What’s the number one thing I keep in mind when capturing a portrait?
Children's Head Shots: what's important
The first thing you want is choice. Lots of choice. That is what your agent / your child’s agent will want to see. The worst thing you can do is spend money and end up with five poor head shots and nothing more to show for it. Why will you end up with five rubbish pictures? There are people with low to mid-range digital cameras, little experience, technical understanding or ability, trying to convince you they can ‘do’ head shots. It seems an easy way to make money. Look at their work. Then look at other people’s work, then other’s. Pretty soon you get the picture. Avoid the chancers.
Back to choice. A quality, experienced head shot photographer will know a few things. He or she will know how to technically light, frame, tease out and capture great shots. They will know how to retouch images perfectly, never too much, just enough for subtle and natural enhancement. They will own professional cameras, lenses, backdrops & lighting and know how to get the best from them. That same photographer will provide options: a variety of looks, poses, expression, lighting, mood … you know, photography stuff. Stuff that makes an image jump out at a casting director and that is your goal. That is what your agent is looking for.
What can I do for you? With 12 years experience you know you are in safe hands. From my home studio in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, your 90 minute session (give or take, we won’t rush anything) will provide a beautiful collection of professional head shots that will guarantee to make your portrait stand out. For a surcharge I can pack up my lights and equipment and travel to you. All I ask is that you have a suitable space to shoot. I have years of experience photographing young people in schools, for family portraits, for professional head shots, sports events … you name it. I also have a couple of my own so I’ve learnt some things along the way, like how to produce stunning images while patiently working through the ‘moments’, shall we say. You will feel relaxed, un-rushed and assured of the quality of work you are receiving. I work hard to produce great results and to make the experience fun, friendly and most importantly, successful.
Following our shoot you will receive a large private gallery of images from which to make the crucial final selections that will become your child’s Spotlight image. Price is where I also hope you will be surprised. At the time of writing, I still charge just £225 for a full head shot session at my base and £275 if I travel to you. I don’t agree with the overcharging practises of some photographers when it comes to head shots for actors. Charging £400, £500 or £600 pounds even for head shots?? It’s not right and do not be fooled into thinking they are worth it because they are “the best” or highly recommended by someone in the business. You can get images just as good and better, just as impactful, just as effective for a lot less and that is where I want to position my service to you.
For much more detailed information about how I shoot and what you get for your money please just get in touch. I will answer every question you may have without any commitment on your part. It may be your first set of head shots or your fifth … I can help you get precisely what you need and what a professional agent or casting director wants to see. Below are just a few shots from a recent couple of shoots.
#BringWater with the Surrey County Cricket Team
In these very lean photography times it was a joy to get a call from old friends at the charity, Water Aid. Invited down to the Kia Oval cricket ground, home of Surrey County Cricket, it was an opportunity to be out and about again, doing what I do and meeting a few sporting giants.
Along with the charity’s videographer we had a very tight time-frame, less than half an hour, to capture interviews, footage and, in my case, plenty of action shots as well as portraits of key team members. Big cricketing names like Morne Morkel, Rory Burns, Liam Plunkett and Hashim Amla were among those who gave their time to support the #BringWater campaign. The challenge for me focussed on getting perfectly lit portraits of the players on a ground with harsh sunlight sweeping in and out of cloud. That was accomplished at pace with a quickly erected stand, a Godox AD200 light and modifier to overpower the sun right there on the pitch. With only a few minutes before training had to resume, I also needed enough ‘in action’ images of the players attempting to bat with the quarter-sized cricket bat provided. Two in five healthcare centres globally have nowhere for people to wash their hands - not good at any time and certainly not in a pandemic. Struggling with less than full essential facilities was at least partially symbolised by the batsmen’s struggle with a ‘less than full bat’.
Job done, we cleared off the pitch and training resumed. It felt good to be holding a camera again in such circumstances. The images came out well (see if you agree, below) and before I knew it, I was home editing like old times. Here’s hoping for more days like it soon.
