Blog - Archive for the ‘Branding’ category
So our very good friends over at 10x8prints.com have just updated their website, and we love it, more importantly though, we love them. One of the most draining and tedious things about being a performer is the ordering, printing and inevitably, sending out of 10×8 prints, not only can they cost a fortune, but you dont usually get to keep them. However, they are one of your most important marketing tools, and one that may be the difference between you getting the job, or not. 10x8prints.com have nailed it. They are affordable and offer a great service (I have been using them for a couple of years now) and because they are not based in London, they can keep their costs down and pass the savings onto you, heres how they match up for 100 10×8 prints (taken from their website, Prices shown are taken 20th February 2012 from their respective websites – and include VAT. Most include postage.) They say.. “We’re based in a village near Aberdeen – we own our building so no rent – and thanks to the Scottish government, no rates. These two factors combined save us around £2,000 every month. That, coupled with the finest production software around means we can produce your prints quickly – and as time is money – that also adds to the low costs. We’ve found that most clients receive their prints the day after they’re posted – and to help ensure they are all sent 1st class recorded – though if you are in a real hurry you can upgrade to Special Delivery – which will get the prints to you by 1pm the following day (just order by 2pm)” So with distance not being an issue and the ease of ordering online, what are you waiting for? Visit their website at 10x8prints.com for more info… and get you face out there!
We had an old friend of Nicholas Dawkes Photography in the studio again at the end of 2011, Video DJ superstar Beatamaxx. Beatamaxx came in for a shoot back in 2010 for some press and promo shots, and we had the pleasure of working with him again to freshen up his portfolio…
If you dont know of Beatamaxx and his work, he creates some amazing live video mixing awesomeness around the world… mixing music and video that would blow your mind , you can check out his work at the link at the bottom. Check out Beatamaxx’s website at beatamaxx.tv or facebook and see some of the video greatness he creates…
Below is a few tips to think about when finding a photographer that is suited to you, If you have any other queries or questions, please leave a comment, hope they help! 1 Check their portfolio The first thing is a visual connection, the easiest thing as well because we can judge with our eyes. Does their work leap off the page and appeal to you? Bear in mind that a website may contain a photographers best work, but what about their everyday shoots… Are they posting on Facebook or twitter, do they have a blog? Try and see some other shots that aren’t neccesarily in the portfolio. 2 Less isn’t necessarily more Just because someone is offering a photo shoot at low cost, doesn’t necessarily mean they are good quality. It’s not always about uber expensive equipment, but if you are inexperienced or just tinker in your spare time, it may not produce the best results and may end up wasting your time. You need to consider what you are paying for, a shoot may only last a couple of hours, but when you add up all the time spent emailing, uploading and editing, it soon racks up and you need to make sure your photographer is willing to work for that. 3 Are their any hidden costs? It’s always worth checking what your shoot includes, are there any retouches included? How many? How much are extra? Will they be print res? Is VAT included? (not all photographers are VAT registered, ones that are means they are busy, but also means that 20% vat may be added to the costs. 4 Do they speak your language? With the web being such a vital tool nowadays, you can get a real feel for a person in the way they write their website or speak on the phone, having a connection with your photographer is key when it comes to not only being relaxed, but capturing a spark, so follow your gut instinct, You need to feel comfortable and able to take direction from them with ease, if they dont sit right, find someone that does. 5 Have you got a recommendation? With the world growing smaller by the day, the chances are that if you find a photographer that you like, someone you know will either have had photos with them or know about them, and this can be a vital tool to inform you about that person and the way they work. Recommendations are the best way to discover your photographer and their style, and potentially steer you away from any bad ones! 6 Are they local and accessible? Of coarse it is worth travelling to get the photos that are right for you, but also you want to be as relaxed as possible on the day of your shoot, there is no use travelling for hours and hours, as this is not only tiring but you may feel rushed if there is transport issues. If you are going to travel a distance, leave plenty of time, try and stay local the night before and ensure your photographer will be relaxed and give you plenty of time if things go wrong, or if you should need to gather yourself, do makeup etc when you arrive 7 What is going to happen after your shoot? Taking the photos is only part of the process, you need to be able to access your photos after the shoot and look through them easily and either choose retouches, or download them, or select favourites to help you narrow down the choices. Check with your photographer what their post-shoot process is, and how you will receive your shots. 