Headshot vs Full Length

[rebekahamy]

I recently had some new photos taken which are about a zillion times better than my previous set so I'm really happy with them. However, I'm still waiting for my full disk (which I should be getting in just over a months time I think) and I have just received a few shots so far just to get an idea of the general look of them I think.

As much as I love the photos I've been sent so far, they are leaning more towards the modelling look rather than the acting look, and none of them are headshots. But an agency that I have been waiting to apply to for literally a year is holding auditions in a few weeks, and so my question is, would it be okay for me to apply to an agency (acting) using one of my full length photographs? Or would this be highly frowned upon?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks so much

[rebekahamy]

Also I forgot to say, the picture I'm thinking of sending is one where I am sitting down cross-legged, if that makes any difference!?

[pg]

How old are you rebekahamy?

I think agents are normally happy to receive non-professional (but clear) photos from young performers. However, if you are adult or nearly adult then they will be expecting a professional head shot in any submission.

In any case you do need to provide them with a photo where they can see your eyes really clearly. Are the photos you have sufficiently high resolution for you to zoom in and crop any of them?

If not then I would recommend at least getting someone to take a decent head and shoulder shot against a plain background . An outside shot against an indistinct background would probably be even better as you don't need to worry about lighting. Actors' headshots are all about communicating with the observer - they need to see what you look like - but you need to be looking through (not at) the camera lens.

It would be fine (and probably quite interesting) for the agent to have the one with you sitting cross-legged in addition to a headshot - but not instead, I don't think. If you know there are headshots in the batch that you have had taken - can you not ask the photographer to pick a couple and send them to you now? A month seems a long time to wait.

[Flosmom]

If you want to crop a photo into a headshot, try Pixlr. It's a free on-line photo editor, and quite easy to use.

Or just ask the photographer to get the other shots to you sooner!

Good luck

Deb x

[rebekahamy]

Thanks for your advice pg and Flosmum.

pg - I am over 18 but I am applying for the youth section of this particular agent (16 - 20)

Hm that is a good point about actors headshots needing to show you looking through the lense and not at it. I think my new photos may be slightly more looking 'at' the lense, but the problem is that in terms of what I actually look like (hair, make up, skin, smile, teeth etc) my new ones are SO much better. My old ones really don't look like me, I was wearing a slightly orange-y foundation which makes my skin look weird, my hair was unnaturally straight (I have finally given up the straighteners now ) and I look slightly uncomfortable and I'm not smiling. But I probably am looking through the lense more in those than in my new ones. Now I'm not sure which I should use.. Both are on my starnow page if you want to see what I mean

Flosmum - Thank you for suggesting that website, I will check it out. I think one is high enough quality to crop, the only problem is is that I'm weaing quite a distracting necklace in it, so I'm not sure it's really suitable for a headshot...

I would ask for the photos sooner, but I don't really want to bother/rush the photographer as he is really good and I know he works really hard!