Actress Headshot Session Preparation
(Specific to Ivy Van Wormer)
Before Your Session
Makeup
Keep makeup relatively light and natural. Matte makeup generally photographs better than anything particularly glossy or reflective. You should look polished, but still look like yourself.
Wardrobe
Bring changes of clothes. This is absolutely encouraged.
Think about clothing that might suggest different sides of your casting range without becoming a costume. Different necklines, jackets, sweaters, casual clothes, professional clothes, and different colors can all change the feeling of a headshot considerably.
Layers are always great, but aren’t mandatory.
Try to avoid clothing with large logos, distracting graphics, or patterns that overpower your face.
Hydration
Drink plenty of water leading up to the session, particularly the day before and the day of the shoot.
A Few Things I Want You to Think About
Before the session, send me some thoughts about the following. There are no right answers. I am using this information to understand what we should be trying to capture.
1. What are you going after right now?
Are there any specific roles you are actively pursuing?
Tell me:
What is the role?
What kind of character is it?
Do you think it fits you?
Is this the kind of role where you feel like you could walk into the room and absolutely knock it out of the park?
If you have a casting notice, character description, sides, or other information about the role, feel free to send it to me.
2. What do you want next?
Give me two other types of roles you would like to start getting sooner rather than later.
They do not have to be roles you are currently auditioning for. Think about the kinds of characters you want someone to look at your headshot and immediately think you could play.
3. Let's make you a villain.
If somebody cast you as a villain, what kind of villain would you want to play?
Not just "the bad guy." Think about the personality.
Cold and calculating? Charming but dangerous? Completely unhinged? Powerful and intimidating? Quietly threatening? Someone the audience initially trusts?
Tell me the kind of villain you would have fun playing.
4. It won’t be limited to the above three.
This is all just a starting point for range, we will branch out from there.
Your Homework
Between now and the session, whenever you happen to stop in front of a mirror, take a moment to practice a few different looks.
This does not need to become a long exercise. Don't stand there rehearsing expressions for twenty minutes. Just give yourself a few seconds.
Try things like:
Approachable and open
Confident
Serious
Skeptical
Amused
Vulnerable
Intense
Slightly dangerous
"I know something you don't know"
Pay attention to how little you actually need to change.
A headshot is mostly in the eyes. Often the difference between warm, intimidating, confident, suspicious, funny, or vulnerable is much smaller than people expect.
The point is not to memorize facial expressions. It is simply to become aware of what your face does when you shift your intention.
When we shoot, I will help direct you through that process. This homework just gives us a little more vocabulary to work with when you get in front of the camera.
Looking forward to working with you,
- Joshua Hubbell