8 Do you need plenty of time? How much time will you need in the day? If you are nervous or unsure in front of the camera, or don’t like to feel rushed you may need plenty of time to relax and take direction, if you are used to photo shoots, time may not be an issue, you may want to be in and out as quick as possible. So check how your chosen photographer works and how long their shoots are. 9. Is the time right for new headshots? Are you happy with the way you look now? Do you have a tan from holiday that may fade? Are you changing your hair? Are you planning on losing weight over the next few months? All of these things are important to ensuring that you look your best and that your photos arent made redundant within a couple of months. People will make judgements of you based on your photo, and therefore your headshot needs to represent you honestly, or you won’t get the job when you walk in looking different. 10. Are you prepared to use your new shots? Your headshots is your no 1 marketing tool, and they are not something you can afford to have done every month, so do you know what you want to do once you have your photos? Think about the various places that you will need to be updating them; C.V? spotlight? agents website? Casting websites? Do you need to organise for hard copies to be printed? All of these things can be thought about before your shoot so you are ready to get going and watch the jobs come rolling in! If you found this helpful, try reading some of my other posts here.
Picking the right clothes to show you at your best is always hard, the first place to start is where you want the photos to be seen, and what you want to portray.
If you feel that you would be cast as a typical English rose, or dashing English gent, you should look at classical and simple garments rather than hoodies and t-shirts, and if you are grisly looking bald 6’5″ male ( I hate to pidgeon hole, but) you’re not going to be cast as the romantic teen in high school musical.
When I was an actor, there was nothing I hated more than people pigeon holing, I wanted to be as versatile as I could and play every part, but the sad truth is that people have to put you in a box (see casting directors post) so as versatile as you are as a performer, you need to bear your natural casting in the back of your mind, this does’t mean you can’t stretch your casting a bit though…
Having a mixture of shots from your photo session is great, different tops to say different things, with the Internet at your disposal for publicity, it means you can have a web-page with 5 or 6 different photos on ( I wouldn’t recommend more) and they can all say different things, just through what you are wearing.
Black is great. On everyone. For headshots it brings the focus to your face and is flattering in every way (see photos 3 & 6 above). Shirts and v-neck t-shirts are great on guys, the great thing about having a slightly plunging neck line, is it elongates the neck and makes you look a little bit taller. high round neck tops can cut the head off, especially with darker colours, but they can make you look younger, especially with brighter colours like photo 2 , very good for those people blessed with a young playing age.
For females, it’s good to think of different periods, starting with something that has a classical feel, period drama almost, detailed and soft with small frills and buttons can give a strong sense of character, photos 3 and 6 are good examples of this, then think of something a bit more prim and proper, smart and simple (2) but not to revealing, simple dark v-necks (5) and cardigans, then try something a bit younger looking, strappy tops are always good for this kind of look (4) , but try and avoid thin straps as they can look like you are just wearing a bra when cropped! Then you can try something smart and older looking, like a nice blouse or shirt, giving almost a business feel like in picture 1.
Jackets are great, they can be worn over numerous tops to give different senses of character, when casting directors see your headshot, they like to see that you could play the role they are casting for. Take photo 1 for example, it is neutral in colour but gives a young funky look that would not look out of place on modern t.v. dramas, this is also apparent in number 2 and 3, its not right for Sense and Sensibility, but great for The Bill. Number 4,5 & 6 lye in the realms of 1940′s, 50′s and 60′s, giving that hint of character again that would otherwise be lacking.
