā€ used to mean something cool. ✊ Fu Back when ā€œICEā€ used to mean something cool.

✊ Furthermore, FUCK ICE.

But because bills still need paying…

šŸ“ø Here are some bookable looks for acting headshots to help you work.
The difference between commercial vs. theatrical h The difference between commercial vs. theatrical headshots...

āŒ First, stop asking if a headshot photographer shoots ā€œcommercialā€ or ā€œtheatrical.ā€

Here’s the truth: The line has completely blurred.

Think about it:

āŒ Your ā€œā€Suburban Momā€ā€ look isn’t just for commercials.

āœ… You’re also the ā€œā€Suburban Momā€ā€ in a one-hour drama.

āœ… The ā€œā€Office Guyā€ā€ in a sitcom is the same ā€œā€typeā€ā€ as the ā€œā€Office Guyā€ā€ in a procedural.

Most of your looks are crossovers.

So, what actually changes in an acting headshot?

Your ESSENCE.

✨ The way actress Krystal Nova demonstrates so well here. 

Your headshot session shouldn’t be about just ā€œā€smiley vs. non-smiley.ā€ā€

āš”ļøIt should be about capturing an emotional arc for each look—from a bright, commercial essence to a grounded, theatrical one.

šŸ“øYou don’t need two different photographers.

You need one photographer who directs you like an ACTOR, not a model, to show you can do both.

āž”ļø Hey if you made it this far, share like this post with your favorite actor friend. 

Also, have you been confused by this distinction? Let’s talk in the comments.šŸ‘‡

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