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What You Need to Know Before You Get Your Headshots Taken

What You Need to Know Before Getting Your Headshots

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Insights into the process of headshots, and ways to prepare.

Here are some examples of my take, answering the following questions:

  1. What is a headshot (?), i.e., it’s the most important calling card you have.
  2. Do I need hair and makeup (?), i.e., you need to be able to reproduce the looks you chose, no matter how you get there.
  3. What should I wear (?), i.e., colors that compliment your eyes, skin and hair coloring.
  4. What do I need to do (?), i.e., Do your homework and speak to your representation. Be clear on what it is they need to market you and the looks you want to achieve.
  5. What will I need to get started (?), i.e., one to two looks will do if you’re new to show business otherwise consult with your agent or manager.
  6. What is a look (?), i.e., I like to say it’s a character change that could be enhanced by a wardrobe, makeup, hair or location change.
  7. Should I meet with the photographer? That’s up to you and the photographer.
  8. What’s the process (?), i.e., prepare, shoot, review, post session online, burn a DVD.
Eyekool Production and Photography

Professional Photographer/Videographer Ray Bengston

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MTT would like to welcome Ray Bengston to the fold!

Professional Photographer/Videographer Ray Bengston has been one of the top headshot and publicity photographers in Los Angeles for over twenty five years. He has photographed for SAG, AFTRA, Equity, Disney and his work has been seen in major magazines and books.


Photographing newcomers to celebrities his unique ability to shoot indoor or outdoor, location or studio gives the client the choice of style they want.

Agents, managers and professionals recommend Ray not only for the quality of his work, but also for his ability to make actors feel comfortable and relaxed creating a productive and creative environment.

Ray’s website: Eyekool.com

Five ways you are ruining your headshots

Five Ways You are Ruining Your Headshots

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Watch this video for tips to improve your headshots, and a few things you may be doing wrong…

Headshots On-Location

How to Prepare for Your On-Location Headshot Session

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On-location headshots are very popular right now – and with good reason! They can look very natural and offer multiple different background options in one session. If your photographer has suggested an on-location shoot, here are five things you can do to prepare to make your photo shoot go as smoothly as possible:

  1. Plan, plan, plan. This goes without saying, as you should always plan your outfits for a photo shoot, but in the case of on-location shoots it is even more important. It can be inconvenient to dig through a suitcase full of clothing without anywhere to hang them or spread them out, so know in advance what outfits, accessories, and makeup you will want to use and group them together in an easy-to-access way.
  2. Wear comfortable shoes. People often don’t think about it, but your shoes will rarely be seen in your headshots! It’s important to be able to walk around comfortably so you have as many location options as possible, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes, or at least bring a pair of slip-on shoes that you can change into between locations.
  3. Wear an undershirt. With location shoots there is not always a convenient bathroom to change in between every look, so you will save yourself a lot of time and energy if you wear an undershirt or sports bra that you can keep on and change your top without needing too much privacy.
  4. Bring a mirror! Your photographer may bring one, but they may not, and you’ll probably want to be able to check your hair and makeup between photos, especially if you plan to change anything at all during the shoot.
  5. Bring everything in an easy to carry bag or roller-bag. Don’t just bring your outfits loose on hangers – you will need to set them down while you are being photographed, and there may not always be somewhere convenient. It’s much nicer to bring everything in a garment bag or neatly packed in a rolling suitcase so you will be ready to go between photos.

I hope this helps you feel a little more prepared for your on-location headshot session – and remember, as with every photo shoot, the most important thing is to relax and enjoy yourself!

iDalis De Leon Hosting

How to Find a Talent Agent, Part 2

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By Master TV Host Teacher IDalis De Leon

How to Get an Agent Part 2Let me start by saying there is no one way to get an agent. Everyone has different journeys and different talent brands. So let’s say you’ve been so busy “doing the work”, building credits like you are supposed to, and you haven’t had a proper agent relationship in a few years. It’s time to buckle down and put you on the market as a hot unsigned talent looking for representation.

  1. FIRST things first-Make sure before you look for an agent you have three things:
    1. A STRONG REEL: Evidence of your work and talent brand abilities
    2. CREDITS (jobs and training) for actors: Inde projects, web projects and student films,
      for hosts: journalism (writing )credits, live event credits, red carpet, movie junkets, and local tv station credits
    3. GREAT HEADSHOTS to get you in the room
  2. Get your Online Presence together: Revamp your Facebook, build your Twitter, and launch your Youtube Channel: Take off the photos of you doing jello shots at your cousins bachelor party, replace them with great photos of yourself on set, on a red carpet with a mic in your hand. Commit to your talent brand as a business. A big Twitter following is essential for hosts, it was the second question a Dick Clark Productions Executive posed to one of my hosts who was applying for a job to cover the red carpet for the Oscars. How many twitter followers do you have, he asked as he waited for her response? At least 10,000 and above is apparently respectable. Launch your Youtube Channel for your video projects, demo reel clips, class scenes, student films indie film scenes and begin to build an online presence that says working actor, working host, working reporter or new media journalist. When they Google your name, what will they find?