Needless to say, that suit jackets on men will make them look older, and hoodies younger. Thinking about what works for you is essential, there is no use a 50 year old male wearing a hooded jumper, as most 50 year olds (that i know anyway) dont.
Collars do exactly the same as V-Necks and shirts they make the neck longer and bring focus into the face, so make sure you take a couple along to your session, they might not get used or be right, but whats the harm in taking them?
You need to feel comfortable in what you are wearing, there is no point borrowing a top from your friend the night before a session if it is going to make you feel uncomfortable. If you are in doubt, your photographer should be able to advise what will work with your look and skin-tone, and if you are in doubt and confused… take a suitcase!
Westbourne Studios where I am based is a thriving hub of businesses in the creative industries. One of those business is a branding and design firm called Grain, who recently commissioned me to do some new portraits for the launch of their newly developed website. For more information, visit their website www.graincreative.com
As part of the their Campaign ‘turn up he style, turn down the heat’, Global Cool asked us to photograph the steps of turning an old winter jumper in to an on trend piece. Who better to show us than Britains Next Top Model Judge and X factor Stylist Grace Woodward.
It was an honour and a privilege last week to shoot the promotional photos for Radio 1′s Comedy Dave and Dom’s Folk Band – Folkface. After an initial meet with the guys in the London studio, and a brief discussion involving farm animals, it was soon decided that the appropriate road to go down (or track in this case) was to shoot on location rather than in the studio. I settled on a dairy farm in Kent, focusing on the folk/festival feel. It was a hot day, dust and dirt was everywhere and the cows had a particularly evil glint in their eyes, but the shots turned out great never-the-less. Folkface were full of energy (and the occasional song!) and put their unique and extrovert twist on the shoot. The photos will be used to promote their summer tour and for use on the new website. For those of you that don’t know Folkface… Dave (aka David Vitty) is the UK’s first and only pioneer of the nose-flute. He plays it with a passion rarely seen. Dom (aka Domonic Byrne) plays a mean acoustic guitar and has just bought a new strap with which he’s very pleased, FolkFace are more than just a global success story. FolkFace are the past, the present and the future of music! Check out more at http://www.folkfacebook.com/ and get you tickets for the upcoming summer tour!!!
Some photos from a recent publicity shoot for director Leigh Tredgers energetic and provocative version of Henrik Ibsen’s ‘Peer Gynt’ at The Lost Theatre in Vauxhall (http://www.losttheatre.co.uk). A fantastic journey where we will meet seductive maidens, troll kings and ugly brats, visit insane asylums, spicy lands and misty heaths. The brief was the feeling out of place and the abnormal in a normal world, we had a great afternoon with the cast, despite getting some rather strange looks!
Thought I would give you all a sneak peak of my newly submitted Spotlight Advert for contacts 2011 book (http://www.contactshandbook.com) an essential guide to the industry for any Actors, Singers, Dancers and Performers.
Some recent photos taken for Sentiment-ltd.co.uk, Sentiment provide a service for all your memories, from life biographies, to video tributes and bespoke memory books, they are great at what they do, and have the means to tailor any project to your specific needs. To find out more, click the link above.
Had real fun with the whole team over at TOP10.com recently, shooting their re-branding photos and headshots for the new site as well as having a great time and seeing 40 brightly coloured balls being flung at me! They are the UK’s biggest comparison website for broadband and mobile phones, and basically make complicated things simple and enjoyable. They offer all the best deals and offers, useful tools and up to the minute news and reviews that you can’t find anywhere else on products and services that connect people and help you communicate. The shoot took place at there London office over two days, and was laid back and very enjoyable, definately in my TOP 10! For more info, visit http://top10.com
If you are an Actor, Singer, Dancer or Performer of any type in the arts, the start of a new year is the perfect chance to give yourself a kick-start and get yourself out there and be seen, but what are the best ways to do so?
