Blog - Posts tagged ‘spotlight’
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.
Had a great shoot in the sunshine back in July with dancer Charlotte Humprey, mixing the soft natural feel of her girly side in the outdoor shots with some dramatic studio shots, playing with movement (and a bit of powder!) and then exploring the more commercial side with some vibrant fun shots with a sporty edge.
So back in the not so golden days of film cameras. A portrait session would generally consist of 36 or 72 photos (that’s one or two films) and after your session, a week or so later (depending on the development speed of the photographer) they would send you some lovely glossy contact sheets that would consist of all of your frames, often with ones marked that they like.
This wasn’t such a bad thing.
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!
Great session last week with Actress and Dancer Tasha Chance. Tasha bought a load of energy to the studio, was absolutely fab all afternoon, and gorgeous in front of the camera too.
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
Was a pleasure this week to be asked to shoot publicity portfolio for Dominic Harris, director of Cinimod Studio, who speacilise in the fusion of architecture and lighting design. Dominic’s passion for interactive art and lighting design has produced and built projects now found across the international art and architecture scene.
The ongoing work of Cinimod Studio is both visually stunning and technologically advanced. A dedication to research and development ensures that the studio stays abreast of the latest technologies and fabrication techniques. They are currently involved in several projects in both the UK and abroad, designing bespoke lighting products that are now in production. The photos are going to be used worldwide for all the continuous publicity that Dominic attracts with his visually stunning pieces of work. For more information, visit http://www.cinimodstudio.com/
Great portfolio session last week with actress and dancer Laura Louise Wells, It was a really enjoyable afternoon and the images we got are great… Thanks Laura!
As part of my on-going work with Lost Theatre Company I recently took some rehearsal and promo photos for the first in their spring season of three shows, Twelfth Night which opens 2nd March at their Stockwell Theatre, for more information, visit http://www.losttheatre.co.uk/
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
The background of your photo has more impact than people often give it credit. Subtle changes can have a huge influence on not only how you look, but also how people perceive you.
For example, if you take photo number 5 from above, set outdoors in a park, with a backdrop of soft green trees it immediately softens them so that they come across approachable, you also have to bare in mind that soft background are more neutral, especially in b&w and therefore less distracting.
Now take photo numbers 1,2 and 4, the same person but in an alleyway, the light is instantly different, with the darkness of the walls in 1 and 2 giving the face and body more definition with shadow, great for bringing out cheekbones, the catch lights in the eyes (the White reflections you see) will be more focused, and the brick or concrete around them will give them a stronger, more modern feel.
If you look at photo number 4, the lines of the alleyway descending behind him draw the eyes into the center of the frame, creating a focus point which is the face. In number 3, though the lighting is obviously more dramatic with the studio lighting set up being used, the background is dark and neutral and does not distract from the face, nor does it give any character to the picture.
In the picture above, you can see the background blurred in one and not the other, this is called Depth of Field (D.O.F), the shorter the D.O.F when you take a picture, the more blurred your background is, the aim of the background in a headshot is to aid and not distract, so generally the more blurred the better.
With colour photos being used more and more nowadays for casting shots, background plays an even bigger part. You have to think about distracting colours and even small things like litter can ruin a photo.
In the two photos above, you can see how a slight change of angle can prevent distracting items (in this case, it was a large industrial chimney) coming out of peoples heads, you want people to focus in on the eyes and bright lines through the head can deter from this.
If it’s a warm sunny day there may be distracting ‘hotspots’, bright patches of sun behind you, on the left photo above not only is this effecting the trees behind but the hair too, we solved it in this photo by moving slightly backwards and changing the angle to avoid bright objects behind.
There might be an orangey colour in the air if it is a warm sunny day, that would need to compensated for in the White balance to stop you having the face of an umpa lumpa in the final photos. The same goes for dull, grey days, you don’t want to look too pasty, and it is important on those days to get your white balance a bit warmer.
As a client, you should not be aware of these things during a session as they are the photographers problems, but you need to be aware when selecting photos to use for your promotional purposes, as anything that distracts away from the most important thing in the photo is bad (by the way, the most important thing is YOU!)
Here is a selection of headshots from this week, from left to right: Melissa Green, Christopher Dixon, Charlotte Sutherland, Nikki Bentley, Jaz Deol and Leanne Verey, a really great mix of people and a very fun week. Thanks guys!
I was delighted last summer when actor and director Robert Forknall commisioned me to visit him in Kent at his family estate and dairy farm, to capture a collection of portraits and headshots.
Just when I thought the shoot couln’t get any better, out came the puppies to wrap up a great day. Thanks Rob…
