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Question: What do you think about headshots that show several different shots of the actor in different clothes and different poses on one 8×10 vs. traditional headshots with one shot on the 8×10? –Fernando
Answer: Hi Fernando,
The only market in which I’ve heard of those composite (or picture within a picture) headshots working is in San Francisco, and specifically for children. There is a talent agency there that likes their kids to have at least two different looks on a headshot, and that seems to be the accepted norm by casting directors in northern California.
In Los Angeles and New York–and from what I can tell about other markets such as Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and Canada–the best bet is a straight-forward headshot, face forward, smiling, no hands in the shot, no extraneous “information” about where you are or what is around you, visually.
Now, if you are a model, you must have a comp card. However, that’s generally smaller than an 8X10, and it has a headshot on one side and three or four smaller “character” photos on the other side.
Hope this helps!
-Bon.
Casting QsBonnie Gillespie is a Los Angeles casting columnist, the owner of Cricket Feet Management, and the author of Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews.