What your photographer needs in order to provide you with a successful headshot session: Part I

Los Angeles Headshot Photographer: Vanie Poyey

Speaking for myself, I find that my most  amazing sessions have a lot to do with a client’s attitude coming into the session.  I realize headshots are a large investment and that there is a lot riding on them.  And often by the time actors come to me, they’ve had one or more bad experiences, their agents haven’t been happy with any of their pictures and they are at a complete loss.  Regardless, assuming you have done your due diligence and have thoroughly researched photographers, once you make a decision, it’s important to trust your decision as well as the process of the photographer you chose to work with.  In other words, let the professionals do their job.

What I’m about to say can easily be misunderstood so I want to be very clear.  I’m not saying your input isn’t important and I’m not saying you shouldn’t voice your concerns or opinions. However, when  someone is overly controlling about every aspect of  the shoot from the largest detail to the smallest of details, it tends to stifle creativity.  Not only is the organic process gone, but I’m worried about making the slightest wrong move and failing to please my client.  I’m worried that what I do isn’t what they want so I’m extra careful to only do the things they ask me to do.  I refrain from offering my usual advise and typically end up confining myself to tight parameters which doesn’t leave room for spontaneous moments that make for great pictures.

Believe it or not a person’s attitude can become a self fulfilling prophecy and can literally make or break a headshot session.   The person who walks in with a negative attitude, constantly stopping the flow and the momentum because they are worried about what is going to go wrong because of what has gone wrong in the past, is very likely to walk away with pictures that don’t represent what I do in my body of work.  This is never intentional on my part but if I’m prevented from doing what I normally do how can my pictures turn out the way they usually turn out?  The person who comes in with a positive attitude, is free and open to new experiences, open to direction and entrusts me with the experience, will very likely walk away with exceptional results.

Part II of this post will outline some examples and show you the most amazing session of the year because of my client’s amazing positive attitude!  Stay tuned and share your experiences here!

Below are headshots wrapping up the last of the batch from 2011!

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10% off Trick or Treat Sale!

Acting Headshots by Vanie Poyey

Tell your friends!  It’s Halloween Weekend and we’re having a spooky sale!  Book your session on Halloween Monday (October 31, 2011) and receive a 10% discount on any package.  The bigger the package, the bigger the discount.  Happy Halloween!

*Fine print…not valid with other offers .

See Gary’s previous shots HERE.

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The Backstage Spotlight Issue on Headshots

Headshots for Actors: by Vanie Poyey

Recently Backstage West asked a few photographers to give their input in an article titled Los Angeles Photographers on What Makes an Effective Headshot.   This was my little bit followed by a couple of headshots.

“Your headshot should not simply be a pretty picture—a trap most novice actors fall into. Instead, your headshots need to market you specifically for the type you’re auditioning for. Your type, or what I call “marketing look,” is based on your age range. For example, if your age range is 18 to 23, your marketing looks may include “all-American guy next door,” or possibly “edgy hipster” or “edgy urban,” etc.

The two photos I chose—while full of personality, something I aim to draw from actors by directing them—also display very specific marketing looks. Sarah is clearly “the girl next door,” and Eduardo is clearly “the businessman.” When the casting community isn’t familiar with your work, a headshot that closely resembles the type in the breakdown gives them reason to believe you can act the part and to call you in.”

The following pictures are some examples of different looks!

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