Where do your headshot photo shoots take place?
My natural light headshot photo shoots take place at my garden studio in a small rural hamlet that is part of but separate from East Tuddenham village. My studio is situated not far from the main A47 road, about a 20 minute drive east from the centre of Norwich. or a 10 minute walk from the closest bus stop on the Norwich-Dereham bus service route. Ample parking is available..
What should I wear?
For actors, think about the types of castings and roles you want to apply and how to best represent yourself to casting agents, etc. If you have an agent, be sure to check with them about any specific looks they recommend you to do and the tops you should wear to achieve that look.
Think about the colours that compliment your hair/eye/skin colour.. From experience I would suggest trying to avoid bringing anything plain white with no texture as white does tend to "wash" people out, In general, I recommend avoiding anything too vibrant or items with logos or strong patterns as these can be distracting. The headshots are about you not your clothes and you want your eyes to be the main focus. Having said that if a particular loud and vibrant top really reflects your personality then go for it - we can see how it works.
Feel free to bring a variety of different tops if you can't decide beforehand and we can go through them and I can help you choose which to try. I always recommend that you bring a plain black top - they do work and are flexible in combination with other tops. Blacks are always useful but please don’t bring everything in black!
Wearing a plain base vest underneath will help making changes quicker during the shoot but there is a private changing space in my studio so don't worry about where to do your changes.
Rich deep colours like green, blue, navy, maroon, mustard , etc work well. Earthy and neutral tones are a good safe bet. Paler colours and pastels can often make you appear more youthful. But I suggest avoiding Very strong red, orange and yellow items as they will tend to overpower the subject - you!
How many changes should I bring?
You can bring as many as you like, I recommend at least 6 changes of top - we may not use them all and you may feel some don't work well - but al least you have the option I really recommend that you wear your favourite outfits ie the ones that you feel relaxed/good in and best represent you!
How do I best prepare for the shoot?
Drink plenty of water every day for at least a couple of days before the shoot, You wouldn’t believe how much of a difference this makes to your skin,
Get a good nights sleep and don’t drink alcohol the night before! Alcohol dehydrates - it will really make you look tired and affect your eyes and skin
If you are going to have your hair cut then please get it done a couple of days before the shoot to give it time to "settle in". Please pay particular attention to a fringe , if you have one, as an untidy fringe can hide your eyes in your headshots.
Before the shoot, avoid using any creams or facemasks that your skin is not used to in case you get a reaction.
Character & Role Preparation
With all you clothing items we will always get the neutral shot ie the everyday "blank canvas" headshot with you looking engaging and projecting your personality.
Think about the characters you can play or would like to - romantic lead, police detective, period character, urban chav, streetwise toughie, comedy friend. Really research what you can play and if you have an agent ask them. You don't want to have "character expression" headshots but think about the how to make yourself look suitable for the types of roles.
If you have previous headshots bring them with you. we can look at which ones worked and which ones you feel didn't capture the look you wanted. If you've seen a particular look off the TV, film poster, etc please bring some images along and we can see if we can do some alongside your neutral ones.
Do you have a good or favourite side? I'd like to know as it will be a challenge for me to try and get a good one on the other side,
How much makeup shall I wear?
For actors, I recommend wearing your usual amount that you'd wear for an audition, Don't use eye shadow etc if you wouldn't usually wear that. Using a moisturiser will help both male and female skin.
Please don't fake tan, unless you are a real pro with it as it can look blotchy and it is very difficult to retouch. Fake lashes, especially very bold ones, generally look too heavy and close the eyes or even obstruct them. If you use mascara - then go sparingly and make sure it's not going to clog up as your eyes will be the "focus" point of your images and cloggy mascara will detract from them.
Does it matter what I wear on the bottom half?
Well, yes and no! For tighter headshots then no but if you are looking to get some wider mid-length shots, that are very popular, then yes. I generally recommend going for the coordinated look as far as possible. Obviously important if you are having a full Portfolio session.
Can I wear my glasses?
Of Course! Your head shots should look like you, However, if possible, please make sure they are anti-glare lenses as it is can be difficult to retouch some reflections.
The weather isn't great, can I get ready when I arrive?
Of course you can, I have power for straighteners/hair dryers/electric shavers etc. However, you don't want to eat into too much into the time available fro actually shooting you images..
