So now you\u2019ve had your headshots taken. And while you may think your responsibilities are over and what\u2019s done is done, you\u2019re not quite done yet.<\/p>\n
What you now have to be aware of is headshot retouching. And by that I mean certain alterations made to your photo after it was taken to improve it or remove imperfections.<\/p>\n
As I covered in part I of this series, headshots are not glamour shots. While it\u2019s totally acceptable in a model\u2019s glamour shot to remove that mole on your nose, a misplaced freckle, or that scar that\u2019s been bothering you, in a headshot, that\u2019s not the case. While your desire may be to make just a couple minor changes to your natural features because altering them somehow flatters you, as an actor you must look like your headshot.<\/p>\n
The point I try to make to all of my [headshots] subjects is, are you simply looking for the thrill of being called in by a casting director because of your \u201cbeautiful\u201d (or flawless) headshot, but then ultimately rejected because of it\u2026 Or would you prefer to be called in having confidence that you and your headshot reflect each other accurately and that now it\u2019s really up to you and your acting chops to land a role? I stress that the latter will be much more effective overall.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t just assume that every photographer knows what they\u2019re doing or that they\u2019re automatically going to make the right decision (with regard to retouching) for you. Every photographer secretly wants you to look your absolute best. The better you look, the better the photo looks. The better the photo looks, the better the photographer looks.<\/p>\n
So oftentimes, if you leave the decision to retouch your photos entirely up to the photographer (particularly one without significant headshots experience or knowledge), they will eradicate those \u201cflaws\u201d without a second thought (and sometimes without even a first thought).<\/p>\n
Be sure you at least have a conversation with your photographer about retouching so as to avoid any obvious \u201cmistakes\u201d or errors of judgement.<\/p>\n
Headshots retouching is generally acceptable if the thing\/s being altered are not one of your permanent features. For example, minor make-up or hair malfunctions can often be taken care of without and significant impact of the \u201cauthenticity\u201d of your photo.<\/p>\n
If a person has bad skin (acne or blemishes, but no \u201cscar\u201d damage that changes the surface of the skin), but their condition is either temporary or something that could easily be fixed with make-up, is removing or at least lessening the appearance of that condition acceptable?<\/p>\n
First, you have to be honest with yourself and determine whether your \u201ctemporary\u201d flare up is just that, temporary, or if it\u2019s really a common condition. If it\u2019s common, then headshots etiquette suggests it stays.<\/p>\n
The good news is that if you\u2019re skin condition is minor, then an application of natural looking make-up can help conceal such flaws. You should consider this and whether hiring a make-up artist would be appropriate based on your needs before having your headshots taken.<\/p>\n
Whatever you can achieve with natural looking make-up should be the extent to which any skin discolorations, moles, or spots should be retouched. Again, however this is handled, keep in mind that when you show up to your audition, you should look like your headshot.<\/p>\n
Unless your scar is recent, temporary only, and not easily concealed with natural looking make-up, it should stay in your headshot.<\/p>\n
Wrinkles help define the age you appear, not necessarily your biological age. You may look older or younger than you are. Your biological age doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s how you look that does. As such, wrinkles and signs of age are an important part of headshots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"