Monday 5 November 2007

Portraits and Headshots

What is the difference between a Portrait and a Headshot? Who gets a headshot and who gets a portrait? Is it just actors and models who get headshots? Should the shot be in classic black and white; colour; studio or location?

“If I want to look like a model or an actor can I get a headshot instead of a portrait too?”

Of course you can! A headshot is still a portrait but it’s usually a portrait photograph taken for a very specific purpose. For an model, actor or performer it’s a selling tool for their agent, just like actors models have composite, or ‘comp cards’ too. The comp card shows what someone looks like in a well lit and often in a fairly natural way. Actors may only have one shot on their card while models will have quite a few. The models comp will have their main headshot on the front and a collection of different shots on the back highlighting their different looks.

Film Noir style headshot, portrait & Musician studio portrait

Of course Models are beautiful and Actors are handsome (or something like that); a good headshot or portrait should bring out your beauty or your handsomeness too. I have found very few subjects who did not look great in a well executed portrait or headshot. It seems to be all about making sure you are relaxed in front of the camera. As a photographer it seems I am lucky enough to possess the skills required to get most people quite relaxed and happy about being photographed most of the time.


Outdoor natural location portrait  and studio portrait seated.

Its quite exciting and rewarding when having done a portrait the sitter is presented with an image that matches their inner vision of themselves. Its not about turning someone into someone else its all about bring out their best. People photography is far more than camera technique it is also about how you work with people, the psychology of the shoot! In our myspace facebook world everyone wants to know what you look like so why not look as glamorous as a Model an Actor or even a little Rock and Roll. Why not look like a Star in shots that truly bring out your best.

Semi Noir musician portrait and 'New Noir' portrait and Headshot.

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