Why do I have to keep getting New Headshots???

What!!! I need new headshots again?

Headshots are typically your first expense when starting your new acting business. They are part of the start up costs of your business. What every actor should understand about headshots is that you have to keep taking them until you find a picture that "pops" to casting directors and gets you called in for auditions. Sometimes an actor gets lucky and gets a picture that pops from their first session. Others may have to shoot 2, 3, 4 times with different photographers until that magical picture happens. It's all part of the start up cost of your acting business. No one knows why some pictures "pop" and some don't. No one can tell you why a photographer can create a picture that "pops" for one actor, but that same photographers pictures do not pop for another actor. It's truly a mystery.

But it is a fact. And the expense is real. Recently I had a client shoot with a fantastic photographer, who has a history of his pictures popping for actors, but no one in casting is responding to her shots. Her agent wants her to shoot again with a new photographer and try someone else. I have to call my client and explain this. The thing with actors is they just don't understand how that could happen. "The shots look great, what do you mean they don't pop?"

The only thing I can compare it to is advertising commercials, because it is very similar. An advertising team will come up with a concept, create a commercial story board, get the idea approved, cast it, shoot the commercial, air it and after all that money is spent the commercial may not "pop" to audiences and bring in a substantial amount of new or repeat business. Therefore, a brand new advertising campaign must be developed. Of course when the commercial is working, or it "pops" to audiences you may see that commercial 5-10 times a day until it runs out of steam. Then a new campaign must be shot and the whole process starts all over again.

Your headshots are your advertising. They are your billboard. They are subjective and there is no way to determine if the artwork is effective until you create it. If Actors are going to be serious about this business, there is no use complaining about headshots that don't work. It's just time to re-shoot and create a new campaign. (On a side note: When it comes to kids, their looks change so quickly parents have to get new headshots for kids twice every year!)

As a talent manager I am known for telling it like it is. No sugar coating. Sorry to burst your bubble! But if your headshots aren't working, it ain't personal. Just suck it up and re-shoot. It is part of the cost of doing business. Sometimes it amazes me how actors think that running their own acting company is going to be cheap. Newsflash, it isn't. It is actually costs about $8,000 a year with headshots, classes, workshops, etc. So be a smart entrepreneur and always save your money for the multitude of endless costs that come with running a business. Headshots, well I don't think any working actor is ever done shooting them. But, the cool thing is the more successful you become as an actor, then others start picking up the tab for your photo sessions! Waahoo, don't you just love that?

Here is a word from my friend "down under" about headshots. He is spot on.

Liam I agree with what you said on your website about headshots! - Wendy Alane Wright, The Hollywood Talent Manager

" Why is a good headshot important?
Your headshot is your calling card as an Actor and it can make or break your reputation and be the difference between you getting seen by Casting Directors, Agents and Directors.

So many Actors and Actresses I know choose to go for the cheapest headshots around or will get their shots done by their friends or anyone with a camera. The age old adage you get what you pay for really does apply in this industry.

Anyone can take a photo that makes you look nice or attractive but only someone that really understands the industry and how to help you stand out and market your best attributes will get you a great headshot!

Your headshots are the first impression you are going to send out as an Actor and it's so important to make it a lasting one. If they aren't of the highest quality then you're just going to fade into the background and remain at an amateur level. Liam Murphy, Australia

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Wendy Alane Wright Smith
WAWEntertainment.com
(818) 203-6080
TWITTER: @WAW_Wendy

Don't Be Afraid. Believe In Yourself.

Fear can be your worst enemy. It can suck the life out of you. It can drain you of your inspiration, your motivation and your actions. It can keep you from being who you are capable of being. It is a raper of creativity. But, you have to accept it's existence, learn how to live with it and over come it. You should never let fear define you or your life. That will be a life you will regret.

Performers deal with fear all the time. Fear of not being good enough is a huge one! There is also fear of making mistakes, fear of failure or even fear of succeeding. Failing and falling down only means you have to get up. Taking chances that may have you looking badly is part of the journey. Let's be honest. Everyone will not like you. Not everyone will care for your brand of humour, or style or looks or talent. And that is okay! You are who you are. You are a unique gift to this world. Stop and breathe that in. It's true. You will never be someone else and you will never be repeated again, ever. You are a miracle. And what is inside of you is special. Your talent is uniquely you. Only you can bring it.

