One of the most common questions I receive is "What should I wear on the day of the shoot?". This is ironically one of the most common pitfalls among shooting headshots. Wardrobe is one of the most important aspects of getting great pictures out of your shoot, and often the most overlooked. Although in a traditional tightly cropped B&W headshot you're not seeing a lot of the clothing however, most photographers shoot a variety of lengths and poses to give the client more versatility. Many casting directors also prefer to see a 3/4 shot as apposed to a tighly cropped headshot when making a decision about casting. This is because a 3/4 length (mid-thigh and up) shows more of the body, thus giving a casting director more information before making a decision. In this day in age where HD tv is taking over everyday television it is extremely important to get as much information about potential talent before casting someone for a specific role. Thus, you are now seeing much more of the wardrobe than before. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when picking out your wardrobe:
1) What roles will I be auditioning for?
- Always keep your audience in mind. (ex. Disney Channel vs. HBO)
2) Do I want to show a variety of looks?
- Such as older, younger, punk, hip-hop, business, character...
3) How many looks do I need?
- If you already have a portfolio you can get away with a one look headshot each year. Otherwise, you should have at least 3 distinct looks to show potential clients when starting out. Models typically need more looks than actors.
4) Would I wear this to an audition?
- If it's stained, ripped or wrinkled it's going to show up in your photos - so leave it at home!
5) How does this outfit make me feel?
- If your not totally loving what you've got on it's going to show in your headshot. Pick clothes that you really love and feel confident in. Your cofindence will be reflected in your pictures.
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