Category: Headshots

The 4 Most Important Headshot Tips

Some people refer to your headshot as your calling card. Others refer to them as your meal ticket. We can agree that your headshot is your gateway to booking jobs. With a perfect headshot, you not only book jobs, but get the jobs you want.

How do you accomplish that level of perfection? Follow our list of the four most important Los Angeles headshot tips:

Decide Your Headshot’s Purpose

Deciding your headshot’s purpose is a step many people brush off. Don’t get caught up in the idea that your headshots are the jack of all trades — they’re not. Just ask photographers. Headshots are a science, and shooting them starts with deciding what they’re for, such as the following:

Website
Auditions
Casting profile
Marketing materials
Agencies

Once you know your headshot’s destination, you can start planning your trip.

Choose Your Character

Your career is built around you. What kind of characters do you want to play? What sort of shoots do you want to book? Once you know what you want, you can start planning how you’ll market your headshot to your audience.

Want to book campaigns with Armani or Victoria’s Secret? Your answer results in two different shoots, from your clothing and expression to the lighting, as your goal is to emphasize that you’re an angel or Armani model.

If you’re an actor, consider the types of characters in film and television. If you want to play a sassy character, think of your facial expression. Do your research and search for those actors’ headshots. Are they smiling, frowning or doing their best Blue Steel impression?

Pick Your Looks

The saying “Dress for the job you want” is more than fitting when it comes to headshots. It’s also one of the most important headshot tips you’ll receive from photographers, agents and casting directors.

Review movies, shows and photo shoots of the jobs you want. What are the models and characters wearing? Note their clothing choices and then choose clothes that resemble the ensembles you’re seeing to create multiple looks.

Find a Photographer

Sure, anyone can take a headshot. That doesn’t mean you should count on your friend to shoot yours — remember, this is your meal ticket we’re talking about.

Find a photographer experienced in headshots. Browse through their portfolios — if they’ve shot similar photos to the campaigns you want to book or characters you want to play, add them to your shortlist of photographers.

Of course, you’ll also need to find someone to do your hair and on-camera makeup. Depending on your photographer — ahem — they may have an in-house team of leading stylists and artists. You’ll also want to talk to your photographer about ordering physical headshot prints, which are still relevant today.

Then, you’re ready to start shooting.

When it comes to the most important headshot tips, we have you covered at Michael Roud Photography. Michael is, after all, one of the top headshot photographers in Los Angeles. Learn more about having your headshots done by Michael by contacting us today.

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When to Update Your LA Headshots

Remember that typical movie line “It seems like yesterday?” Yeah, about that. If that’s the expression that comes to mind when you ask yourself if you should update your LA headshots, then you’re more than overdue for a new headshot.

If it doesn’t come to mind? Well, you’re not out of the woods yet. While some things may never go out of style, we can’t say the same for your headshots. Here are four reasons why:

Shifts in Headshot or Fashion Trends

When an agent views your headshot, you don’t want them to say, “Where have you been?” This could happen if your black and white headshot makes them think you haven’t auditioned since 2004. A headshot that recalls a tired and now, retired, trend is not a good look.

The same goes for fashion. That’s why photographers recommend choosing a look, as well as makeup, that’s more timeless and less trendy. So, if you’re rocking the dark lipstick shades of the ‘90s, please update your LA headshots.

Changes to Your Look

Revitalized your look with a haircut? Changed hair shades with a dye job? Celebrated another birthday? If you answered yes, then it’s time to get your headshots retaken. Nothing aggravates casting directors — and even your agent — more than calling you in based on your headshot, only to discover that you’ve changed by choice or with age.

If you want to switch up your look, that’s fine! The catch is that you need to update your headshots afterward. Otherwise, you’re going to be wasting not only your time, but also the time of casting directors by going to calls that you may not qualify for with your new appearance.

Calls to Less-Than-Ideal Jobs

Getting called to play the nerdy friend when you’re aiming for the moody love interest? Is no one calling at all? A lot of times this is related to your calling card — your headshot.

