“A magazine is writing an article on me and they are just waiting on a headshot. Can you get me in today?”
“I have an audition next week and need a headshot.”
“My boss said I have to have a headshot for the company website by the end of the week.”
“I am trying to sign with an agency and they want a headshot pretty fast.”
In the past week, I’ve spoken with people who all had these issues. In today’s world, a headshot is a basic image that everyone should have. It should be current and should be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Mine actually sits on in the cloud so I can send it off at any moment. It went to three different places last week!
ACTING HEADSHOTS
OK actors. A little tough love. The simple truth is if you don’t have an up to date headshot you’re not doing your job. Allow me to explain.
You, as an actor, are a business. You are the CEO, marketing director, and creator for your own, one-person company. So you have to market. Your headshot is one of the most important tools in that marketing toolkit.
Have your headshots, your marketing, ready to go. Remove that stress so you can focus on preparing for the audition.
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS
“I’m not an actor. I don’t need a headshot.”
Are you sure about that? Did you see the top of this article?
Let’s start with your social media? If you are like most people, you are using several platforms. One of the first things people look at when they look at your social media is your profile picture. They want to know you and as the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. So what a thousand words are that cropped wedding photo or selfie telling people on LinkedIn? Also, your clients, future employers, etc do look for your other social media. Even with your account set to private, your profile picture can still show up.
Trade publications and magazines often need a great headshot of you to run with articles. It’s not uncommon for an article request to come close to a deadline for print. If your headshot is ready to go, you have removed stress. Now you can just focus on writing the article, or enjoy being written about.
BE PREPARED AND ELIMINATE STRESS FROM YOUR LIFE
Your headshot should not be a cause of stress in your life. You know you need them. Get them done and have fun with it!
[…] Many people come to see me for a new professional headshot because they have something coming up that has requested it. Whether a magazine is writing an article about you, you are doing a speaking engagement, you’ve gotten a promotion, your company is updating its website, you’ve won an award, you’re interviewing for a new job, etc. There are endless reasons people tell me they need a new headshot. I suggest not waiting until the last minute when it becomes a stressful situation! […]