[Headshot Wardrobe Tips by Vanie]
Trends have changed in the world of casting.
Used to be that headshots were in black and white.
Used to be that ž head shots were it.Â
Digital advancements in both cameras and printers made it possible for the color headshot to be reproduced cheaply which also led to the birth of online casting. đť
There are hardly any more paper submissions. When was the last time you printed your headshots? Reply to this email and let me know, genuinely curious.
Most submissions are done online. Â
SoâŚ
SINCE ALL YOUR PHOTOS ARE SUBMITTED DIGITALLY, and since the thumbnails online become really small, the smartest thing to do is to shoot mainly close ups. đ
You donât want your face getting lost in the thumbnail, which is the ONLY thing casting directors really see (unless they click on your headshot to view the entirety of the shot, provided you haven’t pre-cropped it, but thatâs a whole other topic of discussion.)
The agents I work with want to see your FACE, and not your body. The 90s are gone! đ
So can we just agree that your shoe collection, all your skirts, and all your pants aren’t gonna make it into the shot unless you’re specifically shooting the fitness look? Like, do you need to bring them?Â
Here’s what you DO need to bring if you want to stand out in a pool of 4K to 7K submissions per role.
â The brightest, most saturated colors you have in your closet.
If your closet is full of browns, blacks, and generally muted colors, GO SHOPPING (and pro tip,đ donât take the tags off so you can return what you buy)!
That said, listen, I get it, not everyone is a bright color person. I’m certainly not. So if you don’t want to go down that route, I add the color pop in my backgrounds so don’t worry too much.
The point is, we want color!
â Also, bring your accessories. đ
Bring the things that can easily define a character in a small thumbnail because aside from your facial expression, and wardrobe, accessories are it!Â
Bring your hats, your jewelry, and whatever else makes YOU uniquely convey the character in your own way.Â
â Donât bring your shoes. Please.Â
Thumbnails are your first impression. Make it count.
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Love what I see. Would have liked some explanation regarding the digital headshots in the previous group of pics.