Getting the right shot is actually a piece of cake.

Headshot Photography by Vanie Poyey

Blog by guest blogger Dallas Travers.

Creative Career Coach Dallas Travers has helped thousands of actors to increase their auditions, produce their own projects, secure representation and book roles in film and television. Her award winning book, The Tao of Show Business: How to Pursue Your Dream Without Losing Your Mind won first prize in the “How To” category at the 2009 Hollywood Book Festival.  Her vision and advise is very much in line with mine!  Hope you enjoy and If you like this post, you can read further about the “Four Tracks to Increase Your Auditions, Even If You Don’t Have an Agent”.

“Every actor understands the importance of a great headshot. A simple 8×10 picture can open a lot of doors for you if utilized correctly. Your headshot must represent the real you while showcasing your unique castability. That’s a lot of responsibility for one tiny photograph.

Knowing the importance of a headshot, it’s easy to over think things. You can spend a lot of time exploring your essence, how others perceive you, your best angles, colors and outfits. Shooting new headshots is a pretty big deal, but it doesn’t have to be an arduous, painful process.

I’ve identified six simple steps to help you finally capture your dream headshots. By following this easy plan, you’ll discover that getting the right shot is actually a piece of cake.

Step 1: Draw character parallels.

Make a list of 5-12 specific performances you have seen that resonate with you. These don’t have to be actors who look like you. They don’t have to be of your gender. They don’t even need to be contemporary. Just make a list of five. After you’ve made that list, describe each performance with one or two adjectives.

Step 2: Select your power adjectives.

Looking at your list of adjectives, select the top two to four that best represent the list as a whole. I call this process “nutshelling.”

Perhaps you might select the following adjectives: vulnerable, endearing, and quietly powerful. Keep these words in mind and visualize an image of a person who possesses all of these qualities.

Step 3: Create Your Characters.

Use these adjectives to help create three specific character descriptions for yourself: dramatic, comedic, and a character driven role. After you’ve completed your character breakdowns, you’ll have three very specific essences that you can now capture in your headshot photo shoot.

Here are three examples:

Drama:

(Suzanne) A social worker who fiercely protects the kids she works with. Her job is her life, so she has no time for romance. She’s often overlooked or underestimated by her peers because she has such a soft exterior. But underneath lies a force to be reckoned with.

Comedy:

(Josephine) The only unmarried member of a close-knit group of friends, Josephine often feels like an outsider. She’s clumsy, yet lovable. She’s well-read, but lacks street smarts. Josephine’s very unlucky in love. She gets nervous around attractive men, which often leads to uncontrollable bouts of the hiccups. All of this aside, Josephine’s naïve outlook on life allows her to give top-notch advice to her friends in need.

Character Driven Role:

(Candace) Candace got married very young. At the age of 35, she finds herself at the end of an abusive relationship. Candace works as a local cannery where she’s been earning minimum wage for the last six years. After loosing her mother to cancer, Candace digs deep and finds the strength to change her life for the better.

Step 4: Get thinking.

Identify specific thoughts or emotions each character experiences. Perhaps words that represent them or phrases they say.

For example, Suzanne might say, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” The phrase, “Always a bridesmaid. Never a bride” may represent Josephine. Candace might feel exhausted.

Keep these thoughts in mind during your headshot photo shoot. With powerful thoughts or emotions in mind, you will easily capture the honest essence of your ideal roles.

Step 5: Plan your wardrobe, but don’t over think it.

How can you convey the essence of each character in the subtlest of ways? Remember, the best wardrobe adds to the energy of the character without being distracting.

Step 6: Bring it All Together.

Now you have three specific looks and three specific thoughts. Being an actor, the rest is easy. Just bring these thoughts and your wardrobe to your photo shoot. Then, as each different “look” or character is being shot, you simply think the thoughts of the character you’ve developed.”

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Do you celebrate the success of others?

Headshot Photography by Vanie Poyey

Or do you run off to your little corner jealous and resentful because you haven’t yet achieved the same success?   A friend and colleague, Blake Discher says, and I’m paraphrasing, “Don’t hang out with the guys grumbling in the corner about how they can’t get work”.  In fact he teaches a great seminar called Stop Grumbling-Get Out There.  Although it’s geared towards photographers, it’s great advise for any individual in the business of marketing themselves, actors included.

As you struggle through the business of acting, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that every success story has a lot of struggle and a few failures behind it.  It’s also important to realize that everyone’s path to success will be different and only you can create the path for yourself.  What works for someone else may not work for you.

If you judge others and begrudge them their success, you are not taking into consideration the struggles they may have gone through either financially or emotionally to beget work in their field.  Even if in your eyes, they’ve had no struggles, instead of grumbling in the corner, congratulate your colleagues for their success and ask how they did it!  Genuinely expressing interest in their career automatically opens doors for you.  There is value in networking with those more successful than you.  After all, they might just need your type on the next project they work on!

As you navigate your way through the business, keep in mind that celebrating the success of those around you will bring the same success to you!

Share this blog with the friends who run off to the corner and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Headshot Photographer for Actors Who Simply Refuse to pose!

Headshots Los Angeles: by Vanie Poyey

I do what I do because I want to help actors succeed.  I want to empower you with the tools you need to market yourself.  My goal is not to give you the most beautiful pictures you’ve ever taken…there’s plenty opportunity for that when you’re famous!  My goal is to give you images with life and not vacant stares.  My goal is to give you images that specifically showcase the range you have without pushing you against type.  My goal is to figure out your stereotype, your essence and to capitalize on it!  I do this by consulting with you, by directing you every step of the way and by producing specific marketing looks that will help get you in the door.  I am a director, a photographer for the actor who refuses to pose!  Help your career by learning the value of marketing.  Take a look at Sam Christensen’s essences class and read The Tao of Show Business by Dallas Travers.  Then ask me how I can help.

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Scroll down to view headshots of my clients and read the labels that describe the marketing look we achieved!  Comment here and tell us what you’ve been doing for marketing!

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