Many agents will tell you that this is when to update your LA headshots, because not only is it costing you the work you want, but you’re also not getting any work at all. Regroup with your agent and photographer to find what you need to change, from wardrobe to makeup, to see a difference in your casting calls.

Requests From Your Agent

If you have an agent like Bebe Glazer from “Frasier,” they’ll always be looking out for your interests — whatever the cost. That may mean giving you some tough love, like recommending you update your LA headshots.

Getting new headshots is more than just taking a photo and going on your merry way. It’s about snapping a photograph that’s going to get you not only callbacks, but also the jobs that you want. They’re your stepping stone to achieving your wildest dreams. So, choose the best in the industry. Hint — that’s us.

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LA Headshot Wardrobe Tips

Guess what Jennifer Lawrence, Cara Delevigne and Ryan Reynolds have in common? Their headshots are killer. Why? They knew what to wear, plus how to prepare for their headshot. If you’re wondering if we’re going to share with you the secret to headshot success, you’re on the mark.

Check out our four wardrobe tips for your LA headshot below:

Plan Your Looks

Dress for the job you want — that motto is more than applicable when it comes to the entertainment and modeling industries. Whether you’re looking to be the next angel for Victoria’s Secret or heroine on “Game of Thrones,” you need to show that interest in your looks.

That takes planning. So, raid your closet in advance of your shoot. If you don’t have the clothes to capture your character or modeling interests, then don’t hesitate to hit the stores. After all, your headshot is your access pass to work.

Focus on Shirts

When it comes to headshots, your pants and shoes don’t make the cut. You’d think it’d be a given, but many people forget this LA headshot wardrobe tip and forget to bring three to five tops. For aspiring models, you will want to bring a variety of complete outfits.

For all other shoots, create your looks around shirts, shirts and more shirts. Bring in varying necklines, colors and styles of tops — bonus points if they’re easy to layer. Try to avoid screaming bright tones or shirts without any texture. Ladies should bring different styles of nude bras that work with your different blouses.

Wash Your Clothes

You can get away with not washing your jeans for a few wears, but your shirts? Let’s be honest. Grab the detergent and wash your selected looks. Remember — especially if you just purchased these clothes — to wash lights, darks and colors separately to prevent a disastrous tie-dye job.

If you’re wearing more formal, business attire, take an afternoon to drop your clothes off at the drycleaner. You’ll also want to iron any shirts that leave the dryer with wrinkles, even if you’re passionate about playing a sloppy character.

Pick Your Accessories

Ready for the final touch? Because it’s time to accessorize. Our LA headshot photography wardrobe tip for accessories is less is more. Deck yourself out like a tree in December and casting directors will only see your necklaces and earrings — not the talent.

If you’re building your modeling portfolio, forget what you just read. Because the emphasis is on the outfit and how you wear it, we recommend bringing an array of accessories to build a look that’s jaw-dropping and makes an agent say, “That’s the one.”

Creating a killer headshot is more than knowing what to wear for headshots. It’s also about who’s behind the camera. When you’re shooting your calling card, why not choose the best? At Michael Roud Photography, we shoot the hottest up-and-coming talent, which is why we’re one of the most wanted LA photographers.

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Fifth Wall Photo Shoot: LA Photography for Tech Business

There’s a reason LA residents have started to refer to Santa Monica and Venice as Silicon Beach. In recent years, top tech companies like Google and Facebook and well-known startups like Snapchat and Hulu have been flocking to Silicon Beach, creating a thriving tech industry in the area. Venture capital firms like Fifth Wall are thriving in the area as they literally transform the technology and landscape of the country.

Fifth Wall and their venture capitalist brethren are enjoying such success in Silicon Beach because they’re willing to invest in promising startups as well as companies that have a proven track record of success. According to the National Venture Capital Association, businesses in the Los Angeles area received $4.5 billion in funds in 2015, which marked a 40 percent increase in investment compared to the prior year. CB Insights reports that companies located in the Silicon Beach area received six times more funding in 2016 than they did in 2012.

