I don't normally look like this...

January 27, 2020 9:52 AM

I have an opportunity to get a headshot done. But I have a hair color right now that isn't my usual. Should I do it or not?

I'm a complete newbie actor with no clue on headshots, how to do them or get them done, etc. I found out there's an offer to get headshots done by a pro this weekend that I could sign up for.

However: most of the time I am blonde (or redhead), but right now I have dark pink/burgundyish hair. This isn't my usual look and is the first time I've ever had it. I figured I was going to have no theater opportunities or job interviews this winter, so why not. I assume I will probably have to put it back to "normal" in a few months. I will not be dyeing my hair back to "normal" or have any wig that looks like my usual hair between now and the weekend. I doubt there will be any opportunities like this coming up for a while.

Added bonus: saw something I could audition for this weekend, but they want a headshot. Either way, I don't look like my usual hair right now.

How big of a problem is this? Should I just not bother with the headshot (or the audition) at all if this isn't how I normally look?

posted by jenfullmoon to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (7 answers total)

I mean, if you don't have any headshots at all with your "normal" hair, and the only option is to get them with the hair you have right now, then you might as well go ahead and do it. You can decide whether or not you want to use them or get them redone later.
posted by greta simone at 10:10 AM on January 27, 2020

Get some in black and white?
posted by LizardBreath at 10:13 AM on January 27, 2020 [20 favorites]

Theatre director and occasional casting director here, albeit not in your scene. If the headshot isn’t too expensive it wouldn’t be a bad opportunity to get a “I can also look like this!” fun oddball shot. But if it’s your standard $800-$1000 session, probably best to wait until you look more like your usual self.

As for the audition, always do auditions if you feel you can do the material justice!
posted by stray at 10:14 AM on January 27, 2020 [7 favorites]

Also fwiw! I will often receive 300-1000 submissions for an audition. Standing out is not necessarily a bad thing.
posted by stray at 10:31 AM on January 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

Ask your photographer if they could photoshop the colour, if the style is similar to what you'd normally wear.
posted by kate4914 at 11:33 AM on January 27, 2020 [4 favorites]

Get the headshots. Over time you'll have more with more different versions of you, but start where you are.
posted by spindrifter at 5:28 PM on January 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Well, this ended up being all for naught: I thought the shoot was on Sunday, but it turned out to be on SATURDAY and I missed it entirely. Ended up handing in a headshot of me with the wrong hair at the audition that night. Even though they had only two younger women (one being me) up for three younger women parts, I haven't heard anything, so I assume I didn't get it. *shrug* Nothing I could do at that point.

Under the circumstances of being a clueless git, I may just not try to follow up on trying to get headshots after all. Looks like I'd have to pay a professional at this point. And as one of my coworkers pointed out to me, you're having to spend how much money to get acting jobs you do not get paid for? Uh.... good point.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:46 PM on February 5, 2020