How Often Does Your Child Need Headshots?
The question “How Often Does My Child Need Headshots?” is a common question asked by parents of young actors. It is also on my mind right now because my child needs new headshots.
My daughter has had new headshots taken on average about every two years since she started acting. This is probably a little less often than she really should have had them!
In one photo session, she had some photos that were young looking and some that made her look a lot older. Her manager first picked some of the younger-looking headshots for us to use.
Then about a year later, we started using one that made her look older. That allowed us to go two years before having new ones made.
Children change so rapidly that headshots need to be taken frequently. Many professionals (agents, managers, casting directors) will tell you that kids need new headshots about every year. And that certainly is ideal, though expensive!
But chances are, you can go a little more than a year between headshots. You can be the judge or ask some friends or acting teachers what they think. If your child looks a lot different now than in the headshots you are using, then you need to get some new ones.
Your child’s agent or manager will also let you know when it is time for new headshots. It is very important that casting directors see what they expect when your child shows up at an audition.
Don’t forget that if your child’s hair color changes or if your child gets a haircut that changes the way/he she looks, you’ll also need to get new headshots.
Please opt-in to my Acting Newsletter for tips on many topics including finding the right photographer and getting good headshots for your child. And your comments and questions are welcome on any topic I discuss.
Tags: Headshots
Headshots | Debbie Sikkema | 
March 15, 2009 8:33 pm
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By Nick from Actors Headshots, January 12, 2010 @ 11:21 am
In my 18 years experience as a headshot photographer in London I can only say that your child’s headshot needs to be a true likeness of them. In particular in the UK market (but I would assume in the USA too) often kids are booked directly from their headshot and are expected to look like it. So if your child has had their long hair cut short – get e new headshot. Likewise if they have changed dramatically facially (as some teenagers do) then get tehm a new headshot. On the reverse side of this, if they haven’t changed much then use the same shot.
The risk of using an out of date headshot is appearing unprofessional, losing a job that your child could have secured, and upsetting your representation by making them look bad sending out children who do not look like the photograph.
I hope this helps.
http://www.nickgregan.com
Nick