Following up from my post last month on branding, I have listed below my top 10 tips for 2010 to give yourself the branding you need to make it a perfect year and get the jobs you need.
1 Photos – Of coarse this was going to be number 1 as it is what I deal with daily. Never under-estimate what a positive effect new photos can have for you, not only from a ‘fresh-start’ psychological point of view, but also giving people a fresh look at you. Your agent will be encouraged that they can re-market you and send your new photos out for break-downs that possibly the old ones weren’t right for.
2 Showreel – There is no excuse for actors to not have a showreel of some kind these days, the biggest problem is having enough quality material. Student films and short films are a great way to boost your content, although be aware that they can sometimes be disorganised productions and end up causing you more hassle than they are worth. Follow your gut instinct, and choose the ones that appeal to you and have a drive behind them. Shooting People – The independent filmakers network and similar sites are a good resource for casting breakdowns.
There are companies out thre that can edit your existing material together for a very reasonable price, there are also companies that will record scenes for you and edit them together, although pick carefully, as they can easily look cheap and can be pricey and not always the best choice. You can also upload any videos you have to sites like youtube and vimeo, which is great for people to be able to search for your work. For more tips on showreels, read my recent interview with picturebook showreel company HERE.
3 Website - A great way to have all your details in one place and be able to show people who you are. Website companies like Wix.com and Clikpic.com are cheap and easy to manage the galleries and C.V., add new pages and tailor a website to your needs. Its not as daunting and scary as you may think, nor does it have to be expensive. Check out my article on BRANDING YOURSELF to read more about websites and promotional material.
4 Write Letters – Grab yourself a copy of Contacts, or The Actors handbook which are great resources for knowing who’-who in the industry. Write to Casting directors of productions you admire, try and keep them personal instead of blanketing hundreds, you are more likely to get a response that way, and don’t be afraid to follow up with a phone call, it puts you in direct contact and you have a point of reference to discuss.
5 New Agent – If you are in a loveless relationship with your agent maybe it is time to move to pastures green. It can be a daunting thing in such a flooded industry, but with careful research into what agencies specialise in, you can find one to suit you, again, always try and personalise your applications too, find a name that you can write to, and even phone before writing to see if they are considering new clients, again, the Contacts Book, produced by Spotlight is an invaluable resource for listings of all agents. Read my interview with Agency Scott-Niven Associates to get an idea of what agents look for in new applicants HERE.
6 Networking - In an industry where a majority of work is generated by who you know, it is important to keep networking. Go to friends shows and film showings, introduce yourself to directors and producers, If you are a member of casting websites, they often advertise social meet-ups, don’t dismiss them, if nothing else, it is a good opportunity to meet other people in your position and discuss whats happening at the moment in the Industry. Write to old contacts and directors that you have worked with in the past, and above all, stay positive, it is a small world so try not to bad-mouth as you can nearly always guarantee it will backfire on you!
7 Watch New Theatre – Get along to the Royal Court, The Bush or any of the other great new writing venues to see whats about. A great way to get enthused about what you want to be doing and its always good to be able to talk about recent work and writers with new contacts.
8 Go Shopping – You should take the opportunity of the January sales to get some new clothes that are going to show you at your best, a couple of nice shirts or a dress that you can save for auditions and that are going to make you feel 100%. If you don’t feel positive when you walk through the door, you will not be able to make a good impression. Now is also a great time to get things like movement clothes, dance shoes, and books or plays that you may need. Keep reading… it will really help your confidence in the audition and rehearsal room when you can reference literature that relates to what you are doing.
9 Analyse yourself - Sit down and have a think about who you are and where you need to be heading in 2010. Ask yourself: What is my casting? What are my strong points as a performer? What are my weak-points? Where do I want to be this time next year? How can i achieve that? – You need to be honest with yourself and lay down a plan of action for the year.
