Get great prints to get the most from the time and money you spent to get great headshots.
Step 1
Know what you want and how much you can spend. The more prints you order of each shot, the less expensive each print will be. If you're purchasing large quantities, lithographs can be much cheaper than photographic prints. However, the resolution may be low (that is, the image is made up of visible dots) and the colors may be off. You may choose to get the best quality for your primary headshot and a lower price for "character" shots you will only use occasionally, or you might even choose to use those headshots only for online submissions.
Step 2
Ask for opinions and start making a list. Your photographer, agent, and acting coach may have suggestions. Other actors can tell you about their experiences with different printers. Notice which actors' headshots you think represent them the best, and ask them for recommendations.
Step 3
Check out the Web sites of the printers and photo labs on your list. If their home page doesn't mention actors' headshots, move on to one that does. You want a specialist handling something this important to your career. Make sure you're comparing prices for the same products and services. Some printer do only lithos, some do only photo prints, and some do both. Some prices may include retouching, layout, and proof copies, while others may not.
Step 4
Visit your first choice from your list and look at samples of their work to see how they compare to the best headshots you've seen in terms of clarity of detail and richness of color.
Step 5
You may choose to have your photo retouched by the photographer, photo lab, or a third party. Retouching can be used to eliminate stray hairs, lint, lens flares, or a pimple that sprouted the night before your photo shoot. It should not be used to change your actual appearance, such as making you look younger. You don't want to surprise a casting director by walking in to an audition not looking like your headshot
Step 6
Your headshots can be printed with borders or without ("full bleed"), whichever you think looks best for your photo. If you choose a border, stick with plain black or white. Fancy borders usually cost more and distract from your photo.
Step 7
Your photo will probably need to be cropped slightly to fit the dimensions of an 8x10. Additional cropping can eliminate things that don't need to be in the photo, like the background, and leaving more room for the important part. Actors' headshots range from very tight closeups of their faces to portraits that include head, shoulder, and chest. There's rarely a need to include more than that unless you're marketing yourself as a swimsuit or lingerie model.
Step 8
You will want to have your name on the bottom of your photo. If you have representation, you may also want to have your agent's logo and phone number there. If the photo lab does not have your agent's logo on file, see if the agency can provide it to them. Choose a simple, easy-to-read font for your name.
Step 9
The lab will usually make a proofing copy of your photo before doing a full print run. Examine it carefully and make sure it's just like you want it. Changes at this point may add a little to the cost and add a day or two to the process, but your headshots are too important for you not to make sure they're the best that they can be.
Bonus Tips
- Most headshot specialists can also print postcards with your picture on them. These are less expensive to mail than 8x10s and can be used to keep in touch with casting directors and agents (who don't always have time even to open envelopes form actors).
- You can also put your face and contact information on business cards to hand out on occasions when full-size headshots might be awkward or you just don't have any with you.
NEXT: Making your resume.
(Photo by flattop341, some rights reserved: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
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