Hello beautiful people!
Let’s shoot your head.
Eesh. It’s no wonder we face the headshot shoot itself with so much freakin’ anxiety.
Look, you’re not alone. Listen up as I tell you the story of how I got — and how you can get — the best headshots ever.
Whether you’re currently in the market for new headshots or not, I want you to keep this tactic in mind. It absolutely will change the game, as results are concerned.
Next up, here’s some homework you can do before your next headshot shoot so you’ll seriously rock out your way to the next tier with the decisions you make before, during, and after the session.
Take a look at your current shots, your website, your social media presence, your online profiles at Actors Access and Casting Networks (or Spotlight or AT2 or Casting Workbook or 800 Casting or wherever you park your goodies for submissions). There’s already a vibe, a feel, a color, a texture. If you’re not steering our focus intentionally, go back to Day 8 and Day 35 to consider what you’d like to see happening in your visual world. Because the brand message is getting out there whether you’re driving the bus of “Brand You” or not.
Let’s drive!
Think also of your target shows. Check out what’s *actually* being worn on TV. When it comes to headshots, you don’t have to consider only those shows that are actively casting in your market, you can think about all shows of all time. Heck, you can even think about film brands with which you align, ad campaigns you’d be a match for, the whole world of who you are… as long as you remember what I said in today’s audio about where your focus needs to go during the shoot itself. For this prep process, however, you are gonna explore a lot of ground.
What’s most important in this part of it all is identifying any differences between what will work for your next-tier shots and what’s way-too-far-beyond-the-very-next-tier vibes. Sure, that “down the road” data is stuff you can store for later, but really take a look at the worlds in which you rock at your very next tier first. With the currently-within-your-reach projects, spend time in the IMDb galleries of the actors who are booking work at or just above your tier. Again, look for colors, textures, overall tones. See any patterns?
Especially if you can find shots that look as though they’re stills from these projects (whether they actually are or they’re headshots that capture these actors in those “best headshot” moments), you’re gonna have some gorgeous data for your next shoot! Colors for backdrops, types of lighting, clothing choices, all of it should start to crystalize when you bring this good stuff together! Once you’ve done the deep-dive of the galleries, put together a Pinterest board for it! Here’s one ninja’s story of how this helps her get brand clarity. (This even works for screenplay storyboarding, y’all! And for my non-showbiz creatives in the bunch, this is where you get to create your product shots’ fantasy layout AND get your “about me” photo strategized too!)
The reason we want your headshots to feel like they’re a part of a target show’s vibe already is so when the buyers see your shots, they get a feeling that you’re “at home” in those spaces as a brand and as a storyteller. This is what we call “dropping breadcrumbs down the path” for how the buyers will cast you next (and of course, you’ll always let it be their great idea).
Today’s work: Whether or not headshots are something you’ll need soon, share below the “line” that’ll be running through your mind as you shoot. Let’s work it out to be sure it’ll serve you beautifully.
Extra credit: Go through your proofs from a previous amazing headshot shoot and look for the patterns, the brand story you were telling. Share a link to the gallery if you want confirmation of what you feel you’re seeing as you build a muscle for what these patterns look like. Especially if you were focused on your anxiety over “getting it right” instead of being on brand, really identify where your brand story from that last shoot might be “off” from where you want to teach the buyers you’re meant to be.
This will help you know the direction you DO want to go next time!
Let’s turn headshot shoots into FUN. They seriously can be! It all starts with this work. Hooray!
’til tomorrow… stay ninja!
