3 steps to an incredible headshot
By: Erica Arvold
The keys to an amazing headshot are as simple as…one, two, three.
The eyes are the first place one looks when seeing a photo. So, to keep your eyes alive when you are being photographed, look through the lens at the person behind the camera. Make sure you are thinking of something specific that makes that person on the other side of the lens feel something…this will draw the audience in. It’s the opposite of the thought “oh my picture is being taken now, I’m going to [insert emotion here]” (which you do NOT want to do).
The mouth is the second place one looks when seeing a photo. Make sure you’re not holding tension in your face which can lead to pursed lips or a tight upper lip. A natural relaxed mouth, in a smile or not…is what brings an emotion to the audience (peace instead of stress).
The hair is the third place one looks when seeing a photo. Make sure your hair is a contrasting color to your background. In other words, do not have dark hair with a dark background, the viewer won’t be able to see where your hair ends and where the background begins, and it’ll look kind like your face is protruding from a black hole. The same concept applies to any hair and background color matching. Also, if your hair is naturally curly and you work with this look a lot (or would like to), don’t decide to straighten your hair for photos…look like yourself.
Headshots are not family portraits, publicity shots, or work/school/business photography. They are specifically for actors and screen artists, head on (two ears visible, or would be visible if hair was pulled back), chin parallel to the ground and eyes looking straight into the lens of the camera.
Have a question about how to handle or approach your creative career conundrum? It’s what you CAN do, not what you shouldn’t do that I love writing about. Email aws@arvold.com and we’ll do our best to tackle it with you!