I recently conducted my first casting session that I actually executed myself in search of actors. So instead of going into a casting director's office to audition for an acting job I wanted, it was I who was searching for actors for my new web video project.

What an interesting experience! So interesting in fact, that I have to tell you about it.

Briefly here's what I experienced taking into consideration that the casting notice was directed to Non-Union Actors and I also stated that I would also consider actors with little or no experience. Another thing to take into consideration is that the things I didn't like are exactly that, things that I didn't like. My aim here is to make you think again about your own submissions and about how your headshots and how they could be perceived by the casting directors and agents you submit to.

Actor Headshots: 7 Things I Experienced

1. Many actors submitted headshots of poor quality. It was so obvious in some cases that the pictures were not of professional nature, i.e.:

· taken with a digital camera,

· poor lighting,

· expressionless,

· taken in a poor and inappropriate setting,

· vacation pictures,

· inappropriate poses, etc.

2. There was one girl whose picture I saw and I really liked the energy she projected in the photo. I then was curious to read her résumé and look at some more of her pictures. I opened up a page with the original picture I saw as well as three others. The other three pictures were so bad, that I didn't want to call her back. They were very unprofessional and showed me that the one that I originally saw, was retouched to the extent that it didn't look like her

3. Many of the actors had posted several of their pictures on the website where I posted the casting notice. A few of the women had submitted pictures in which they were blond and another in which they were brunette. I personally preferred to know what I was getting. I didn't know if they would come in blond or brunette. So, if I had really been interested in having on of them come into audition, I might have had to call first and ask if she was blond or brunette.

4. Another girl had submitted two different pictures and one of them was retouched so much that it didn't look like her anymore. Unbelievable! That's bad.

5. I had one girl come in, who didn't look a lot like her headshot. Not good. You should always look like your photo, because that's part of the reason why you get called in by a casting director or agent. If you walk into their office and you don't look like your picture, i.e. your hair is a different color or shorter or longer, or your picture has been retouched too much, you will probably upset them and it could get you thrown out of their office.

6. Finally, something else I saw quite a bit of were terrible, terrible poses. What kind? · Like a model, a full-body shot leaning against a wall, so far away that you really can't see the facial expression.

· Some of the women had very promiscuous poses, that seemed like they could have been on the cover of a pornographic magazine!

Actor Headshots: Who Got The Job And Why?

7. The people I liked the most, which means those who gave the best interviews, were also the ones who submitted headshots that were professional, that looked liked them and that matched the energy they projected when I finally got a chance to meet them. For me, that was very precious. With those people I felt like I got exactly what I asked for and what I wanted. And those are the reasons why they got the job!

Having read all that, my question to you is, "How are your headshots?"

Anthony Smith is a former corporate manager who is now an actor, author, motivational speaker and seminar leader. While enjoying success in his "new" life, Anthony shares his business insight and acting experience with young, aspiring actors. Aside from acting work, he has created http://www.actingcareerstartup.com and his first book, Acting Career Start-Up: Four Key Factors For Success will hit the U.S. market in April 2007.

Source: www.articlesbase.com