How to choose a headshot photographer in Orlando, FL
There are many acting headshot photographers in Orlando, Florida.
How do you know which photographer is right for you?
To find the right headshot photographer for your needs, follow these few ideas and you can be sure the photographer you’ve chosen will work for what you need out of your acting headshots.
The best way to find a good headshot photographer is to ask for referrals.
Look at your actor friends’ headshots. Make a list of your favorites, and ask your friends to connect you to the photographers who took the shots. Take the opportunity to also ask your friends what their shoots were like and if they enjoyed working with the photographer.
Are you signed with an agency? Those agencies know which headshot photographers will do well enough to get audition opportunities for you. Ask your agency for their resources list, or direct links to reputable photographers in your area. Sometimes, an agency may refer you to someone who is a few hours away from your home. Headshots for actors are so specific, that it is worth making a trip to see the right person.
Do you have an acting coach? Your coach should have partnerships, referrals, and good recommendations for you. Your coach knows what your goals are as an actor, and can direct you to someone who can provide those specific needs.
It might be tempting to have a friend with a camera take your headshot (or worse, take some selfies). Your friend might photograph great landscapes, but a good general photographer is not necessarily a good acting headshot photographer. Headshot photography is all about capturing essence and expression. When your headshot’s quality directly reflects on your professionalism, it’s essential to get it right. Many headshot photographers offer free consultations. Take the time to schedule one and ask the right questions before moving forward.
These are some of the best questions to ask a headshot photographer:
Do you have a portfolio of your past work?
What are your rates? What’s included in your rate?
Do you shoot indoors or outdoors?
How many looks does your session include?
How long is a session?
Do you recommend anyone for makeup, hair, retouching?
2. Know your goals regarding your acting headshots.
Are you a theater actor? Film and TV? Commercial? Or do you do a combination of these styles of acting?
Commercial headshots are very different than headshots for film and TV, or for theater actors. Make sure your acting headshot photographer understands how to shoot in a way that will help you shine in the areas that you are going for.
For instance, commercial headshots have to be bright, friendly, well-lit, crisp, and need important details like eyes that pop, the right outfits, composition, and backgrounds that are neutral and easy-going. If a photographer only has dramatic headshots in their portfolio, you may want to keep looking for someone that can specialize in commercial headshots.
On the other hand, if a photographer in Orlando only tends to shoot commercial looks, and you need dramatic or character shots for TV auditions, keep looking for someone who matches a Los Angeles Headshot Photographer’s work.
Sometimes you can find an actor photographer who understands how to craft headshots that will work in each category.
Here are some examples of one actor who needed 4 distinct looks for their agency -
a strong commercial headshot
a more serious look for film
a character shot for sit-com style TV series’
a theater look for her work on the stage
You will notice how different each type of headshot is - make sure your headshot photographer can do the type of headshots that you need.
This photo is great for commercial headshots with a friendly expression, youthful outfit, and great lighting.
This look is for TV shows like NCIS, films where she would play a powerful role, or in this case, Chicago Fire (in which she was cast!)
This headshot is designed to help her get roles in comedic TV series, or light-hearted films as a student type or nerdy girl.
This theater actor headshot can be used for programs, playbills, and auditions. This headshot could also work for film or TV work.
3. Find someone whose headshot work aligns with your budget …but remember your ultimate goals.
As the saying goes, “The cheap comes out expensive.” This is because if you go with the cheapest photographer you can find, their work may not ultimately work for you, and your agency may ask you to have your headshots re-done by someone else. Those cheap headshots just got a whole lot more expensive.
On the other hand, just because a photographer charges a lot for headshots doesn’t mean they are the right fit for your needs!
Your ultimate goal as an actor is to get paying work in the field of acting. Headshots are an investment in your future, not just pretty pictures of yourself.
Before you decide what your budget is, do your research to see what options are available to you. Then, if the photographer you prefer is a bit out of reach, you still have a few choices:
Call the photographer to see if they partner with any coaches (often a photographer may provide discounted sessions when they are referred by one of their partners). If they don’t currently partner with your coach or agency, ask if they would be willing to be introduced to your coach or agency to discuss a possible partnership.
