headshots for charity FAQ

HFC Orlando is taking place at Frat Pack Productions in Scottdale, GA. You will be surrounded by a ton of great people who all work in the entertainment industry in one of Central Florida’s most respected acting schools. 

Included in your small but mighty session is a five to ten minute, one look shoot. This is perfect to get one, targeted look. Whether you want to get something more dramatic or more commercial, if you have a specific idea of what you need before you come in, you will get the most out of it. After the session you will be given a link to download 10-120 high-resolution images from your session that you are free to use. You can also order professional retouching of your headshots at $25 per image (normally $39). There will also be great opportunities to hang out and network with great people while enjoying complementary drinks and snacks.

We always recommend that you consider professional hair and makeup for any session, no matter the size. Because of the back-to-back nature of the mini sessions event, we are unable to open up our studio for hair and makeup prior to your session. Make sure to have your hair and makeup completely done when you arrive, there won’t be time or space to do it. If you are looking to have a professional provide you with fantastic hair and makeup for your shoot, email us for a list of local pros we recommend.

For most headshot sessions our turnaround time is three business days to get your gallery of images. If you choose to get retouched images, once you make your selections, it is typically another two to three business days before your final, edited images are delivered to you.

If you plan to use your images professionally, we highly recommend retouching. Although the images will look great out of the camera, our professional retouching will minimize any dark circles under or redness in your eyes, remove any blemishes or stray hairs, and give a consistent, natural look to your skin. Retouching very often goes too far and we specialize in retouching in a way that makes you look your best while still appearing natural. For mini sessions like this, we offer a discounted rate on retouched images of $25 instead of our normal $39. Check out these examples of before and after retouching so you can see exactly what it’s all about.

As an actor, the type of shots you need is going to be determined by a few factors including your market (where you live and work), your type (what you look and act like), what you want to audition for and more. Here are a couple of things to consider.

• You should always consult your agent on what you need. They have experience in the industry and more importantly, they know what you need to book more jobs.

• If you don’t have an agent yet then by default you want to get a clean, simple, commercial headshot. Basically a smiling, looking-at-the-camera head and shoulders image with minimal retouching to show potential agents and casting directors what you look like.

• Remember that the majority of casting for film and television, at least in the early stages, is done online. Casting directors look at an array of small thumbnails to determine the initial round of auditions so it’s important that your headshot is impactful and close up. A small thumbnail of your whole body from head to toe will make your face a lot less visivble at that size.

• Don’t worry too much about specific character shots unless directed by your agent. Your two basic looks will be commercial (upbeat and happy) and theatrical (more dramatic).

This part is totally up to you, but we have some recommendations: 

• Steer clear of white tops. The eye is always drawn to the brightest thing in the image. For your headshot, we want that to be your face. 
• Choose colors that complement your natural coloring. Muted, solid colors are best, leave the neon clothes at home. Check out this article on our blog on how to pick the right colors for your skin tone. 
• Avoid anything with busy patterns or shiny materials. It’s all about your face, your expression, not the clothes.
• Bring something extra to grab a quick second look. A cool jacket, a pair of glasses, something you can throw on real quick and add a little zing to your shot.
• Make sure you come wearing the clothes you will be photographed in. There won’t be time to sort through loads of selections. Bring one backup top if you are having trouble deciding. 
• Your bottom half will not be in the photo so wear whatever is comfortable for you. Heads and shoulders only. 
• Jewelry is not recommended. If you have simple studs in your ears or a very simple necklace, that’s fine, but leave the funky and chunky pieces at home. 
• If you are going for a specific character (doctor, bad guy, cop), be ready to go with that look when you walk in. Sessions are back-to-back and if you run late or long because you planned wardrobe changes, you will be taking time from someone else.
• If you are unsure, text us a photo of you in what you plan to wear to 407-617-1231, we will be happy to give you some guidance.
• Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed with no branded logos. We don’t retouch out logos and wrinkles.

If you have gone through all these questions, you should be pretty much ready to go. Here are a few last minute things to remember before your session:

• Plan to arrive ten minutes early. If you are late, you will probably lose your spot. There are no refunds and no rescheduling if you are late. Be on time, be prepared and it will be awesome.
• If you are wearing makeup, make sure to bring your powder with you when you come. The camera and lights often require a little more foundation than you might be used to wearing and it only takes a second to cut the shine down.
• Don’t get your hair cut within 48 hours of the shoot. Give your noggin a couple of days to recover from your new “do” before you put that bad boy on camera.
• Don’t make any drastic changes to your appearance right before the session. You are going to be setting yourself up for disappointment. Your headshot should look like you plan to show up for auditions so don’t go overboard. 
• Get a good night’s rest before the session and avoid drinking alcohol or eating salty foods for 24-48 hours ahead of time. Being tired, hungover, and full of fried food can make you look puffy and blotchy. Rest, drink lots of water, and come ready to knock it out of the park. 
• If you have any questions about your session or need any advice or help leading up to the date, email info@hughesfioretti.com or text 407-617-1231, we are here for you!