10 Join Online Websites – Casting sites like Casting Call Pro and Castnet are two sites which are very popular when it comes to online casting breakdowns, but it is also worth considering sites and publications like PCR and The Stage are perfect for keeping on top of the industry and what is happening.
Dont let the industry get you down, it is one of the hardest in the world to work in, but you need to take every knock-back with a pinch of salt and look to friends and family for the much needed support you need to stay positive.
If you have any comments or ideas of how to promote yourself in 2010, please share in the comment box below, and Happy New Year!
This weeks interview is with Joe and Alice from Picturebook Showreels, Giving us the scoop on what will make you shine on your showreel. What exactly do you guys do at Picturebook? We create, edit and host showreels for actors and presenters – Picturebook creates sleek and impressive visual portfolios of the actor’s screen work. With our Picturebook Profile Pages we can host your showreel online on an individual and personalised webpage, complete with links to your CV, headshot and representation/contact details. It’s a easier to show you than to explain! Have a look – www.picturebook-showreels.co.uk/examples Why is it important for actors to have a showreel? Nowadays video showreels are becoming more and more important as a marketing tool. An increasing amount of casting directors, directors and producers will insist on seeing an actor’s showreel before considering getting them in for a meeting. Nearly all US casting directors work like this and have done for years. Within 2 minutes, any prospective employer can get an idea of your physical and emotional range, what better way to advertise yourself! How long should a showreel be? Good question. It’s dependent on a few factors but we generally recommend a showreel to be between 3-6 minutes. What can I do if I don’t have much material for my showreel? It’s never about quantity but quality. As long as you have one good, well lit scene we can create an effective showreel for you. We can create a short montage if necessary of 2-3 expressions, variants of physicality to grab the viewer’s attention and then edit the showreel to be a teaser of your talents. Does it all need to be broadcast TV and film work that I have done? No, not at all. As long as your screen work is well produced (good sound, picture and lighting quality) and the content is engaging then we can use it to market your talent. If I wanted to record my own material to put in, what are the best kind of scenes to use? We don’t recommend doing this unless you can ensure good lighting, picture and sound quality. A camcorder in your back garden does not market you professionally no matter how good you are. If you are able to film something well then consider finding and producing a contrasting piece of material to your current material ie A different accent, look or character. Your showreel is your opportunity to show your range as an actor. Is it best to show a whole range of emotions and characters, or keep it focused? It is useful to keep your strengths in mind when choosing scenes, you do want to present yourself in a somewhat commercial light – you will know from your headshot choices what you need to portray yourself as in order to get an audition, ie quirky, beautiful or intense. Which image sells you best? – Reflect that choice in your showreel scenes, however take the opportunity to show yourself differently after the initial commercial impression if you have the material. Can I have music on my showreel, if so what kind of music is best? A good, well-chosen piece of music can really add to your showreel. Every actor is different and so the music must reflect who you are as an actor. What about copyright on music? Is it all right to use mainstream music? Uniquely we have a pool of recording artists and signed producers who can create music to suit your showreel, so that’s our way round it! Mainstream music has to be cleared, that means you need to have permission to use it to avoid infringing copyright. Royalty Free music is available to use wherever and wherever you like so that’s also a good way round that issue. When I have my showreel, what’s the best way of getting it out for people to see? The Picturebook Profile Pages are a great way to get your showreel out there. A simple link sent via email, posted on websites and embedded in your CV means your showreel and all your information is only a click away. Should I send DVDs to casting directors? We offer a master DVD, along with extra copies of your showreel, all professionally packaged and finished, so you can pop them in the post at will. However we find the easier and more immediate option is to send your Picturebook Profile Page link via email or embedded in your CV. Is it possible to put stills photos and headshots on my showreel? Yes, if the photos are at a high resolution, a headshot at the start or end of showreel is a nice touch. How long does a showreel take to put together? We promise to have your showreel ready for you to view within 3 days of receiving your material. If we can show it to you before that we will. Whoever you choose to edit your showreel make sure you get the opportunity to view it and give notes for any changes you or your agent wants before sign off. It’s your showreel, we feel strongly that you should feel excited by it, – after all it’s your work! I’ve never had a showreel because I’ve thought it’s too expensive, is this true? Showreel companies’ prices vary but generally it is a very affordable way to get yourself an invaluable marketing tool. We at Picturebook are solely with Actors in mind and so offer a very actor friendly price of £120. Picturebook Profile Pages are £30 per annum which includes all headshot and CV updates and changes. Fancy seeing what we do? Visit us at www.picturebook-showreels.co.uk or drop us a line at info@picturebook-showreels.co.uk
Needless to say, the headshot is a must for every actor or actress wishing to be seen, but also for dancers and singers too, without a decent headshot you won’t be able to be seen as ‘professional’, but what else can you use?
