Opera/musical headshots for C&C...

[Shane Carter]

Hi all, been a while...Four for your C&C. These are for the traditional 8x10 Theater headshot...Opera specifically for this young lady.

I have come to learn that directors want simple outfits, a realistic look, and light without a lot of shadow so they can see the outline of the actor's face, neck, etc. To quote a friend and NYC photographer in this market "There are very specific expectations of what a headshot should look like, and that's going to differ for the different types of work an actor/model wants to audition for. But, across the board, you need clean, simple images without obvious lighting that will distract from your subject. Headshots are, counter-intuitively, the opposite of portraits or model photos."

So this is really what I was attempting to do...I dunno...maybe it worked? Sort of...

Might convert to B&W, have not decided on that yet. Also have not worked on the stray hairs or fine tuning yet. Curious about your opinion on these four at this point...

1.

2.

3.

4.

 

[Ray West]

Hi Shane,

I'm not into portraits, but I think these actually pretty much get it right, wrt your specification. The first one is something both you and the girl should be proud of. If I was hiring, then I would ask for nothing to be altered, not a thing.

The last image is almost as good, but I think maybe more hair, less chest. There is the usual, but noticeable, crease at the armpit, and a few hollows on her right shoulder, maybe a bit of blurring required there. The second image the same, but the creases in the cloth are harsh, sort of makes it lok untidy, and the right shoulder looks a bit blotchy. Easily corrected. For the third shot, I find I'm not immediately drawn to her face..., and I'm not sure if that is connected with the rule of thirds ;-)

I have nothing to compare these with, but I think these images would give any producer a good idea of who he was getting, and I do not think you need to do much skin pp. Any chance of feedback from your friend in NYC?

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Shane Carter]

Hi Ray, great comments all and thanks for the notes. Agree 1 is my fav too. Yes, the white blouse does show off her...well...it is a little distracting being a classically (is that a word?) beautiful woman. Will also let you know when the NYC fellow checks in. Next time I'll recommend certain types of clothes next time...it makes a difference. Thanks again for the comments and suggestions.

 

[Asher Kelman]

#1 is great. Now where's the audition recording?

Asher

 

[Shane Carter]

#1 is great. Now where's the audition recording?

Asher

Hi Asher...not sure what you mean about recording. Can find out tho. She is in the process of doing a website now. Every summer for the past four years she goes to London and does Gilbert and Sullivan operas there professionally. Will find out if any are recorded and let you know. But this is same lady that did the Secret Garden (how I connected with her) her locally and she was AMAZING...really.

Here are a couple of her in that show...

Playing Lilly's ghost, here she is singing as a spirit in a painting...it looked more 'ghostly' live than it does here...the screen was effective for the audience...

Here she is doing the amazing voice thing...

9 years singing opera, BFA in music, now in an MFA for the same, quite a talent.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Where was the show photographed, London or in the USA?

The first picture with the ? Moiré us inrteresting. I guess she was behond a curtain! For some reason she look far better standing up in the opera than posing! The first of the original set of your pcitures of her is excellent to represent her. She looks professional and beautiful. The second pictures has more human emotional vibrance.

I'd like to see judicious mixing back of say 5-30% of the an altered skin (that is after levels and curves). When the skin is rather smooth looking might might make the producer/director have pause. I don't think there's much in your technic that is lacking. The main thing is to keep photographing her so that you get different takes on how to present her. Doing this without pressure is important, now that you have pictures she can use right away.

BTW, shane, she has a georgeous neck! Make use of it in a series of poses. Try posing her for that long neck, like the picture in the opera!

Asher