Here are some valuable tips and advice to help you select the proper wardrobe for your ACTING HEADSHOT session:

• Think about that first impression. Make sure your hair, make-up and overall look is the way you look when you audition.
• You can't slim down in 24 hours, but you can look thinner by making a few strategic clothing choices.
• Lose the pleats. Pleated pants add 5 to 10 pounds to your frame because they balloon out and make your hips appear bigger.
• Go monochromatic. Wearing one color from head to toe elongates your look. Dark tones enhance the effect.
• Wear what fits. Tight clothes make you look heavier because you bulge everywhere, and loose ones make you look like you're hiding something. If everything fits just right, you can give the illusion of thinness.
• Bring a good selection of clothing! Never feel like you are bringing too much. When in doubt about what to bring, just bring it and I will help you decide. Remember, I have worked as a fashion stylist. What might look good on you in person may not look good on camera.
• Dark outfits are recommended over light ones for theatrical headshots. Dark colors work beautifully and enhance you skin tones. For commercial headshots bright colors work best.
• Stay away from pastel colors, large prints, stripes, writings or patterns unless they are monochromatic. Boat necks tend to make you look boxy, avoid them. V-necks for women are very pleasing.
• Avoid seasonal looks, and too many accessories like huge earrings or massive diving watches. Remember less is more unless you doing a fashion shoot.
• Let your personality and eyes do the talking, not the clothing. Think of your clothing as an accessory and your face as the main focal point. We want casting directors to remember you, not what you are wearing.
• Concentrate on looks that are likely to get you called into the audition. Most casting directors have very specific ideas about how a character should look and dress. Don't try to guess, keep it simple.
• Discuss your looks with your agent or manager.
• Ask questions! If you have a specific idea you'd like to discuss feel free to ask before the shoot.

Main points to remember: Don't bring white clothing, stripes or t-shirts with letters or sayings and keep the bottoms(pants or skirts) dark, jeans are fine.

Men: Ties are a tricky thing so bring a bunch to choose from if you plan on shooting a business look with a tie.

Women: Remember to bring a good selection of bras. The bras with the clear plastic straps are really convenient to wear in shoots.

Men & Women: Don't get a haircut the week of your photo-shoot, unless you completely trust your regular hairstylist.


*Below is a sample of what a 6 look commercial shoot can render. Many of the top commercial agencies that Michael works with are asking for many marketable characters for your LACasting.com page. Notice that Carol's looks are very natural and are ones that she will definitely be called in for. Michael can help you accomplish the looks that your agent is recommending.

Here are some valuable tips and advice to help you select the proper wardrobe for your PORTRAIT session:

• Think about that first impression. Make sure your hair, make-up and overall look is appropriate for the occasion.

• You can't slim down in 24 hours, but you can look thinner by making a few strategic clothing choices.
• Lose the pleats. Pleated pants add 5 to 10 pounds to your frame because they balloon out and make your hips appear bigger.
• Go monochromatic. Wearing one color from head to toe elongates your look. Dark tones enhance the effect.
• Wear what fits. Tight clothes make you look heavier because you bulge everywhere, and loose ones make you look like you're hiding something. If everything fits just right, you can give the illusion of thinness.

• Bring a good selection of clothing! Never feel like you are bringing too much. When in doubt about what to bring, just bring it and I will help you decide. Remember, I have worked as a fashion stylist. What might look good on you in person may not look good on camera.
• Dark outfits are recommended over light ones. Dark colors work beautifully and enhance you skin tones.
• Stay away from pastel colors, large prints, stripes, writings or patterns unless they are monochromatic. Boat necks tend to make you look boxy, avoid them. V-necks for women are very pleasing.
• Bring a variety of accessories.
• Let your personality and eyes do the talking, not the clothing. Think of your clothing as an accessory and your face as the main focal point.
• Ask questions! If you have a specific idea you'd like to discuss feel free to ask before the shoot.

Men: Ties are a tricky thing so bring a bunch to choose from if you plan on shooting a business look with a tie.

Women: Remember to bring a good selection of bras. The bras with the clear plastic straps are really convenient to wear in shoots.

Men & Women: Don't get a haircut the week of your photo-shoot, unless you completely trust your regular hairstylist.

