2 MAIN FORMATS FOR ACTING HEADSHOTS

These days there are two main formats for head shots. “New York Legit” is the more traditional one and probably will work for almost all applications. It consists of an 8x10 print on matte paper with a fairly tight view of your face and shoulders. The picture area covers the whole sheet of paper—no borders.

Type number 2 is the “L.A. Style,” once used more in the film industry. (L.A.--Hollywood--movies. Get it?) Now this style is at least as common in all markets as New York Legit. L.A. Style head shots have wide white borders with the actor's name appearing outside the photo area. Ironically, even though the picture area is smaller, the photo usually shows more of the body, making facial features smaller still.

New York Legit still serves as the closest thing to a one-size-fits-all, but I think it's getting a little bit dowdy. As the L.A. Style has become more common, it has become less distracting in more traditional markets. What's nice about it, too, is that it lets us play with the composition and layout more freely, giving the whole print a nice, unified look.

Your clothes should be comfortable and casual. They should not draw attention away from your face. The "rules" say to avoid solid black and solid white, loud patterns (too distracting) and anything that is overly concealing (i.e. turtlenecks).

As "fashions" in headshot photography change, new trends come up that mess with my ability to confidently tell you what the current standards are. At the moment the flavor of the week is color headshot photography. For the past thousand years or so, a color headshot was the quickest way to mark yourself as a total theater rube. Now it will identify you as cutting edge. Of course, this could all change back by next Thursday.

Regardless of the physical composition of the final photo, you should always maintain eye contact with the lens. I think eye contact is everything. You have to get the viewers' attention, grab it and hold it. You must use your eyes, face and body to PROJECT yourself onto their retinas. Use your acting experience and your intelligence to make your eyes create immediacy. This dynamism is what separates head shots which are merely right from those which are good.

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Michael Bailey Photography does talent headshots, commercial, advertising and editorial photography in Virginia, Washington DC and surrounding areas. He is a member of ASMP with many years photography experience. For more information on his services visit http://www.michaelbaileyphoto.com or call Michael Bailey Studio @ 434-296-4295