Headshots

Hey, I'm Andrew Hewitson from Boy Meets Girl Photography. This months blog entry discusses 'The Headshot' and why you should get them taken by a proffessional, if you yourself are looking to come over as proffessional.

For pro headshot examples and package costs, please visit our website; http://www.boymeetsgirlphoto.biz

So you've decided to pursue an acting career, but you're not quite sure where to begin. Every performer whether in film, television or theater requires a headshot. It is an actor's introduction; the first impression you'll make on an agent or casting director before you even walk in the door. Most casting agents won't even look at your resume if they dont like what they see in a headshot- seriously!


I'm not talking about what you yourself look like- (at the end of the day a photo can only do so much!) It is a question of professionalism. Taking a 'myspace' photo and using that to head your resume isn't going to create the most positive impression. Casting directors and potential bosses are looking for slick, contemporary and visually interesting images, and you want to show yourself in a way that will be hard to forget (in a good way).


I surfed the web and found some poor examples of headshots that real people are using for their portfolio. See example one, below!

Before you ask, yes this is real! This is a perfect example of one of the biggest traps you can fall into-getting pictures that revolve around a character or theme. A headshot is meant to show you as a blank canvas.

Model portfolios however work in a slightly different way. While you will still always need a clean head and full-body shot, depending on whether you are looking to book an agent or book a job, some images taken in various styles / settings / make-ups could be beneficial. However there is never any excuse for bringing out the toy guns.





Keep your headshot up to date. There is no use in having a shot from 10 years ago! Photography as an art is constantly moving forward and it is important

for your headshot to have a modern and contemporary look inkeepng with these changes.
Photography aside, your looks will have obviously changed too! Represent who you are now, not who you were five or ten years ago!




Finally on to posing! If the pose that you are doing doesn't feel comfortable or natural, its generally because it isn't! Ask yourself "is this something I would do everyday?" If not, then it will appear awkward through the lens.


In conclusion, it always pays to get someone who knows what they are doing. Below are a couple of examples of headshots that Boy Meets Girl have presented clients for their acting and modelling portfolios. If you are interested in booking a shoot, please get in touch;


W - http://www.boymeetsgirlphoto.biz/


E - boymeetsgirlphoto@hotmail.com



F - http://www.facebook.com/BoyMeetsGirlPhotography?ref=ts

How to pick a wedding photographer?

Hi my name is Andrew Hewitson, I am the owner and lead photographer of Boy Meets Girl contemporary photography, we specialise in wedding photography in the county of Oxfordshire, but have a repertoire of successful wedding clients as far a field as New Zealand!

This, my second blog is written in response to a very important question that prospective brides might ask; how do I pick a wedding photographer? This question rates highly- right up there with what dress to pick for the day: and for most people these two areas will be the only physical reminders of the day itself. In today’s digital world, wedding photography has become highly competitive with hundreds if not thousands of photographers vying for the chance to capture the memories of the most important day of your life. It is therefore important to sort the wheat from the chaff as it were.

You are only going to have one chance to do it and you want everybody to be bringing their "A game".

• How to recognise a professional image-maker from a cowboy cameraman?

As stated earlier, the digital age has created a massive growth in amateur photographers all eager to improve their craft and show their work to the world. Unlike other trades, photography does not have any official qualification structure. This means anybody could go out and purchase a Digital SLR and say they are a photographer. This is an extreme case but it has happened to people before and highlights that it is good to do your homework.

When you meet a prospective photographer ask if he/she has any qualifications; such qualifications might be supplied by a national photographic society e.g. SWPP, Master Photographers guild etc… or might be educational like a diploma, A level or BA. Either way the photographer has felt the need/responsibility to earn his or her stripes.

The second thing to explore is their portfolio. Many photographers will have online a gallery, which they will formally refer to as their portfolio. This being a collection of their best work, it is therefore not representative of the quality of work that they will produce for one day shooting. For this reason, when you meet face to face, request to see an album or photo book of a single wedding. This will generally give you an idea of the consistency of their work. We generally show an example of a full wedding on DVD to our clients as it gives a proper indication of our style – which brings us to our next point.

• Pick a photographer; don’t let a photographer pick you.

No one goes and buys the first dress they try on, so why should you pick the first photographer you meet? Once again, do your homework, draw up a shortlist and pick at least 3 photographers to meet in person- from that, YOU make the decision. Photographers are generally charming by nature, just because the first one seemed a good fit, doesn’t mean they are the best fit. Much like a dress sometimes, it needs a slight alteration, don’t be scared to ask for what you want.

At Boy Meets Girl Contemporary Photography, we aim to be a ‘yes’ business.

I have worked for a number of photographers in the past and now feel highly liberated that I can make good on my promise to do all that I can for my clients. If you ask a photographer for a reasonable request and they say no, it is not the end of the world – that’s why you should go to see more than one! If your photographer is willing to go that extra mile, they are more likely to put in 110% on the day.

Make sure that your personalities gel. Wedding photography is not always about getting the shot, it’s about knowing when and more importantly how to get the shot. Being in sync with your photographer and having a mutual understanding about what is to be achieved, will help with this.

It is not the photographer’s job to be a part of the action; it is their job to photograph the action. Each photographer will have their own style, find out what that is – ask them to quantify it (eg: 50% posed – 50% photojournalist) If they pose a lot of their shots, you need to realise that this will slow down proceedings.

• Finally, the pictures!

The most important part of “the choosing” will be based around the quality of the images you see. This section is up to you and your own personal style/vision.

In addition, something to take into account is that if you have seen a particular image that floats your boat, most professional image makers, should be able to replicate it for you: either on the day or in a separate “post” shoot.

We for example, photographed a couple who had just come back from their New York honeymoon and were inspired by the graffiti. With this idea, we successfully undertook a “trash the dress” urban style shoot against some fantastic graffiti backgrounds. This was great fun to shoot and some real high-impact images were shot- it is all about working together- communication is the key!

I hope this has been helpful! Good luck, and remember don’t hire second best, it is the day that you will want to remember for the rest of your life, so get the best you can!

Andrew Hewitson

http://www.boymeetsgirlphoto.biz/