    *An agent can only be as good as you as marketing material you give them to work with.

  3. Research IMDB PRO: Find you own method of research here, whether its looking up your favorite shows and and seeing who casts them, or credits you can acquire through which casting director or what agent represents what actors and what style of genre and actor they are normally looking for. Invaluable resource for actors, directors and writers.
  4. COLD CALL: Make a list of actor friends & hosts who work. Write a personal email to each one indicating that you’ve done your homework and you think that their agent might be a right fit and if you could just use their name when you submit your material you would be very grateful. As long as you have a referral, a cold call becomes a warm call. Call the agent assistant and say “ Hi, I know one of your clients “so and so” and I am looking for representation, I am a working actor/host. What’s the best way to send you my material? Then send your material, wait a week, if you don’t hear from them follow up.
  5. Go to Idalismedia.com for a list of Host Agents. Now Casting, Backstage, LA Casting have PDF downloads of agency listing for actors. These listings are everywhere. Stop and create your own list from your research. Make a list of your top 20 choices and then another 20 you wouldn’t say no to. These 40 are the agents you should focus on and just go down the checklist as you research and approach each one about representation. Takes notes and keep track. Someone will sign you especially if you are staying busy.
  6. Traditional Methods still work: Targeted mailings, postcards, attending events, networking, making connections, showcasing your work on stage or hosting a live event red carpet or movie junket and joining organizations that keep your work in front of people.
iDalis Hosting

How to Find a Talent Agent, Part 1

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By iDalis De Leon
How to Get a Talent Agent

  1. First and foremost ask yourself AM I READY FOR A TALENT AGENT?

    *Here is a guideline to determining if you are ready for an agent:

    A) If you have demo reel footage of you speaking five lines or less, you are not ready.
    B) If you don’t have great headshots, you are not ready.
    C) If you don’t have a reel with evidence of your insanely unique, fantastic talent brand abilities, then you are not ready.
    D) If you are not excited about your own talent brand, then you are not ready.
    E) If you have no idea how to sell yourself as an ACTOR or TV HOST..then you are not ready

    If you are not ready for an agent according to the criteria above then…proceed to tip #2.

  2. DO THE WORK- Do enough work that they come looking for you. The biggest misconception about agents is that they are the answer to getting you auditions and ultimately work. Actors and TV hosts get the auditions through a great presentation of marketing materials they’ve passed on to their agent. Namely your headshot, reel and resume. Securing an Agent is not a magic pill. Although talent is indeed submitted by the agent, in the end, the partnership of your great talent brand, marketing materials and your agents longstanding relationships with casting directors and producers gets the auditions. They have relationships with casting they’ve built for years. Yes they can help but the talents headshot, their acting abilities and tv host brand, the quality of their work, and reputation in the end really gets the audition. The truth is agents want you to book your 10 percent, to pull your 10 percent of weight- from the 100 percent of talents they have on their roster.

*Agents are praying that you will:

a) Be a great actor but more importantly be a great AUDITIONER.
b) Be a great actor but more importantly have great HEADSHOTS that get you in the room.
c) Be a great actor but more importantly have killer REEL that closes deals.
d) Be a great actor but more importantly have a real grasp of yourself as a HUMAN BEING & be easy to work with.

Agents need all the help they can get. Agents won’t and are not expected to do ALL THE WORK for 10% of your little paycheck. Do the work, show up and the agent will show up.

An agent wants someone who is booking. Get the work done ANY WAY YOU CAN. Do WHAT EVER IT TAKES to get it on screen. Get credits and get seen. Then and only then are you ready for an agent. When you show evidence that you are ready to go on auditions that are at a higher level then you are ready for an agent.

So if you are ready for an agent, proceed to Part 11 in the next blog- if not- get to work!

Spending Money on Mastering Your Craft

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by: Carolyne Barry

One of the more challenging realities of becoming an actor is that it can and will get expensive. The cost of classes, pictures, marketing, demo reels, scripts, theater company dues and union initiation fees and dues, showcases, etc. etc., etc. adds up big time. Even participating in graduate films and small theater will necessitate spending some money on wardrobe, make-up, and props not to mention gas and parking fees.

The sobering news is that almost any other profession you choose will probably cost you much more, however, with most other professions you would have a somewhat better chance of earning a steady income, -unless you are in the 5% who can make acting a career. When embarking on other professions, you would have a good idea of all the necessary expenses for your training, start up business costs and the money you would need to get you through the first few years.

Unfortunately, most new actors don’t stop to consider all the costs involved with the necessary training and marketing or have a plan to finance their career. Often that means major obstacles are in place before they even get started. Some get lucky and fall into situations and opportunities that help make it easier. Some have rich families or influential friends.

Nevertheless, new actors must “get real” and go into this business as if it were a business. (It is easier to get lucky when you are knowledgeable and have a plan). I STRONGLY suggest that you put together a financial structure.

For more detailed info on Spending, Saving and Earning money for your acting and performing career, check into my book HitTheGroundRunning.