Mike Canale Photography, providing the Chicago area with best
quality, professional, audition, publicity & marketing Headshots for:
actors, singers, musicians, corporate, executive and business professionals.
Do I need a hair stylist and makeup person?
What should I wear - can I change what I’m wearing?
Do you take ¾ length pictures?
How long does the whole process take?
I need a quantity of my headshot for auditions, agency representation, etc. How is that handled?
Do you put my name on my headshot?
Your price is comparatively low, does this mean I’m getting an inferior product?
Some photographers charge 2 to 3 times more - won’t their photos be better?
Some photographers say they shoot more images; doesn’t that increase the odds of getting a better headshot and therefore justify the extra cost?
It is your choice. Keep in mind, when you are called in to audition, you are expected to show up looking as good as your photo.
My view is that, as an auditioning/working professional you should be capable of doing your hair and makeup for your photo session.
You will feel much more confident and ready to audition on
short notice if you don’t have to schedule and pay someone each time you
audition.
If you hire a makeup person, make sure they agree to show you
how to duplicate the effect.
Remember, the makeup for most headshots should present you
looking fresh, well groomed, contemporary and mainstream.
In general, it is to your advantage if you don't pigeon hole
yourself as a narrow type (too: comic, sexy, serious, etc.; doing so may limit the range of opportunities for which you
are considered).
There are exceptions, singers and models, for example, sometimes require a glamour, ultra fashion or fantasy look. Match your look to your market.
General grooming requirements:
Woman: Styled hair; well applied concealer
and a good foundation (if necessary), medium-light, well blended shading,
medium-gloss lip color and translucent powder to reduce any shine!,
will enhance the results of a session.
Men: Trim all facial hair and
translucent
powder to reduce any shine!
The subject may change wardrobe one time to achieve two "looks" from the session. In general, your wardrobe should present you looking fresh, well groomed, contemporary and mainstream.
Choose wardrobe that is appropriate for your market and looks good on you.
Avoid items with patterns, logos or distracting buttons. Make sure all items fit you well, are clean, stain free and don’t look worn.
Clothing that is medium to dark in shade or color works best
for black & white photos; wearing white will degrade the results.
When shooting in color, consider eye color and skin tone when making wardrobe
choices.
If you have tan lines, wear items that cover them.
The photographs are composed as either close up or three quarter length shots, as determined by their proposed usage.
A headshot session typically takes about 2 hours.
At the end of the session a CD (choice of color or black & white) containing internet resolution images of all the photos chosen is provided to assist the customer in deciding which photos to enlarge.
Your print order will be ready 3 working days, maximum, from the date that you place your print order.
If you choose an 8x10 print to be included with your session additional copies of that image, ordered at the same time, are $15.00 each.
You may choose to have other images
printed for $49.00 for each 1st print.
Additional copies of any 1st print ordered, at the same time, are $15.00 each.
Competitively priced, quantity prints can be purchased directly from Mike Canale Photography.
Print finish (glossy or matte) and the inclusion of your name and other stats, are options available at the time you have your headshot reproduced.
The images from your session are kept on file for a period of one year. You may reorder as often as needed during that time. Print pricing for reorders are the same as those listed above for initial orders.
The inclusion of your name is an option available, at no extra charge, when you have your quantity headshots produced by Mike Canale Photography.
Absolutely not! I invite you to examine my portfolio; I think you’ll agree that my work compares favorably with photographers that are charging 2 or 3 times more.
What’s more, the session takes place in my fully equipped, professional photography studio, in a safe, professional environment, and the turn around times I provide are among the fastest offered.
Common sense applies. Straight up
- anyone in business has overhead and must
make a profit.
The other side of the coin, when someone claiming to be a
professional photographer offers a price that is outrageously below the average
rate, be skeptical. I have heard, first hand, many unhappy, stories from people
that shopped the bottom ranging from:
·
Having their pictures taken outdoors in humid or inclement weather, sometimes in unsafe
areas and inappropriate conditions - having to change outfits in pubic restrooms
or hallways. The photographer had espoused the benefits of "natural
light", when
in fact he/she just doesn’t have a photo studio, the professional lighting
equipment or the skills required to shoot professionally.
·
Going to the photographer’s studio to find it is really their living room and
having to wait their turn to use the restroom to prepare because the
photographers roommate/quarreling lover needs to get ready for work. Variations
of this situation, some funny and some not, are common.
·
So-called professionals that shoot out of hourly rented studios, your pay and
when it’s time to get your photos, they are nowhere to be found. No last
names, just cell phones/pagers and no permanent addresses – good choice, you decide.
Bottom
line, how well the photographer prepares and works with the subject is what
matters - not how much they charge!
Not necessarily, 20 + years of experience evaluating images of other photographers as well as my own work, has proven to me that shooting more images does not necessarily increase the chance of getting better headshots.
A person can only project a fairly limited number of times before their expressions start to look drained, strained or contrived.
To avoid this emotional burnout, I, Instead of using the "machine gun" approach, offer techniques that empower you with precise control, so that as we begin to shoot, you are focused, up to speed and projecting effectively. My approach results in wide selection of effective expressions to choose from.