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Highly Effective Headshots
With 20 years experience as an actor & director in both film and stage I bring a uniquely informed vision to crafting your headshot. Using techniques learned in the Eric Morris Actor's Studio as well as the knowledge I gained working in Mali Finn's casting office I work with each actor as an individual to create organic, truthful & marketable headshots.
It's not about looking cool or hot or comical or crazy... it's about capturing your unique qualities in a way that communicates who you are as a performer and getting you called in for those parts for which you are most likely to be cast. It's about compelling closeness and shared experience. It's about you.
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How We Work Together
Each session begins with conversation. About your work, goals, dreams, Mom, whatever you want to talk about... (hey, I get it – I have a mom too!). When we have a sense of mutual trust and direction I'll set up lights, etc. to help accentuate that emotional life and we'll begin shooting. Our conversation will continue throughout the shoot as we explore your different places of truth and a variety of organic "looks" will flow from this reality. We'll take a few breaks as necessary for me to re-light as our needs dictate and we'll talk about what's working and where we want to go. I'll also be using many of the acting/directing techniques I've learned over the years to help stimulate the different kinds of emotional life you are seeking in your photographs.
After your shoot I will post your photographs in a private, online gallery for viewing by you, your agent, your manager or whoever else you give your super-secret password to. You'll also get a link to download "print-ready" versions for your printer and "web-ready" versions for the sites you submit through, as well as for your own web site. Damn, that's easy!
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Working in Casting
My first experience in Mali Finn's casting office was talking to Mali about my headshot. She told me "It looks great, I bet you'll spend a lot of time auditioning but not get much work." She said that the photograph physically looked like me but didn't capture my true personality. (I look like a leading man but I'm really a dork...). After a year of 8 to 12 auditions a week for leading man roles and only booking a few jobs I understood exactly what she meant... It's not about making yourself look perfect. It's about finding the real you, whatever that is, and taking a great photograph that captures that reality.
Good casting directors have a talent for seeing that reality – but they have a greater talent for recognizing when an actor is misrepresenting themselves. And they don't like it. Not at all. But don't worry! I've seen enough auditions to recognize when truth is slipping away and I won't let that happen! We'll make sure we take great photographs that help with our goal of getting you called in for those parts for which you are most likely to be cast.
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Booking Your Shoot – The Price of Fame
So here's how it works. I typically shoot headshots only 1 or 2 days a week because I have a pretty busy commercial/business photography schedule. (I'd love to shoot actors all day, every day but my commercial rates are much higher and I gotta feed the family!) When available I book in 3 hour sessions on these days and times:
Monday-Friday & Sunday at 10am or 2pm
Cost for each 3 hour session is $375.00, due at the beginning of the session, and I accept the major credit cards. Hair & makeup are not included... see below why I don't think they are even necessary. I realize it's a chunk of change but it's heavily discounted from my corporate headshot rates and is definitely the most important marketing tool for your career. And hey, even if you only use them for a year it'll end up costing less than your cellphone bill!
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Questions & Answers
Q: How many sessions do I need to book?
A: 99.9% of you will only need 1 session to get great shots so don't stress it!
Q: How many 'looks' do I get?
A: I don't shoot 'looks', I shoot people in an organic flow.. moment to moment (you know, like when you're acting).
Q: Well then what about variety?
A: People are full of variety, contradicitons and emotions. We'll work for truth and the rest (lighting, angles, etc.) takes care of itself.
Q: I hear about all these 'natural light' photographers... why do you use all these expensive, high-quality lights when you could just use the sun?
A: How many films/tv shows that you want to be in use all 'natural light'? (sorry, answered a question with a question!)
Q: Why do you shoot so close up?
A: Because you're beautiful! And also because everything you need to communicate your 'you-ness' is wobbling around on top of your neck (you know, your 'head', as in 'head'shot). In a stack of 10,000 three-quarter & medium shots your headshot will stand out. (That's a good thing!) And also because when a casting director is viewing web pages full of thumbnail size headshots yours will not look so small. (Another good thing!)
Q: So I understand why you shoot so close up but I'm ripped/stacked or a character actor that wants to market my physique. How will you deal with that?
A: Just let me know at the beginning of the shoot if you have specific needs and we'll make sure we get those shots too!
Q: Do you offer hair and makeup services?
A: I strongly discourage actors from heavy make-up and perfect hair-styling prior to a headshot session. There is no way you will show up at an audition after working all night or drinking all night or doing god-knows-what all night (you pervert!) and have your hair and make-up match that headshot. So why put yourself at a disadvantage from the beginnning of your audition by making the casting directors believe you're misrepresenting yourself? Having said that, if you absolutely can't live without professional hair & makeup I will bring my favorite pro in. It'll be an extra $150.00 for a single session and they do a great job, but....
Q: Color or Black & White?
A: I shoot both so it's entirely up to you. Color seems to be the current standard but I got tons of auditions with my Black & White headshot so maybe looking like everyone else isn't the best thing? (hint, hint....)
Q: Do your headshots work?
A: Feedback from my actors has been positive across the board. Many express hesitance in the beginning because my style is a little different but when they start auditioning a lot more it all kinda makes sense.
Q: You didn't answer my specific questions. Where can I learn more?
A: Contact me. I don't bite.
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