It's better to come with your makeup and hair ready to go as we won't want to use any of our time doing that. You can do touch-ups in the studio, so bring makeup with you if you wear it so you can touch up throughout. I recommend for everyone, makeup wearing or not, to bring these essentials- lip balm and oil pads/de shiner powder and moisturiser .
Male clients are welcome to shave during the session although I usually I recommend booking my Deluxe package so we have more time but of course, I can make it work no matter which package you choose, we just may have to skip changes/looks to fit it in.
How many shots will you take?
For the Basic and Deluxe Headshot sessions, anything between 300 and 600! More for the Full Portfolio sessions and less for the Corporate Headshot sessions. I shoot a lot of images (2 every second) to make sure I've allowed for blinks and odd expressions. It sounds a lot, but I prefer to give you as much choice as possible.
How long do you keep my pictures?
I keep all shoots on file for at least a year.
Can I keep the unedited versions?
No - I'm afraid not.
Will you retouch my spots and skin?
Yes. My objective is to make your images as being the best version of yourself. So I remove all temporary blemishes, stray hairs, etc and especially those spots that appeared that morning - which always happens and is easy to retouch..
But anything that is permanent such as scars, birth marks, moles, freckles etc, I like to keep unless directed by you otherwise. I don't remove the texture from the skin by smoothing or airbrushing as the headshots should still look like you! I do lift the brightness levels of your skin and reduce shadow levels slightly so that any wrinkles are minimised a little but I don't remove them unless directed by you otherwise.
Can I shave half way through?
Yes of course, Your headshots are all about representing you in as many different ways as possible, to open up different casting options If you intend shaving off a really big beard then consider my Deluxe Headshots package as this will give you more time.
Can I alter my hair style during the shoot?
I always encourage actors to try as many variations in their hairstyle as is logistically possible during a headshots session. It's amazing how putting you hair up, sweeping long hair over or even giving yourself a ponytail can give you such a dramatic change in look. Your headshots are all about representing you in as many different ways as possible, to open up different casting ranges..
Will you show me the images as we go through the shoot?
Absolutely yes, I want your headshot session to be collaborative so we can work together to get images that represent the best version of you.. I want you to love the images, and the best person to know if we're getting it right is you. So yes, I will definitely show you the images throughout the shoot and you can give me your honest feedback! If somethings not working then I would rather you tell me than hate them afterwards!
This will be my first headshots photoshoot and I'm really nervous.
Please don't be,
When we get into the studio, you're welcome to have a coffee/tea/water etc and then we'll have a chat so that I can get a feel for the sort of shots you want. We will then go through tops and decide on the best ones together. I will also go through hairstyles and any makeup changes with you.
We will then get started on the shoot. !When you first sit down in front of a camera it can be a bit daunting but I will be giving you lots of tips and tricks to help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.. I will guide you throughout what to do with your eyes/ lips/face, I'll put you in different chairs and stools and even use a small desk and shift you around to change the lighting on you.
Just so you know, I talk a lot during headshot sessions - no awkward silences with me, so hopefully you will feel comfortable and relaxed all the way through the shoot.
What happens to the pics at the end ?
I go through all the images shot during your session and do a quick base edit for white balance and exposure. I then do a cull, taking out all duplicates, blinks and odd expressions, etc.
Within 24 hours of your shoot, I will upload these un-retouched images to a password-protected gallery on my website for you to select your favourites for me to fully retouch and photofinish. From Basic and Deluxe package shoots this will be a gallery of between 120 and 170 images, more from a full Portfolio session and less from a Corporate headshots session. All images will carry an unobtrusive image number so identifying them will be easy.
By all means share the link with your agent, family, friends, etc to help you decide which images to choose. Once you've let me know your selection I will then fully retouch them and upload them to a secure Dropbox folder where you can download them. I upload all your retouched images in colour and B&W at both high resolution (printable) and low resolution (optimised for social media use)..
Can I pay extra to get more pictures retouched?
Of course! Extra retouched photos are just £12.50 per additional image.
How do I pay?
Payment is cash on the day or bank transfer. I'm afraid I can't accept cheques..
How long will it take me to receive the final retouched images?
Please allow up to 7 days to receive your final headshots - however I normally aim get them to you within 2 to 3 days.
I hope I've answered some of your questions, but if you have any other questions please just email me and ask. When you book I will send you a PDF with some information and tips to help you get the best out of your headshots photoshoot..
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