Suggestions on how to prepare for your shoot will vary greatly.
However, these are many of the suggestions that most will agree upon.
You should approach the shoot as if it were a professional job. Yes, it is you who are paying. But, it is you who hopes that the shoot will result in many, many opportunities for which you WILL be paid. The headshots are a small investment compared to return for which you hope to receive. Thus, treat it with the same professionalism with which you would approach a set.
As it is a business decision, contact your agency to find out exactly what they want from your pictures. Think about how you and they see you fitting in the big picture. Think about the various types of shows and rolls out there and pinpoint where you might fit in. The easier you make it for casting, the more likely you'll be called in. If you don't have an agent, you might want to ask your acting coach or some other industry professional. The point is that you want to have a clear and realistic idea of what you will be called in for. This will also allow you to plan your wardrobe accordingly.
The night before a shoot you should try to get to bed early and be very rested for the day ahead. You don't want to have baggy, puffy or bloodshot eyes. You don't want to have low energy because the camera won't lie.
When you get up make sure to have a nice meal. Don't eat so much that you're ready for a big nap by mid-morn, just eat like you'll need it for a sporting event. You'll want to keep your juices flowing throughtout the shoot. In fact, if you think you'll need a quick snack during the shoot, bring one. And then remember to bring your toothbrush.
Show up at the studio or location ready and excited to put your face out there. Have ideas of what you want and who you are. You will have already talked with your reps to find out what it is that they'd like to see from the new pics.
I always like to see the old pics with which you've been successful or other wise. If something really worked for you but we need to update it, great. If what you had was way off-base, let's analyze why we think that wasn't good for you.
Be open to suggestion and thought. Be open to small talk and to being ready to change course. We may talk about your children, your favorite food, the roles you'd like to play, the roles you already have played, who knows? All to get the real you by talking about the real you. And feel free to ask questions of me as well, whether it be technical or something that might take you somewhere in thought. An active thought is a good one, the eyes will thank you!
I don't want you to act out or indicate something, unless that is your natural persona. I want you to be you, but there may be a you that is silly, serious, cantankerous, jolly, dark. We all have many facets. It's not unreal for us to laugh and cry in the same day, so to say that we can't do something without acting may not be true. We want to find whatever you that thought takes you to find that moment, and then we hope to capture that moment.
In having a clear idea of how you are marketing yourself, make sure that what you are wearing is promoting that image, or look. Of course, this may change from look to look so you can never bring too many clothes to a shoot. In most cases, theatrical and commercial shots are different, although some can cross over. If after discussing with your representatives what they want out of the shoot, you are having a hard time choosing, I 'll be glad to give you some ideas before the shoot. We'll talk it through on the day on the shoot depending on what you brought with you. Some colors may look great in some light and others not.
You'll want to stay away from clothes that are too bright, flashy or that may distract from you as the subject. Black, Earth Tones or Subtle Primary Colors work. What has to be the sole focus of a headshot has to be the eyes. Logos or distracting patterns that take the attention away from you. Avoid frilly or ruffly type clothing. Not only does it distract but it can actually be unflattering in pictures. Larger frills can flatter a woman in real life but make them look much larger in pictures. White clothing doesn't usually photograph very well in head shots. Choose colors that are good for your skin tone. If you have a unique eye color, bring something that will draw attention to them. Of course, all rules are meant to be broken. Ultimately, I'll shoot what you wear. I'll just try to guide you.
Unless your "look" is one being unkempt, then have your clothes ironed and lint free. It looks bad when you have little lint spots on your clothes, it looks like something was on the lens. Come with your clothes ready to shoot... Please do not come with your clothes crumpled up in a plastic bag. Bottom line is that you don't want someone talking about your wrinkled clothes or wrong color or whatever, when all they should be noticing is those eyes.
Here's one that will just sound goofy. Unless you wear glasses normally and intend to wear them in your pics, heed this. I suggest that on your way to the shoot and at times during the shoot where you might wear your sunglasses for a while, that you use a piece of gauze or some soft material on the bridge of your nose on which your glasses will rest. I told you that would sound goofy, but the indention left from wearing glasses will stay on the bridge of the nose for a while. It can be photoshopped out, sure, but do you really want to do that to 20-30 minutes worth of shots? It's the retoucher's time that you'll be paying for.
Also about glasses if you wear them: be prepared to take shots with and without them. Unless you have glare-proof glasses you should take the lenses out or consider buying an empty frame as to avoid the glare. I'll shoot even if you don't take these precautions, but expect that there may be a little glare from the lights. The same light that we want to make your eyes dance and sparkle has to come through the lenses of your glasses.
Ladies: if you choose to use a make-up artist that's fine. Make sure that you use one who is a minimalist. You don't want the make-up to make you look like you can't possibly recreate that look for an audition. The rule of thumb should be that you will look in a pic like you will when you walk into a casting or agent's office. If your persona is one like a rocker or someone who requires heavy mascara, eye liner, etc, then we should shoot you that way.
On the other side of hiring a make-up artist is this: if you apply your own please make sure that it is evenly distributed. I may not notice if you have blotchy make-up but the camera will. Then you find yourself needing unnecessary touch-ups on photos. That can turn into extra cost, and all because you may have rushed when you were getting ready. So, take your time and let's get great shots that won't need any touch-ups at all. It'll save you time and money.
Communication is the key in a photo shoot. Even though it is I who is standing there beyond the camera, it is the camera that you must really communicate with. The camera has to feel your pain, laugh your laugh, share your love, etc. Because when the picture is printed it then becomes the Casting Director that your eyes will be talking to. Give them every reason to know that you can convey a thought that can move them. Let them live the life that your picture is living. Then you've got a fan who will bring you in over and over. Your first audition happens when the CD opens the envelope and sees your picture. If it conveys something to them then you will get to come into their offices and then you can prove that they made the right choice!
And that, my friend, is fun!
