What makes a great headshot?

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by: davidmcmillan932
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Word Count: 699
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 Time: 2:11 AM

As I see it, headshots are good and bad. During a shoot, for every good image you take, you'll have had 50 before and after that didn't look quite right. The contact sheet of 500-1000 or so images might only contain 100 images worth looking at, and only 20 you can honestly use. From which 20 you would get a realistic ten images.

But what are you looking for in that image? What makes that headshot stand out?

It's obviously a combination of factors-the lighting has to be perfect and well suited to the mood you're trying to create, and the area you've picked to shoot in plays a massive role (Even though it'll be blurry beyond recognition), and the clothes you wear and the way you style your hair or makeup is hugely important, but one is more important than all the rest put together. It's the number uno that will sell your headshot even if all the other elements fail. I'm talking about the facial expression.

In a headshot, the facial expression trumps all. It's the clincher, the closer, the final-sale, and it's the only thing you, as a subject, are responsible for. Sure, the photographer can direct you-and he should-but until he sees what your face is capable of producing, he can't do anything with it. It's up to you to show him what you can do and then work with him to refine it until it's perfect.

It's quite obvious when you think about it, but so many other photographers seem to overlook how important it is to have the right facial expression. I'm not talking about one that just makes you look good, I mean one that works for, and only for the role you're going for. One that tells the casting director everything he needs to know about your suitability for the role.

Often, two headshots in the same clothes, with the same light look completely different; it's all down to the facial expression.

I could go on about this for days-your facial expression should suit the role you're going for. So before you start shooting, take a look at the list of characters you'll be creating on the session-day and get into those characters. Think about their motivations, their history, what makes them tick, and how they'd perceive the world around them, and how they'd react to it. In other words, do everything you'd have to do if you were playing that character for real. With all that in mind, you can walk into your session and create believable headshots that will get you jobs.

In the attached picture, Tim needed some "brideshead revisited" style images, because period dramas were what he tended to go for. Look at his expression in that image. He looks like he could be arrogant, inquisitive, aloof, intelligent, slippery-All things that came out of the session. He sold that look perfectly. It says so more than if he's have just blankly stared into the camera. He nailed the image because he took on the role in the split second I took to press the shutter. The result in a picture that will hopefully get him work time and again.

The photographer will work with you to image those looks and to tweak them, but spend some time doing them in the mirror in the days before the shoot. In acting, you're lucky to have a narrative, movement, lines, suspension of disbelief, all contributing to create a believable atmosphere. In a headshot, all you have is you, and the main thing that will sell your image is your look. It's a split second in time that is frozen for anyone to study in minute detail. You have to nail it!

If you're doing a basic spotlight/castingcallpro profile headshot, then oh boy! you've now gotta nail every variable single headshot! Luckily, in those headshots, just looking good will do. In this update, we're talking about single, purpose-shot casting images.

So in summary, the thing that makes a good headshot is YOU. Practice your expressions. Don't caricature, be believable.

Good luck!