John Kimble from the William Morris Agency says, "I believe every person on the face of the earth is unique. Therefore you are not in competition with anybody else."

It is important to say this mantra to yourself every single day, "What other people think of me is none of my business." Say it in your car, when you wake up, looking straigh into your eyes in the mirror. Post it on the mirror. This will change how you think. And when you have done this for several months, you will notice you care so much less about what people think and you will gain new strength to follow your own heart.

I hate when people are born with great gifts inside them and never realize them fully because they are too afraid to take chances, to fail, or to succeed. It breaks my heart because we are all worth so more much than we remember we are. Artists are notorious for self sabotage and fear "interfearing" with success. But remember, because you are born with your gifts already inside you, they are your birth rite to share. God has placed them within us not to hoard and be selfish with, but to share with others and make the world a better place. (if you believe in God). If you don't, it doesn't change the fact that we are all born with gifts and they are there to be shared, period. Not sharing them will only cause you personal stress. And that is no fun to live with.

The great singer Michael McDonald told me one day after a concert, Wendy not everyone will like your voice. Not everyone likes mine. I sing for the people who do and I sing for myself." Man was he right. I sing because I love to sing. It fills my soul to be creative and to express. And when that dirty things called fear creeps back in, I have to work hard to embrace it and get past it. The most successful people in the world have to do this too. When Mayor Bloomfield was asked to sing at a NY event he panicked. Even though he had spoken in front of thousands of people at countless events, he had never sung at any of them. Doing something new was terrifying. Even a very successful and wealthy man can be afraid of not being good enough, or making a mistake, or a fool of himself. The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people feel the fear and do it anyways. Unsuccessful people feel the fear and let it stop them in their tracks, or cause them to run away from opportunity. Half of success is just showing up.

Artists are sensitive, often insecure, and deeply self centered by nature have to work very hard at this. Being an artist means taking chances and being willing to bare all of your heart and soul in front of strangers, and opening yourself up to public criticism and rejection. We stand on a stage and say what do you think? It can be so scary, but our art calls us in a haunting, never let go of you sort of way. As artists we must do this, or we feel trapped inside ourselves. And that can be unbearable for ourselves and others. Just ask the people around us!

I recommend a concept called Contrary Action. It means to take an opposite action than you currently feel like taking. If you get afraid and start to back out of an audition, you take contrary action and go anyways. If you think speaking to a producer or director is scary and you procrastinate on the call you should be making, take Contrary Action. You will have to force yourself to take Contrary Action. But what will happen after 6 months of this is you will have realized that none of what you were afraid of was ever as scary as you had imagined it to be. And sometimes you will have really enjoyed it. Wow! To learn more about Contrary Action and how to apply it to your life for drastic changes you can purchase my Book "Contrary Action, An Ordinary Girl's Dialogue with God straight from my Contrary Action website. Yes, the title mentions God, but it is not a religious book. It is a spiritual book that will truly help you make drastic changes and create the life you really want to be living. It has worked for me and many others!

So to wrap this up... if you are alive and if your are human which I assume all of you are. That dirty things called fear is present in your life. You do yourself a huge disservice by letting manipulate you. You are strong and in charge of your thoughts and emotions. You can choose what to give your power to. We have tremendous power and the ability to manifest what we intend. Use that for your own benefit and the benefit of others. Focus your Power of Intention and all that good energy you have inside yourself on taking Contrary Actions and being the creative, expressive person I know you really are.

This applies to people in all walks of life. We need scientists to follow their dreams and intuition and share their gifts. We need doctors to do it, teachers, veterinarians, etc. etc., and even plumbers. No offense...we really need them to do it. However artists are my personal favorite people. I am moved to the core by people who are willing to be vulnerable and share their humanity. Actors, Writes, Singers, Directors, Producers, Musicians, Casting Directors, Costumers, Special Effects and so many more have the amazing opportunity to express their creativity and bring forth light and love into t he world through their art and talents. Yaaay! I love them and I thank them.

You follow your dreams and your heart. Your gifts will be appreciate by many, not everyone, but enough to matter.
If you touch just one heart with your gifts haven't you made the world a better place?
If you liked this information and found it helpful leave a comment! I love to hear from new people.
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Wendy Alane Wright Smith
Talent Manager
WAW ENTERTAINMENT
wawentertainment@yahoo.com