7 Tips For Spotlight Headshots
Spotlight headshots are a crucial part of any UK based actor’s marketing pack but there’s one question I get asked quite often ‘is there a difference from normal headshots and a Spotlight headshot?’
The answer to that is yes and no – as Spotlight headshots styles’ change one thing that has stayed constant is the need for a 10×8 black & white Spotlight headshot. The Spotlight is the main directory for actors in the UK so it’s important that an actor is represented there, it’s where you would expect to find all serious actors.
As part of my regular headshot session I always shoot what I call my ‘Spotlight Headshot’ and it has a couple of individual traits that I think are crucial to successful Spotlight headshots.
7 Tips For Spotlight Headshots
1) Obviously is must look like you as you do now – not last year, that goes without saying.
2) It’s a good idea to have a nice pleasant friendly face with a twinkle in the eyes. It doesn’t need to have a big smile unless that’s your natural look. However a smaller smile even with the lips closed can work very well as long as the eyes are working too.
3) It shouldn’t be cropped in too close; it’s better to be able to see all of your head and face.
4) This one is down to the photographer, knowing it’s going to be black & white it should be properly exposed so that your face isn’t either too bright loosing all detail or too dark making your skin look grey, lifeless and unhealthy. Spotlight headshots are important.
5) Wear something either black or white to ensure there is good contrast in the photograph rather than it looking grey and toneless as a whole. A plain top works best for Spotlight headshots.
6) The background also plays a key part in successful Spotlight headshots, especially when they are being displayed in balck & white. A plain background works well as it seperates the actor from the background whilst not drawing any attention away from the actors face as some busy ones do.
7) Finally your headship should appeal to as many roles as possible, unless of course you are a specific character actor. I mention the smile in point no.2 above but it’s important to understand that the purpose of a Spotlight headshot is to allow casting directors to put a character on you rather than presenting them with a defined specific character
In this example you can see a great colour headshot on the left with a good black & white next to it. I have deliberately altered the others to show too much contrast where we can’t see the details in the actors face and finally when there isn’t enough contrast and the actors skin looks greasy and dirty, there is no balance in the headshot at all.
Another part of my regular headshot session is shooting images for specifically for the gallery in the online section of Spotlight. This is where the fun starts.
Most actors enjoy playing different characters; they enjoy the challenge of changing roles and types of production. I like to shoot several types of headshot in my sessions depending on the type of role my clients are likely to play. I also like to shoot my ‘Filmic’ and ‘Hollywood’ headshots if clients want them. They are different and help actors stand out from the crowd and place an image in front of the casting director as you would appear on the film or TV screen.
We also have the opportunity to shoot darker type character headshots or lighter friendly or romantic headshots too. Not every actor can or wants to play every type of role, understanding your cast ability is a really good way of shooting specific headshots for specific roles.
How to understand your castability – well that’s a whole new post in itself and one which will follow shortly.
So the nub of what I’m saying about a Spotlight headshot is that you should give it some thought before your session, check that your headshot photographer understands what you need and whilst you are at the studio ask the photographer to show you your images in black & white so you can see everything is working and get and idea how the final headshot will loo displayed by Spotlight.
