Are You Ready For Your Close Up?

How to choose the best photographer

Your headshot is your passport to success. While your talent dictates whether you’ll get the job, initially it’s your headshot that gets you in the door. Casting directors and other industry professionals will review your headshot to determine if you’re what they’re looking for. So choosing a photographer is a huge decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Just like with any other major decision, you want to make sure you: 1) Do your research, 2) Shop around and 3) Get recommendations and advice from people you trust.

The internet is a great tool to use when searching for a reputable photographer that you can trust to do a great job and deliver photos you can be proud of. Visit lots of photographers’ websites and review their online portfolios. Are the photos lit well? Are they crisp and clear? Are you drawn to the headshots? Once you’ve reviewed all of the sites, make a list of the photographers you may want to hire.

Once you’ve made a list of potential photographers, make a list of questions you want to ask them. Be sure to ask questions like:

• How many looks are included in the package price?
• Will I receive a CD of high resolution photos once the shoot is finished?
• Do you offer an online proof sheet?
• Is hair and makeup available? Is it included or are there additional fees?

(Note: If you have ethnic hair and skin, it’s very important that your photographer has experience lighting for your skin type and that the hair and makeup artists they work with have experience working with your skin and hair type as well.)

Once you’ve made your list of questions, begin calling potential photographers. You may need to make a chart to organize information for each potential photographer. You may even want to ask if you can stop by the photographer’s studio to meet him or her. Remember that you’ll need to feel comfortable with this person. If the photographer rushes you off the phone, or seems curt or cold, you may not feel comfortable shooting with that person and your discomfort might be apparent in your photos.

Lastly, ask others in the industry for recommendations. If you know actors, models, dancers or other people in the industry, ask them for referrals or ask them to review the website of your potential photographer to get their opinion of the photographer’s work.

Whether you’re trying to land an agent or a job, the photo that you submit will determine whether you get the call that could lead to your big break so when you take your headshots, make sure that you take a photo that’s as dynamic as your talent. For a list of photographers, visit http://www.starsearchcasting.com/talent_resources.php today. And don’t forget to visit the message boards for more information on taking a great headshot.

How to Ace Your Audition!

Whether it's your first audition or your fifteenth, it's always exciting to be on the brink of a new job. However, one of the biggest barriers to succeeding in an audition is nerves. While going on an audition is exciting, it can also be nerve wracking. Will they like you? Will you be able to perform as well as you've rehearsed once you get in the room? Tons of questions and insecurities begin to swirl around and can cause you to lose focus. And we all know that if your nerves get the best of you, it's very possible that you might ruin your chances of getting a role that you're perfect for.

So how do you get over your audition jitters so that you're able to shine? One of the best ways to get rid of nervous energy is by being prepared, and knowing the secrets to a great audition. One working actor who's been on lots of auditions and who's booked roles on shows like Monk, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Sleeper Cell offers the following advice:

1. Try to memorize your lines so. It's okay to keep your sides in your hand, but don't be held hostage by the script.
2. ALWAYS read over your lines with another ACTOR before you go to your audition.
3. Try wearing clothing that suggests the character, but don't over do it. If you're playing a cop don't audition in a police uniform, but something like a blue polo shirt might do the trick.
4. While in the waiting room, don't feel obliged to chat. If you need time to study your lines or take a few deep breaths to prepare, feel comfortable doing that.
5. Engage the casting director when you enter the room. Often the conversation that you have with the casting director before you do your scene is what gets you the part.
6. Once you leave your audition, let it go. Don't overanalyze how you could have done it better. Celebrate your efforts!

Ready to practice some of these tips and book your next job? Log on to http://www.starsearchcasting.com/casting_notices/list.php today for upcoming auditions near you!