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Headshot Horror and How to Deal With It: Advice from a Fellow Thespian.

Headshot Horror and How to Deal With It: Advice from a Fellow Thespian.

Jul 24, 2016

[Headshot Photographers by Vanie] Guest Blog by my client Joanna Kelly Born and raised in Houston, Texas and a graduate of New York University, Joanna Kelly now resides in Los Angeles where she works as an actress and writer.ย Favorite past roles include the shows...

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Iโ€™m so angry. And I donโ€™t know how to be angry wit Iโ€™m so angry. And I donโ€™t know how to be angry without losing control.

When I see people say theyโ€™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.

Iโ€™ve been told to stay in my lane by people on my email list and on socials. They tell me itโ€™s not โ€œprofessionalโ€ 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 donโ€™t align with yours, byeeeee ๐Ÿ‘‹. I donโ€™t want you in my studio anyway.

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

I hope Iโ€™m wrong. I truly do. But this is the โ€œhard lessonโ€ this country seems to need before it can find its way back to a true democracy. Itโ€™s like the measels virus: itโ€™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 โ€œpolite silence.โ€ 

Whatโ€™s happening here, and in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran, is wrong. Itโ€™s heartbreaking, maddening, and I am so, so angry. ๐Ÿ’”

As a partner, I donโ€™t know what to do. I really donโ€™t. All I know is that Iโ€™ve been depressed about going to Detroit since I booked our plane tickets.
Back when โ€œICEโ€ used to mean something cool. โœŠ Fu Back when โ€œICEโ€ used to mean something cool.

โœŠ Furthermore, FUCK ICE.

But because bills still need payingโ€ฆ

๐Ÿ“ธ 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...

โŒ First, stop asking if a headshot photographer shoots โ€œcommercialโ€ or โ€œtheatrical.โ€

Hereโ€™s the truth: The line has completely blurred.

Think about it:

โŒ Your โ€œโ€Suburban Momโ€โ€ look isnโ€™t just for commercials.

โœ… Youโ€™re also the โ€œโ€Suburban Momโ€โ€ in a one-hour drama.

โœ… The โ€œโ€Office Guyโ€โ€ in a sitcom is the same โ€œโ€typeโ€โ€ as the โ€œโ€Office Guyโ€โ€ in a procedural.

Most of your looks are crossovers.

So, what actually changes in an acting headshot?

Your ESSENCE.

โœจ The way actress Krystal Nova demonstrates so well here. 

Your headshot session shouldnโ€™t be about just โ€œโ€smiley vs. non-smiley.โ€โ€

โšก๏ธIt should be about capturing an emotional arc for each lookโ€”from a bright, commercial essence to a grounded, theatrical one.

๐Ÿ“ธYou donโ€™t need two different photographers.

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

โžก๏ธ Hey if you made it this far, share like this post with your favorite actor friend. 

Also, have you been confused by this distinction? Letโ€™s talk in the comments.๐Ÿ‘‡
Your acting headshot is not simply a nice picture Your acting headshot is not simply a nice picture of you.

๐Ÿšซ Thatโ€™s a trap most novice actors fall into.

โœ… Instead, your headshots need to 1๏ธโƒฃ, market you SPECIFICALLY for the type youโ€™re auditioning for and 2๏ธโƒฃ, bring out your personality.

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

If your age range is 18 to 23, your marketing looks may include โ€œthe guy next doorโ€ or โ€œthe hipster.โ€

๐Ÿ‘‰ If you donโ€™t know what looks to choose, COMMENT with the word โ€œlooksโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you my look guide.

โœจ Your personality is whatโ€™s going to sell you for the role youโ€™re auditioning for. 

So itโ€™s really important you work with a photographer who can bring out authentic expressions.

๐Ÿ”ƒ Share this with your newbie friends and hit the heart if you learned something new!

๐Ÿ‘—Styled by @rayneparvis
If youโ€™re frustrated with only a few auditions a y If youโ€™re frustrated with only a few auditions a yearโ€ฆ

I know exactly how you feel because itโ€™s my story.

