"YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION"
~ Unknown
SELFIEs Guidelines
Why is it important to send a good selfie or snapshot?
Your photo (professional headshot or selfie) is your calling card. Headshots are the first thing casting directors look at when going through submissions.
The main reason why we ask for a CURRENT selfie (sometimes in addition to your professional headshot) is because we want to see what you look like right now and your headshot might not reflect your current look (you cut or dye your hair, you gained or lost weight, you have shaved or recently grown facial hair). We understand that professional headshots are expensive and/or you might not have had time to get new ones since you changed your look, but we expect you to look just like your headshot and it is very disappointing when you show up looking totally different or 20 years older. A CURRENT selfie is a good way for us to know what you look like NOW.
Here are some tips for a good selfie/snapshot! First of all, lighting is everything! You just won’t look your best in the wrong light. A good snapshot or selfie should have a plain and simple background and no added effects or filters. Avoid having an unrealistic headshot or a photo that doesn't look like you.
Let’s start with the “DON’Ts”…
Do not submit photos with sunglasses, hats and other people in the shot. It's difficult to make out your features in a picture wearing sunglasses and hats, taken from a distance, or in a low-angle shot taken from the bottom of your chin up. And PLEASE avoid using filters and effects, flower crowns, dog ears, deer eyes, etc. Avoid selfies in the bathroom mirror. And one more thing, don’t send a collage of photos.
Now for the “DOs”.
Send a good quality snapshot or selfie. The first rule of a good photo is to pay attention to lighting. Turn toward a window with natural light, or better yet, go outside and take advantage of natural lighting. The framing of the photo and what's in the photo, YOU, are very important. You’ll want the camera at eye-line or just above your eye-line, angled slightly down. Ideally a good snapshot or selfie should have a plain and simple background with no added effects or filters (some light retouching is ok… Like removing that one pimple that showed up this morning! It happens to everyone :)). Wear something simple, not too busy, not too many patterns. Not too much jewelry. Always keep it current, especially if you cut or dye your hair, if you gain or lose weight, if you have shaved or recently grown facial hair.
Below are some examples of good shots (left) and not so good shots (right).
DO
DON'T
