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“I advise actors to direct their own shoot or else the photographer…will ruin it for them…”
[Headshots Sherman Oaks by Vanie] Blog by Guest blogger Chille-Pacific Talent and Models Ever wonder what agents think of headshots? Below is a blog from Chille at Pacific Talent and Models. His insight is invaluable and right in line with my philosophy! _____ The commercial industry has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. Photographers are not sitting behind the submission button and reading what the casting directors and ad agencies are asking for. Therefore, you end up doing GREAT headshots for 2006. Before LACasting took over the industry, there was just this...
Do you know what you’re selling?
[Headshot Photography in Los Angeles by Vanie] Do you know what you're selling? Or do you spend your time trying to figure out what others want to buy and then conforming to fit that mold? 🔍 During my consultations, I often meet actors who are just starting out and are a little unclear about what Hollywood actually wants. For example, I worked with one actor who thought she should hide her tattoos. I worked with another one who thought she should get every "popular" look that agents typically ask for. My advice to the first was to show her tattoos. There is a specific place for her as the...
Do you celebrate the success of others?
[Headshots North Hollywood by Vanie] We’ve all seen it. Maybe it’s in a Facebook group, an acting class, or in my studio.🤷🏼♀️ There’s always a "grumbling corner" filled with actors, who aren't working, trading excuses as to why they can't get work. "They aren’t casting white people anymore." "I’m just at such a weird age right now." "The industry is just dead." Here’s the truth: none of it is TOTALLY real. Most of it is just noise used to justify why someone isn't where they want to be. Eventually, the people in that corner stop being actors and they just become people who used to try....
A Photographer’s Needs for a Successful Headshot Session: Part II
[Theatrical Headshots Los Angeles by Vanie] This is a two part blog and Part I of this blog post can be found HERE. This blog is about examples and would make more sense if you read Part I first. To summarize Part I, a person's attitude can pretty much make or break a headshot session. A controlling attitude can stifle the creative process of a photographer while a trusting one can bring about the freedom to get more creative with exceptional results. It truly does take two to tango, and every once in a while, you dance with a partner that can do so exceptionally well. Allyssa Schmitt is a...