ACTOR HEADSHOTS : PART 4 : HEADSHOTS PRINTING OPTIONS
DISCLAIMER: All opinions expressed here are strictly my own and have also been known to change over time. I am a work-in-progress. I do not consider myself an expert at anything or necessarily uniquely qualified to provide advice (if given) that may be helpful to you. But advice, when given, is intended only for a positive purpose. All readers are encouraged to always inform themselves in greater detail and make up their own minds with regards to anything I might write. To get a better idea of where I’m coming from, see my “about me” blog entry.
Headshots Advice:
Some things every model & actor should know about headshots
Reprinting or duplication without permission is prohibited. © Zero Dean
Also found in the resources section at www.zerotopia.com and my blog, www.actorphotographer.com
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I would like to give special thanks and credit to Hollywood casting direction, Bonnie Gillespie, for inspiring this article as well as her generous sharing of information. For more headshots related goodness, please be sure to see her headshots columns at Showfax, including, “Bad Headshots, Good Headshots” and “Bad Headshots, Good Headshots II” as well as our headshots related Q&A blog exchange on MySpace.
ACTOR HEADSHOTS : PART 4 : HEADSHOTS PRINTING OPTIONS
Color headshots or black &white?
Color headshots are in, B&W headshots are out. If you shoot with a digital photographer, it’s easy to get both color and black & white if you prefer the option.
Although black & white shots resulting from digital images do not mimick the exposure of black & white film, the results can be very good depending upon how the digital image is processed. Simply “desaturating” a color image is often the worst way to convert color images to black & white.
Headshots with borders or no borders (”full bleed”)?
Headshots with borders are currently most common. However headshots without borders (called “full bleed”) are acceptable, though some people consider them “tacky” looking. However, some photos may actually look better without borders.
In the end, it’s a personal preference so you should do whatever it is that you think presents your headshot in the best possible light.
If a casting director disregards your headshot, it won’t be because of your borders (or lack thereof). If you have the look that the casting director is seeking, then you’ll get called in whether your headshot has borders or not.
So if you like headshots with borders, get headshots with borders. If you like headshots without borders, get headshots without borders.
Horizontal or vertical headshots?
This refers to headshots taken in “portrait” or “landscape” orientation. Currently headshots in both orientations are acceptable. As with borders, if a casting director thinks your look is right for the part, you’ll get called in, regardless of whether your headshot is in vertical or horizontal format.
Some people believe that headshots taken in horizontal (landscape) orientation tend to look for “cinematic”.
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