WHERE DOES THE SHOOT TAKE PLACE?
All studio sessions take place in our studio located at 65 Church Street, Willingham, CB24 5HS. The building is next door to the Willingham Library, facing the Village Green.
WHAT’S THE PROCESS AFTER I CONTACT YOU?
After you have been in touch with us, you’ll receive via email a quick questionnaire, followed by a discovery call to discus your needs. We’ll cover the type of images you need, if you want to match style and backgrounds to previous photos. Then you’ll be free to book in your appointment for your headshot!
WHAT COMES WITH MY SESSION?
Included in your session is an hour of studio time. This is perfect to get one or more targeted looks to update your online presence. During the shoot you’ll receive coaching to get the most flattering and brand specific photos that you’ve ever had taken! After the session you will immediately be able to see and select your favourite image to be retouched and delivered to you within 2-3 business days from your personal gallery, emailed to you within minutes of the end of the session. At that time you will also have the opportunity to purchase additional retouched images
DO I NEED HAIR AND MAKEUP?
We always recommend that you consider professional hair and makeup for any session, including for men!
CAN I BRING A FRIEND?
Yes! But if they want to get their headshot taken, they’ll need to make a separate booking!
IT’S MY FIRST TIME, WHAT KIND OF ACTING HEADSHOTS DO I NEED?
As an actor, the type of shots you need is going to be determined by a few factors including your market (where you live and work), your type (what you look and act like), what you want to audition for and more. Here are a couple of things to consider.
You should always consult your agent on what you need. They have experience in the industry and more importantly, they know what you need to book more jobs.
If you don’t have an agent yet then by default you want to get a clean, simple, headshot with an option of a couple of different expressions. Mainly actors need a Film and Television headshot and a Commercial headshot. The main difference in these two types of headshots is the expression. Commercial is strong, upbeat, and either a soft or full smile. Film and Television headshots are typically more serious with no smile and a neutral expression and great eye to camera connection.
Remember that the majority of casting for film and television, at least in the early stages, is done online. Casting directors look at an array of small thumbnails to determine the initial round of auditions so it’s important that your headshot is impactful and close up. A small thumbnail of your whole body from head to toe will make your face a lot less visible at that size.
Don’t worry too much about specific character shots unless directed by your agent. Your two basic looks will be commercial (upbeat and happy) and film and television (more dramatic).
WHAT DO I WEAR?
This part is totally up to you, but we have some recommendations:
Steer clear of white tops. The eye is always drawn to the brightest thing in the image. For your headshot, we want that to be your face.
Choose colours that complement your natural colouring. Muted, solid colours are best, leave the neon clothes at home.
Avoid anything with busy patterns or shiny materials. It’s all about your face, your expression, not the clothes.
Bring something extra to grab a quick second look. A cool jacket, a pair of glasses, something you can throw on quickly and add a little zing to your shot.
Your bottom half will not be in the photo so wear whatever is comfortable for you. Heads and shoulders only.
Jewellery is not recommended. If you have simple studs in your ears or a very simple necklace, that’s fine, but leave the funky and chunky pieces at home unless it’s a part of your personal brand.
Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed with no branded logosunless they are part of your company branding. We don’t retouch out logos and wrinkles.
WHAT ARE MY BACKGROUND OPTIONS?
We tend to stick to a simple neutral range of backgrounds unless your brand requires something specific, usually a black canvas, grey or white paper, or an office interior.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO BE READY?
If you have gone through all these questions, you should be pretty much ready to go. Here are a few last minute things to remember before your session:
If you are wearing makeup, make sure to bring your powder with you when you come. The camera and lights often require a little more foundation than you might be used to wearing and it only takes a second to cut the shine down.
Don’t get your hair cut within 48 hours of the shoot. Give your barnet a couple of days to recover from your new “do” before you put that bad boy on camera.
Get a good night’s rest before the session and avoid drinking alcohol or eating salty foods for 24-48 hours ahead of time. Being tired, hungover, and full of fried food can make you look puffy and blotchy. Rest, drink lots of water, and come ready to knock it out of the park.
If you have any questions about your session or need any advice or help leading up to the date, email richard@greenshoots.photography or text 07963 491916, we are here for you!