Printing your Child Actor's Headshot

Back in the day, actors would always take an 8x10 headshot to every audition.  But with technology comes change and this is also true in the acting industry.  When my kids started acting, we printed one hundred copies of two or three different headshots.  We would order one hundred 8x10 prints of a commercial headshot, (the smiling headshot), and one hundred theatrical headshots (the serious, confident headshot) and then maybe fifty copies of an additional look...a personality headshot.  That is a lot of 8x10 prints.

However, these days, you could wallpaper an entire wall with those headshots because you just don't need that many hardcopy or 8x10 acting headshots.  In fact, now we print 15-25 headshots and that is more then enough.

Acting headshot

An acting headshot is always needed for the casting director as a reference.  However,  nowadays you will find more and more casting offices going green.  This means they do not require you to bring your hardcopy 8x10 acting headshot to the audition, (the paper headshot).   Instead they will use your online acting profile.  Your digital acting headshot or multiple headshots are posted online and accessible to the casting directors, the director, the producers and show runners or anyone who may need to see the actors headshot.

There are still some casting offices that will want you to bring your acting headshot in printed form to the audition, but you will not need to print hundreds of hard copy headshots any longer.   A good rule of thumb is to keep a few headshots in your car and always bring one to the audition.  It is better to have a headshot with you, in case they ask for one, then to be unprepared and unprofessional.  So do print some headshots, and do bring your headshot to the audition, but no need to go crazy printing so many acting headshots.

Acting headshot child

 

Acting headshot teenager

 Before you print your acting headshots, make sure they've been retouched.  Most headshot photographers will agree that a little post processing in the digital darkroom (aka photoshop) is needed to make your headshot look it's best.  That doesn't mean the headshot photographer is going to get rid of your moles and freckles, but they will do a light clean up of things like pimples, dark circles under the eyes and a general image clean up.  Once the headshot is retouched, then it can be posted online for your agent to use and you can also order 8x10 headshots.  The headshot will be printed with your name and a border.  You can usually order these online or if you live in Los Angeles, you can go to a headshot printer directly.  I like the Actors Photo Lab.   They offer both online and in person headshot orders.  And they can help you with the name set up, border and even ordering postcards of your acting headshots.

Acting headshot young child red hair

So you have gotten your acting headshots done by a professional headshot photographer, posted them online, and ordered your hard copy headshots.  So what's next?  Get out there, audition and book the job.

Robin Lorraine Photography shoots child model portfolios, kids headshots and teen headshots in North Hollywood at an all natural light studio.  Call Robin or Linda (assistant) @ tel. 213 . 247 . 5817 to book your child's photo session or visit my website.

HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER LOS ANGELES