Talent Jug - Casting Calls and Auditions

Last Headshot Tip of the Week: The DOs and DON’Ts of Retouching!

Everyone does it. Everyone. It’s a very rare headshot indeed that needs no retouching, and, even if you think you look perfect, there are certain things that the right retouch artist can do in post-production that will give your picture that little bit of extra oomph that might just book you the job of your dreams.

The point of retouching is to bring out the best version of you – not to make you look like a supermodel.

A retouch artist should be able to get rid of blemishes, tone-down any under-eye circles, brighten the whites of your eyes and your teeth, but still leave the photograph looking natural and un-touched.

Most professional photo-printers offer retouching services, and if they don’t, your photographer will certainly either know where to get retouching done, or will do it himself (there may be a fee attached to this service – as it does take some time to make a photo perfect). Even though there is usually a charge for retouching – do it! Don’t spend a few hundred dollars on getting great photos and then be stingy with the extra $20 or $30 bucks it’ll take to go the extra mile.

Remember, however, even though all photos get retouched, there is such a thing as getting too much done to your photo. Don’t ask your photographer or retouch artist to do things like change the color of your shirt, paint fake muscles on you, make you skinnier or fatter, or anything else that would change the overall picture. This is why you should be very prepared at your shoot – because retouching can only go so far.

After you’ve gotten your photo retouched, print away! Get at least 100 photos – you’ll need them. When you go on an audition, staple your resume to the back of your photo and cut off the extra edges (headshots are printed 8 inches by 10 inches, and most paper is 8 ½ inches by 11 inches).

Be proud of your photo! You put a lot of work into it – and hopefully it represents you perfectly. Follow these easy steps and you’ll be sure to have pictures you love for the rest of your life.

Headshot Tip of the Day

So now you have 500 photos and you have to pick that one, single photo that’s going to be your calling-card in the industry. Usually, your photographer will choose some of his or her favorites for you to narrow it down.

It is rare that you’ll get the whole session to review – but if you want that, don’t hesitate to ask. Your photographer should be able to pick a variety of shots that he or she thinks shows you at your best.

With several choices in-hand (a few of your best from each set-up), you should get a second (or third, or fourth) opinion on which shot you should get printed. Feel free to ask friends, your agent, your family, etc.; on many levels, their favorite shot may be based on gut reaction rather than carefully weighing the options, but this is valid!

Many casting directors may not spend more than a few seconds looking at your photo. You want it to jump off the page and grab their attention.

Do your eyes shine? Do you look approachable? Is the photo technically good (for instance, is it cropped well and does the lighting flatter you)? Take all these into account when you are choosing the photo to print.

If you have a few that you simply cannot choose between, it might be a good idea to get them retouched and print them up at 8” by 10” to really see what they look like at that size. Are there any flaws that can’t be easily fixed by retouching? Does the larger size make the close-up a little too close? It’s hard to tell exactly what you’re looking at until it’s been retouched and you’re seeing a hard-copy of the photo rather than looking at it on a computer screen. Retouching is an essential part of any photo – which brings us to my next headshot tip…stayed tuned to my next blog!