Are you an aspiring or professional actor seeking expert guidance on how to prepare and what to wear for your outdoor headshot? Here’s the best guide for outdoor actor headshots.
As a professional portrait and headshot photographer, I have captured and delivered well-lit and professional-looking headshots for several businessmen, actors, and realtors.
Having worked with several people, including actors, I’m going to share with you the best approach to getting a good headshot. I will provide professional headshot tips and ideas on background, poses, dresses, grooming, and everything else required for great actor headshots. So keep reading!
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What are acting Headshots? what to wear, how to pose
Should I wear shoes for actor headshot?
Yes. Although the photographer will only capture your face in the frame, wearing shoes will help protect your feet. But you don’t have to wear shoes if your acting headshot is being captured in the comfort of your home.
How to prepare and plan for outdoor actor headshots?
An outdoor setting can be a great location for acting headshots. It features natural light, which the photographer can complement with an artificial studio strobe to create high-quality, professional-looking headshots.
Nonetheless, you must take time to prepare and plan for the session if you want your final headshot to be how you might have envisioned it. Without anymore hesitation, here’s a step-by-step expert guide to help you prepare for your outdoor headshot session:
1. Find the cost of acting headshots in your area
First and foremost, find out the cost of acting headshots in your neighborhood or area.
Actor headshots can cost anywhere between $50 and $1500 per image, depending on the photographer, your location, and the package.
Many headshot photographers charge separately for headshot retouching, fast delivery, and bookings. This implies that you will pay additional fees if you want your headshot to be edited or processed faster.
Hence, when researching prices, remember to check a) retouching fees, b) session fees, and c) fast-processing fees.
Portrait photography aims at capturing the personality, character, and emotions. It can either be candid or artistic. Portrait photography requires more than just the ability to understand your camera settings, lighting, and composition.
You must also possess the ability to connect with your subjects and capture their unique qualities. So, it is a difficult but rewarding genre of photography.
Click Below to read a comprehensive guide to learning and mastering the art of portrait photography.
Retouching fees cover the cost of editing your headshots while fast-processing fees will make the photographer deliver the final image in fewer days. Session fees, on the other hand, cover the time spent shooting you.
You may be asked to pay an additional $30 or $50 per image if you need retouching and between $10 to $15 per picture if you want your headshots to be delivered in fewer days. Regarding session fees photographers typically charge between $300 and $500 per hour.
You can go through the article below to learn more about the costs of headshots and how you can do it yourself if you want to save money.
How Much Do Headshots Cost in the US? How to save money? DIY tips
2. Location scouting and background
Next, look for a suitable outdoor location with a simple natural backdrop for the outdoor acting headshot session. You can use any place with good lighting and minimal distractions for outdoor actor headshots.
The background is the most important thing to consider when choosing an outdoor location for your on-set headshot.
The best type of environmental background for acting headshots is one with simple patterns and neutral colors that don’t clash with clothing or skin tone.
3. Grooming and styling
Be sure to check and take care of some basic grooming tasks a day or two before the shoot. Get a fresh haircut, if necessary.
You may also need to trim your beards, eyebrows, and mustaches and cut your nails. Similarly, you may also need to iron and press your cloth before the day.
These might seem out of the line, but they will help improve your headshots and make editing significantly easy.
4. Weather and timing
One of the disadvantages of having your acting headshot taken outside is that you will be at the mercy of the weather.
For the best results, study the weather forecast and schedule the session on a day with a clear and bright sky. Avoid rainy or excessively windy days, as the sky would be cloudy, resulting in low-quality headshots.
Regarding timing, the magic or golden hours is the best time for outdoor headshot photography. The golden hour is characterized by soft, warm natural light, which can help create flattering and natural-looking portraits.
5. Practice poses and facial expressions beforehand
Since most of our communications as human beings are non-verbal, I suggest you take the time to learn how to express yourself or showcase your personality using your eyes, mouth, and eyebrows.
The best headshots are those that convey a sense of confidence, emotions, and openness. So, you need to learn how to pose your neck and head and focus your eyes on the camera before the day. This will help ensure you get the best actor headshot.
6. Book the photographer early
Finally, consider booking the acting headshot photographer at least 14 days before your desired session date. You can decide to have a free or paid consultation with the photographer to see if they’re a great fit before making the final booking.
What to wear for outdoor actor headshots?
A good rule of thumb is to dress the way you would for an important meeting in your industry. Therefore, for acting headshots, it’s best to choose fitting and comfortable outfits.
You can consider gray, black, or dark blue suits and tuxedos that will be comfortable and complement your skin tone. Alternatively, you can consider brown, black, or light blue jackets for the headshots.
Many subjects always ask me how they can determine the best outfits for their headshot. I always encourage them to explore the online portfolios of popular actors like Tom Cruise, Kevin Hart, Chris Hemsworth, Jackie Chan, Dwayne Johnson, and Chris Evans.
Look for common elements in their headshots and plan your outfit accordingly. Ultimately, wear an outfit that reflects your character and the role you want to play in the movie. This can help casting directors visualize you in those roles and hire you for the project.
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Professional tips and ideas for outdoor actor headshots
Here are some professional and general tips for outdoor actor headshots:
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast.
- Pose your sweet side or favorite angle.
- Tailor the headshot for the acting role you are aiming for.
- Negotiate with the photographer.
- Try different outfits and poses.
- Be positive-minded.