As more funds are made available to companies in and around Silicon Beach and more businesses move into the area, new opportunities are presenting themselves to savvy venture capitalists. As they were advising Blackstone’s real estate group about adopting new technology across different kinds of real estate platforms in 2014, Fifth Wall founders Brendan Wallace and Brad Greiwe recognized an opportunity. A “white space” existed in the venture capital realm, one in which no venture capital firm was paying exclusive attention to integrating real estate and technology.

Savvy businessmen and successful investors for years, Wallace and Greiwe realized this was a white space they could easily fill with their years of experience, and that’s exactly what they did when they created Fifth Wall.

Fifth Wall: Where Real Estate and Technology Come Together

Even with consumers in just about every market niche demanding seamless connectivity and the conveniences modern technology provides in residential and commercial real estate, the real estate industry overall hasn’t embraced technology as quickly as many others. Thanks to innovators like Fifth Wall, that’s now changing.

Silicone Valley Photographer for Tech Business Headshots

Today, the owners of over $200 trillion worth of real estate holdings are actively seeking out the new technologies that consumers are demanding. Like consumers, property owners and developers now recognize the advantages that state-of-the-art technology provides. From improving structural designs, construction practices and materials and building management to making living and working spaces healthier, better connected and much more, technology is now an undeniable driver in the real estate industry.

Despite all of the advantages new technologies offer to the real estate industry, there’s no guarantee influential real estate owners or managers will incorporate them into their projects. This is where Fifth Wall steps in to introduce technology entrepreneurs with Fifth Wall’s strategic real estate partners. These introductions are meant to radically accelerate the growth of innovative technology companies capable of making significant, meaningful contributions to the real estate industry — contributions that benefit their creators, investors, real estate incumbents and residential and business consumers alike.

Michael Roud Photography:

Discover. Capture. Deliver.

Just like Wallace and Greiwe recognized a void in venture capitalism that was waiting to be filled, Michael Roud is a corporate headshot photographer in Los Angeles who has recognized an opportunity to help real estate technology and venture capital firms realize their full potential. Many new technology corporations that are creating their visual identity look to photographers like Michael Roud to help create that identity in the changing and ever-growing marketplace.

As an LA photographer for tech business, this realization was all Roud needed to develop a simple process that allows him to use his artistic skill to communicate the essence of a business through pictures.

Headshots for Tech Business Silicone Valley

Questions & Thought Process

Roud and his team discover their tech clients by asking questions that drive the thought process they use to capture and deliver the best, most revealing photos for their clients. Some of the questions Roud often asks his clients include:

What’s the feel of your company?
Who are you trying to appeal to?
Who makes up your target audience?

Roud uses the answers his clients provide to develop a game plan to portray his clients’ businesses in the most appealing and appropriate way possible. Once his plan is in place, Roud then analyzes the location and its light. Using apps, Roud and his team track the lighting in the space to determine the time of day that will look the best. By tracking the space’s lighting, Roud can determine if additional light is needed for the shoot.

Michael Roud Photography for 5th Wall Venture Capitalists

Making a Shoot Successful

Roud and his team are dedicated to making every shoot a success. As an accomplished photographer with many credits to his name, Roud adopts a fun, personable approach to his work. Given his years of experience, Roud has the skills necessary to expertly select the spaces that will visually represent his clients’ brands the way they want them to be represented.

Silicone Valley Tech Business Headshot

A big part of making a shoot successful is being prepared to overcome challenges, which Roud and his team are always ready to do. One of the most common challenges that Michael Roud Photography faces is when all of the partners aren’t available on the same day. While it’s not a problem for Roud and his team to return to a location to take additional pictures, the challenge lies in making it seem as if photos taken on separate days were actually taken on the same day, at the same time.

As one of Los Angeles’ most sought-after photographers and directors, this is a challenge Roud rises to every time, and it occurs without exception.

Headshot Photography for Fifth Wall venture capital firm in Silicone Valley

Breathe New Life Into Your Brand Image

Not all Los Angeles corporate headshot photographers are made the same. If you’re looking for one who can bring an energy to your business and breathe new life into how people feel about your company after they see your visuals, you’ve found what you’re looking for with Michael Roud Photography.

Michael Roud Photography can build your brand without a word. To get started, contact us today!

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