Laguna Beach Bikini

Writing as a photographer, the choice of framing is always a primary consideration when composing a shot. I always shoot in both horizontal and vertical frame, although most shots of a single person are in the vertical frame.  Here are some comparisons of horizontal-frame color headshots (landscape) and vertical-frame headshots (portrait).

Newer Widescreen-format Headshots (Horizontal frame)

Click for a Sharper Image

Traditional Portrait-format Headshots (Vertical frame)

Click for a Sharper Image

Which to Ask For?
When you are getting your headshots done, which format should you ask for? If you have an agent, then obviously you can ask them which they want. But I would bet dollars to donuts that your agent will ask for the traditional vertical headshot.

If you don’t have an agent, you will have to just to talk with acting friends and other people in the industry and see what they are doing. Then make your decision. Maybe the best would be to shoot half of each so you have a choice.

In my opinion, the widescreen format would be good for acting for film and television because because it resembles the wide screen frame of feature films and HD television.

For commercial modeling, the traditional vertical format is more like a magazine page, so I think portrait-style is better for models.

This is all just my personal opinion and not to be taken as any kind of recommendation.

Photo by Amazing Headshots, Newport Beach, California
Here is the latest trend in headshots in the windy city. The format is a horizontal landscape like a movie or an HD TV screen. Maybe the idea is that the producer and director can better visualize the actor in a movie.
In order to accomplish the horizontal format, the [...]

One of my colleagues recently wrote about the high cost of renting in Los Angeles. I mentioned that it is possible to live for free in Beverly Hills, the toniest address in America. He asked if I was talking about couch surfing in Beverly Hills. Not exactly, I replied.
Living for Free in Beverly Hills?
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In a previous post I wrote about What Do Movie Producers Do? Here is a hilarious movie that shows what a movie producer’s week is really like.

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So you want to be a Hollywood leading man? Besides the obviously being good looking and charming on-screen persona, what other traits might many leading men share?
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Yes it is true. The average height for all men in the U.S is [...]

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OK, you’ve moved to Los Angeles, started taking acting classes, and had you headshots done and printed. You don’t have any experience yet and can’t get your foot in the door with an agent. So you have been reading Backstage West and submitting headshots to casting calls. You’ve gone on numerous auditions, and even have [...]

In a previous article I wrote about the first three steps to a beginning acting career: 1. get headshots, 2. take acting classes and 3. submit for roles. Let’s talk about finding out about castings and submitting for roles.
Mainstream Movies
For mainstream Hollywood movies and television, an actor without representation can’t submit for a role. Submissions [...]

June 10, 2009 (LOS ANGELES) — Members of the Screen Actors Guild voted by a wide margin to ratify a two-year contract covering movies and television shows. 110,000 SAS members received ballets and 35% voted. 78% of the voting membership were in favor of ratifying the new contract.
Minimum pay for actors was raised by 3 [...]

Would you like to be a Hollywood producer?
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Some people do go to a big film school, [...]

Aspiring actress Sarah B. asks:
I am an newcomer to Hollywood, having recently moved here from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have been taking acting classes and submitting headshots for independent films. I recently auditioned for a small independent feature and was offered a part. The role is perfect for me and I feel it will help [...]

A young Norwegian lad won the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The annual contest, now in its 54th year, was televised live from Moscow on Saturday night. Rybak is a singer and violinist from Nesodden just outside of the Norwegian capital Oslo. Twenty five contestants from all over Europe competed for the coveted prize. Rybak [...]

If you are going to pursue an acting career you need a headshot. What exactly is a headshot? What are they used for? Where do you get them?
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Here is an audition opportunity. They are looking for an energetic and charismatic presenter for a new Web TV show called The Juice. Read what they have to say.
“The Orange County Register is developing a new Orange County Web TV show. It focuses on celebrity , entertainment and O.C. lifestyle news. This show will be [...]

Here are three first steps to begin your acting career.
There are many personal qualities you need to be a successful actor in Hollywood. First you must be good looking, meaning that you look good on film. In a word you must be photogenic. But let’s say that you already figured out that you photograph well [...]

Every year thousands of people move to Los Angeles with hopes of launching a successful movie career. They come from Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana–all over the U.S. and even from all over the world. Unfortunately, about 99% of the aspiring stars never find the success in Hollywood they dream of. They spend a year [...]