Iโ€™m Vanie Poyey, the headshot photographer ๐Ÿ“ธ for actors who donโ€™t like to pose.

I was an actor, trying to get auditions for years.

๐Ÿ’ธ I spent thousands on re-shooting headshots over and over again but never got the auditions to match.

๐Ÿ˜ซ I felt hopeless.

I was doing everything โ€œright,โ€ but nothing was working.

That exact cycle is a huge part of why I eventually quit acting.

Now, Iโ€™m the photographer I wish Iโ€™d had.

โœ… My clients are going out on MULTIPLE auditions in a week, not in a year.

โœจBecause my entire process is different.

โŒ We donโ€™t just take โ€œmoreโ€ headshots.

๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธWe create specific, personality-driven marketing looks designed to get you in the room.

Follow if youโ€™re done wasting time and money on headshots that donโ€™t work!
Hereโ€™s what to do instead.๐Ÿ‘‡ You watch TV, observe Hereโ€™s what to do instead.๐Ÿ‘‡

You watch TV, observe real life, and decide to bring wardrobe that emulates that โ€œauthenticity.โ€

โŒ In theory, that works. In reality, it fails.

Why? Because headshots are not โ€œReal Life.โ€

โœจ On TV, thereโ€™s CONTEXT. You have a set, a location, other actors, music, and dialogue to tell us who the character is.

โœจ In an acting headshot, thereโ€™s NO CONTEXT. Itโ€™s just a close-up of your face and wardrobe. Thatโ€™s it.

If your headshot wardrobe is too subtle or โ€œrealistic,โ€ the Casting Director has to guess who you are. And a confused Casting Director passes on your headshot.

โœ… This is why you should embrace the STEREOTYPE.

Since we donโ€™t have a set, your clothes have to do the heavy lifting. You need to be โ€œOn-The-Nose.โ€

  The โ€œRealโ€ Gamer wears whatever they want.

 โœ… The Headshot Gamer wears a graphic tee.

  The โ€œRealโ€ Lawyer might wear a polo.

 โœ… The Headshot Lawyer wears a suit or sharp blazer like actress Meredith does here!

Donโ€™t dress for the reality. Dress for the Quick Read.

โค๏ธ Comment with the word โœจwardrobeโœจto get my Ultimate Wardrobe Guide ($4.97) with visual samples describing what to wear for each look in your category. $4.97 or free when you book a headshot session!
Getting this right means more auditions.๐Ÿ‘‡ โŒGettin Getting this right means more auditions.๐Ÿ‘‡

โŒGetting specific with your headshots isnโ€™t just about changing outfits.

You have two tools to convey those characters in your acting headshots

โœจYour wardrobe

AND 

โœจYour personality

So just as you would dress the part AND emobdy the character at an audition

โœ… Same goes for your headshots

โœ… You need to dress the part but also embody the essence of the character

โœ… You need a photographer who directs you like an actor and doesnโ€™t just pose you like a model

If this resonates, share to other actors in your stories or repost!๐Ÿซถ
Hereโ€™s how to pick your own looks๐Ÿ‘‡ Comment with t Hereโ€™s how to pick your own looks๐Ÿ‘‡

Comment with the word โœจlooksโœจ and Iโ€™ll send The Ultimate Look Guide for Actors straight to your DM.

THEN...

โœจ Simply pick out the headshot looks that resonate with you as an actor.

โŒ Donโ€™t over complicate this process.

Ask yourself these two questions...

โœ… What roles can I believably play based on how I look?

AND

โœ… What roles can I believably play based on my essence?

Once you prepare the looks youโ€™ve picked out, the day of your headshot session, weโ€™ll have a mini clothing and look consult!

Thatโ€™s when Iโ€™ll help you figure out:โฌ‡๏ธ

โšก๏ธWhich looks will market you best.
โšก๏ธWhich looks will get you the most auditions.
โšก๏ธAnd which wardrobe best conveys those looks.

๐Ÿ”ƒ Share in your stories with friends who could use the look guide too!

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