Why Your Headshot Isn't Getting You Work
"Reevaluating your first impression"
The average child actor goes on 75 auditions before ever booking his or her first job. It's a startling number, but perhaps a relief to those of you who have not seen results after only a handful of auditions. It's going to take time.
But if you have been going out frequently, and banging your head for the answers as to why your child isn't receiving callbacks, consider this: your headshot may be the culprit.
In fact, many industry professionals have reported that a poor headshot might be the reason a child is being overlooked by agents an managers, or passed up for callbacks.
"I do believe the first thing to check out [if you're having trouble booking] is the headshot," explained casting director Harriet Greenspan. "It might not be working."
So if you're considering the fact that your headshot may need some reevaluating, consider these tips:
1) Make sure the headshot looks like your child.
This may especially be an issue if you are getting auditions but not callbacks; the casting directors may be calling in the person they see in the photo, and when someone different shows up, it changes the game.
"My feeling about headshots is that they should look like the kid or teen looks every day, rather than how they look once a year, on their birthday or New Year's Eve," said casting director Carol Goldwasser. "
2) Make sure the headshot is natural.
"It's not supposed to be a glamours shot," explained Greenspan.
Carol Goldwasser commented that it shouldn't be "too over the top in terms of glamour or grooming."
3) Let your representatives choose the shots with you.
This can be hard because we often feel that we know which shots make our child look the best. "I know parents want their kids to look great in the shot because they are paying so much for the photos," Greenspan commented, "but please trust your reps to choose the shot they feel they can work to get your child and their client auditions."
Looking for examples of headshots that get attention? Check out the CIF Photo Contest Winners page. Also, consider the tips and tricks outlined for you in the Photos section of the KidStart Program.
