Good photographers know about things like depth of field, lighting, shutter speeds and exposures and the best time of day to shoot to get the best light. Top photographers, however, know about faces and bodies. They know how to maximize or minimize pretty much any and every feature imaginable. Top photographers will help you pose, choose the best wardrobe, know the best hair and makeup artists to recommend and even the best places to shoot outside of a studio.

All of these things are great perks of being able to hire a top photographer, but what if you can’t afford one of the top 10 best photographers in town? Well, there are many things you can do on your own to ensure you get the best high quality photos from even a less experienced photographer. Remember that for most actors, the goal is to one day be on camera on a regular basis. Therefore, it’s never too early to start figuring out how you look best on camera and the more you know, the more you can help any photographer help you get the very best head shots possible.

Here are 3 ways to ensure you get great head shots no matter who you are shooting with

1.) Know your angles

Photo Credit: Alan Weissman

Some people look better being shot from above, others straight on and still others look better with the camera slightly beneath their face tilted up. The best way to find your best angles is to take hundreds and hundreds of selfies from every conceivable angle. Try tucking in your chin and looking slightly up, or angling your head to the left or right. Hold the camera at different angles and shoot yourself from different positions and study every single shot. When you find certain angles that are your best, you can angle your own face toward the camera in the way it looks best without needing a photographer to prompt you.

2.) Know your poses

 Photo Credit: Dana Patrick 

Just like with angles, different poses will cast you in a very different light. When you stand normally, do you slump your shoulders, tilt your head or lean to one side or the other? When you cross your arms, does it make you look grumpy, closed, casual, friendly, relaxed or uptight? When you sit, do you sit upright or do you slouch backwards and how do those things look on camera? All of these things are habits we have that most of us are unaware of. In order to look our best on camera we need to become aware of them. Invest in an inexpensive tripod and a blue tooth shutter button or use the timer feature on your phone to take hundreds of full torso photos. Study those photos and then go out and take a hundred more. The more pictures you take of yourself, the more prepared you will be to get great shots when you are paying else someone to take those photos.

3.) Know your wardrobe and accessories

 Phot Credit: Michael Hiller 

It’s important to know things like how certain clothing looks on you on camera. What length of skirt is best for you, do you or do you not look good in a turtleneck? How do you look in a bow tie or suit jacket? Do you look better in more casual looks or more formal looks? Do you know what colors you look best in? Before you pick out wardrobe pieces to take to a photo shoot, take multiple pictures of them to determine how they look on you on camera. In the above photos, the top and bottom photos are of the same person. In some, they have chosen to stick to the same basic colors, which gives them a similar look even if one is casual and one is more formal. On the other hand, changing the tones of their clothing can change their look entirely, as can smiling or not smiling. 

TO RECAP:

• Taking hundreds of selfies will help you figure out your best angles
• Taking hundreds of photos will help you figure out your best poses
• Taking pictures of numerous wardrobe choices will help you determine what you look best in