The price of printing has plummeted recently, with companies competing with each others services, the price of getting 10×8 inch headshots printed is half the price it used to be, but other services are equally as cheap.
For the purpose of this post i have posted fictional material for Actor and Model Henry Dyson.
Do you have a business card for starters? The price of cards is so minimal it’s rediculous for you not to. How many times do you meet people in the industry day to day? Freinds of freinds, people on jobs, it doesn’t matter who they are, and doesn’t matter if they are not a casting director themselves, if you can hand over your card it will jog their memory of you, and may lead to them recommending you to someone in need of an actor. Companies like Vistaprint offer free cards and you pay for the postage, good for someone on a budget.
You need to think of yourself as a product. Doesn’t sound like a nice thing, but the fact that people want to spend money on YOU, makes you one.
This is where other material comes in too, how about simple postcards with you headshot on the front and contact details on the back, or even additional photos. You can use them when you go for a casting, a simple reminder of you, small and concise.
Models and Dancers have z-cards, a similar thing, an A5 (half the size of a price of A4) card that will usually have a collection of 3-4 contrasting photos on the front of them in different envoironments/outfits, that allows prospective employers to get a feel for them and acts as a calling card. Why not the same for actors?
For many a website is a daunting idea, the development, maintenance and content scares people, but why would you not use the most available tool in the world, the Internet! There are fantastic casting websites out there that allow you to create your own profile, I guarantee that if you are on a site like casting call pro, and I google your name (let’s say ‘Joe Bloggs Actor) your profile will come up top of google, maybe even higher on the listings than if you had your own website, because they are well listed and get constant traffic. A friend of mine who is an actor, set up a website just last week for just £60 with his own name as the web address, and multiple galleries, an about me page and his c.v. on Wix.com. You would be mad not to take up offers of website like these.
It is so easy for people to click on to and profile pages to link to your website, and like the business card, it is a tool that can be put out there and you never know who will find it!
For content like video and show-reels, there are sites like YouTube and Vimeo where you can even create your own channel, upload clips, show-reel material and other promo material and send it out as part of your ‘calling card’ package.
Try adding a signature to the bottom of your emails if you haven’t already, it’s very simple to do in your email settings, allowing you to list your name/number/web-links etc at the bottom of every email.
The web is such an amazing tool for pulling all of your resources into one place. The industry is changing slowly, with so many young performers coming through every year it is impossible to cast people on their extensive C.V’s, it has to be about you, people should be able to get a feel for your personality and why you are unique.
Some things to remember with regards to your branding…
- Try and link all of your web resources to one place (spotlight link, YouTube, casting website profiles, agents website, flickr, facebook, twitter) and keep them updated constantly with relevant information that proves you are a human (keep it clean!)
- Try and keep your branding similar, if you choose to get postcards printed think about how the design could match your business card and website, just look at the examples above.
- Keep it all simple!
If you believe what they say about 90% of the industry being luck, then why not increase your chances, having the promotional tools above can do just that, if you really want to win the lottery, you would buy more than one ticket right?
