When Do I Need To Get Acting Headshots?
A lot of actors, models, and dancers often struggle to figure out when it's time to make that investment and get professional headshots taken. The worst part is how often I hear how my clients dragged out the process for them to finally come to me and book a session. I get it! Headshots can be pricy for some, but inaction will cost you more in the long run.
Headshots are the very first step in taking your career seriously. It’s the phase of your small business where you decided that your product is good enough to begin to introduce it into the market and create brand awareness through marketing. That is essentially what a headshot is; your ad.
WHY A HEADSHOT IS IMPORTANT
Your headshots serve as your advertisement and you are the product. Without an advertisement, you're not marketing a product, and without marketing a product, you're not in business.
Without a headshot, you're not a serious actor in the market, ready for work.
Just as much as a new burger joint can never be in business if no one knows it exists.
So when do you need a headshot?
When you're ready to start applying for projects and get work. This means that you’re ready to start “putting yourself" out there” and using your headshot as a means to start submitting yourself for roles.
The longer you wait, the more opportunities you waste by not actually being seen or getting in on the action. The career of an actor isn’t a quick path to success and very few actually make it big, but that’s not why you do it though, right? You decided to pursue acting because it’s a passion, it’s an art, and it’s something you most likely feel born to do. That means there will be a lot of time you’re going to be dedicating to seeing this through and making it happen.
You’re going to go through so many growing pains in your development from learning how to submit yourself, how to audition, how to do a self-tape, how to network, how to be on-set, and how to actually get work and make a living out of all this, but if you never decide to actually make an investment and get the one thing that will be one of the most helpful tools towards moving you a step further then you may never actually do anything or worse you may never know what could have been if you actually gave it a shot.
Some of you are ready to get headshots yesterday and others are still in acting training waiting to progress to this essential phase. You’re taking classes, you’re working hard and saving money, and you’re surrounding yourself with the right people to give you the wisdom on how to navigate this industry. After you feel ready to move ahead, don’t get trapped in analysis paralysis, but pull the trigger and book your headshots now.
For more information about headshots and photography please take a look at my Actor Resources page HERE. I have many articles and videos that can help you in your acting career.
Join our new Facebook group, “Actors Social Media Marketing & Branding Mastermind” that helps actors turn their careers into a thriving business.
BRANDON ANDRE – HEADSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHER IN LOS ANGELES
If you are in the Los Angeles or Phoenix area and are interested in getting high quality professional acting headshots, please contact me HERE. Pricing and Booking information can be found HERE.