Simply put - save up! If you have to wait a couple of months before getting the headshots that are correct for your needs, it’s worth waiting and saving. Remember - the goal of these headshots is to pay you back many times over. It’s worth it to get the right images from the get-go.
Ask your photographer if they ever do promotions, or, may be willing to do a smaller photo shoot for a discount. For instance, you may be able to get a mini session that only yields 1 headshot for less than a full session. It never hurts to ask!
Headshots that look cheap will make YOU look unprofessional, making it difficult to get called for an audition. The quality of your headshots is a direct reflection of how serious you are about acting. Don’t make the mistake of prioritizing cost over quality.
Do your research on any prospective headshot photographer. Look at their website and browse galleries of their past work. Before committing to a session, have a conversation to make sure you have compatible visions for the final product.
3. Look for consistency in the photographer’s work.
Keeping in mind that actors may need commercial headshots, theatrical headshots, character headshots (or all of the above), make sure the photographer’s work is consistently professional.
Does their portfolio have professional lighting that works for each type?
How does the photographer compose their headshots? Do they have a “good eye” for what the industry demands?
Does the photographer seem to have their actors come in good outfits, with good hair and makeup consistently? It is part of the acting headshot photographer’s job to direct their clients to bring the right clothing for their goals.
A photographer should be guiding their acting clients into expressions and poses that work for the type. Do the photos look confident and appropriate, or are there awkward poses and expressions that don’t “sell” in their portfolio?
A commercial headshot should feel so kind, confident, and open, that you can just feel that these actors have nothing to hide and will do a great job selling your product. The face should be straight-on (or mostly straight on), the eyes should be bright, and the smile real. A photographer should be able to interact with you in a way that helps you bring out your best self.
A theatrical headshot for film and TV should be engaging, mostly serious, but not in a way that feels mean-spirited or is off-putting.
This actor’s commercial look is kind and confident. His outfit is perfect for commercial work, and the background is not distracting, but also not boring.
This leading-lady look is designed specifically for film and TV auditions. Her expression is intense, but not scary or mean-feeling. She draws you in with a feminine pose, semi-serious smile, and great eye contact. Your photographer should know how to draw all of these qualities from you during your acting headshot session.
4. Read Google reviews
A photographer with little to no reviews online may be a red flag - especially if they aren’t known by your coach or agency.
When you read the reviews, look for clues on how the experience with the headshot photographer was. Of course, not every client will talk about these specific things, but hopefully you can get a sense of what is was LIKE to work with the photographer.
Did the client feel comfortable working with them?
Did the actor have confidence in them? (Did they know what they were doing?)
How did the photographer make the actor feel?
Did the photographer provide good direction during session?
Did the photographer help them plan / prepare?
If the actor used a professional hair and makeup artist during the session, how did they do?
Also, look for comments on the finished product.
Were the headshots what they needed?
How did their agency feel about their new images?
And lastly, see if you can read anything regarding timing of delivery and professionalism. Unfortunately, many acting headshot photographers in Orlando can take weeks to get your proofs to you.
How timely was the delivery of the headshots?
Did the photographer act professionally throughout the whole process? Did they communicate well, start on time, and provide adequate information for the actor?
Remember that sometimes a client may not have a perfect experience. If someone gives a less-than-perfect review about a photographer, but the overwhelming majority of clients had a wonderful experience, you may need to reject the comment and review as applicable.
The client may not have prepared how they were supposed to and so the images didn’t turn out.
The client may not have communicated what they needed, so the headshot didn’t work for their needs ultimately.
And sometimes people are just hard to please or may have had unrealistic expectations.
(for instance, someone may require that their images be dramatically Photoshopped to remove all wrinkles. This is not what the industry wants, and would yield a bad result according to agency requirements).
Do you feel ready to do some research and find the best Acting Headshot Photographer in Orlando that will meet your needs?
Here are some great places to get started! Each photographer has a unique style and specializes in actor headshots. See which style speaks most to you and enjoy getting a new set of images for your career as an actor.
Eldeen Annette Headshots - I specialize in commercial (designed for Florida commercial actors), film/TV headshots (LA style), and theater headshots
However - I realize you may need another type of headshot photographer, and that’s ok! Here are some other photographers in the Orlando area to consider: