Headshot investment.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and let's chat about the big fat elephant who stomps through the room of our mind whenever we think about investing in our acting careers.
Yep, it happens to almost ALL of us. The little knot in our stomach of being a bit tight on money and missing out on essential things you need as an actor.
There are so many ugly little voices that rear their head But by not investing in your acting career you are cheating yourself!
I’ve experienced this too and it almost stopped me from hiring a professional photographer.
Starving Artist Discounts
There are many different price ranges for photographers but every now and then photographers catering to actors will offer discounted sessions typically called the ‘starving artist’ discount. If you take that offer, make sure you understand exactly what you are getting with that session.
Usually, a session like that is less than an hour-long with one or two wardrobe changes and one retouched photo. The full-price sessions vary from photographer to photographer but you typically have two or three wardrobe changes, a long session, more than one retouched photo, and you may even get to keep all of the pictures if you took them digitally.
You get what you pay for
What happens if you can't afford headshots even the discounted ones? It is better to wait until you can afford great headshots. Don't waste your time or the little money you have on paying your cousin $50 for a bad quality headshot. (Unless your cousin is a professional photographer specializing in headshots).
Don't forget that you get what you pay for and it is a good idea to invest in the higher quality product with the most experienced photographer.
I’m not saying don’t make a homemade photo at all, I’m just saying don’t PAY for a homemade or bad quality photo.
Take your own
The great thing about our smartphones these days is that their cameras have gotten better and have an amazing resolution. Get a friend or a tripod or both, and play around with lighting until you have a decent 'headshot’. Use this headshot to apply for student films, independent low-budget films, extras casting, and social media.
Once you save enough money to hire a top-notch experienced headshot photographer, invest in your headshot.