Remember, 95% of the time that you get hired you will NOT be doing your own hair or make-up on set.

As a photographer and makeup artist, I accomplish a pleasing relationship between lighting and proper make-up that will make you look your best while shooting. During the make-up process we will get to know each other better, making us feel more comfortable during the photo session.
I will help you make sure that your hair, make-up and over all look are up to industry standards. An over styled picture may not help your career, although it may help your self-esteem. You want a NATURAL picture that LOOKS LIKE YOU.

• If you are having your make-up professionally done by me, please arrive with a fresh face.

• If you are doing your own make-up or having it done by someone else, please come make-up ready.

• If you have a favorite brand make-up, bring it to the photo shoot.

• It is a good idea to bring your own mascara to the shoot. I always use disposable applicators to minimize infection.

If you are new to taking headshots it is a good idea to let me help you make the decisions with professional make-up. I know what looks best on camera and I am used to applying make-up for my photographic lighting scenarios.

Make-Up:

• Women - $125 (with Hair $175).

• Men - $50 (with Hair $75).

The following list of suggestions can help you look your best.

Men & Women:

Sleep with an extra pillow - When you sleep, gravity pools fluid around your lower eyelids, where the skin is soft and elastic, causing undereye puffiness. To avoid the bags, slip an extra pillow under your head. This will encourage gravity to drain the eye area. Chilled spoons also work. The contour of the spoons will fit perfectly over your eyes, and the metal will remain cold just long enough to be effective, about 10 minutes.

Don't starve the day of the shoot - Eat a power breakfast of oatmeal (not a sugar-laden instant variety) topped with chopped nuts, raisins, sesame seeds, and low-fat milk. The long-burning carbs and protein will fuel your body and brain for hours. I don't want you to loose your energy during the shoot, it will show in the photos.

Avoid the following items 72 hours before your photo shoot (these can cause oily skin and swelling):

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Spicy Foods
• Limit your salt intake.
• Retin-A and Alpha Hydroxy creams (they can cause flaky dry skin that will show up in your photos.)
• Drink lots of water, carry it with you everywhere you go, and drink it during the shoot.
• Exfoliate your skin at least once a week and also the morning of the shoot.
• Don't get a haircut or trim the week of the photo shoot. It is not a good idea unless you know your stylist very well.

Men:

If you want several looks from your sessions, arrive unshaven and hair un-styled. Bring shaving supplies and a face towel. You will be able to shave midway through your session. Bring your favorite hair products. Do not put them on your hair prior to the session; wait until you discuss your looks with me.

Hide thinning hair with a haircut - It instantly makes you look younger. And if you are balding or have fine hair, remember that less is more. Gravity causes longer hair strands to lie closer to the scalp, which exposes more skin on the top of your head. By getting your hair cut shorter and more layered, you won't see the scalp, which is the whole point. It's an optical illusion.

Add beer for fuller hair- Any number of volumizing shampoos will give body to your hair. A light lager also works. The yeast clings to each strand, making hair look fuller.

Women:

• It is a good idea to bring your own mascara to the shoot. I always use disposable applicators to minimize infection.
• Dark hair roots will look even darker in the photos so refresh them a few days before the shoot. If you trim your hair do it with enough time so your hair can “settle down” before the shoot.
• Have your eyebrows professionally tweezed if you can't do it yourself, one week prior to your shoot. I may fine-tune them when you arrive but I will not reshape them.
• Fingernails and toenails should be well manicured and the polish should look very natural. Please avoid the new French manicure. Now-a-days it is too white and that can be very distracting on camera. Remember you want your eyes and face to be the focal point not your white nail tips.
• If you are having your make-up professionally done by me, please arrive with a fresh face.
• If you are doing your own make-up or having it done by someone else, please come make-up ready.
• If you have a favorite brand make-up, bring it to the photo shoot.
• Don't over condition your hair before a shoot. Your hair must be dry before you arrive to the shoot. Don't use leave in conditioner for the shoot, it makes hair very unmanageable.
• Avoid dry lips by using Vaseline before bed and the morning of your shoot.
• Avoid tan lines.

Get a good night's rest!!!

If you are new to taking headshots it is a good idea to let me help you make the decisions with professional make-up. I know what looks best on camera and I am used to applying make-up for my photographic lighting scenarios.