New Headshots – Case Study of actor getting new headshots

For my first blog post, I wanted to give you a case study of a client that recently came to me for new headshots. Sarah Helbys Hughes booked one of my 1.75 hours outdoor headshot sessions having been recommended to me by her agent, Shane Collins Associates. Sarah was in a transition to acting from being an opera singer and was concerned that she was ‘awkward’ in front of the camera and not ‘photogenic’. I told her that all she had to do was to give me 100% in terms of energy for the camera. In so doing, we would be half way there to getting headshots that worked for her.

THE BRIEF

Before the shoot, Sarah and her agent gave me the looks that they were hoping to achieve. This helps to focus the session and helps me to zone in on how to direct clients. In this case, the looks to achieve mainly focused on people in authority. Headteacher, detective, social worker and barrister. Proud mother and therapist was also thrown into the mix.

Come the day of the shoot and it was an overcast day with conditions perfect for shooting. Sarah and I had our pre-shoot chat on a bench near Barbican Station. She came to London especially for the shoot from Lancashire which goes to show that people do come to me from far afield.

Sarah’s years as an opera singer showed as she followed my direction with ease and any awkwardness or feelings of being un-photogenic had long gone. There was no time to feel these as I directed Sarah for every single shot taken. We ended up shooting in two locations with markedly different natural lighting and backgrounds. The time flew by, as it always does. By the end of it, Sarah was in need of a caffeine fix so she kindly bought me a post-shoot coffee where we discussed how the session went and what happens next with the images.

AFTER THE SHOOT

We parted ways with me promising to send her her online gallery of images later the same day. The session finished at 1:15pm and as promised, at 5:08pm the online gallery was sent to Sarah. The next day, she had made her initial selection of images that she liked. Two days after the session, she sent me this feedback,

‘Universally positive reaction from family and friends so far. You made me look epic and as strong as I wanted to look. Also a bit quirky, and fun, and dangerous, which is quite outside my comfort zone, but all the better for that.’

3 days after the session, Sarah had paid for 6 images in total and they were ready on the same day.

GOOGLE REVIEW

Sarah has kindly written Remy Hunter Headshots a Google Review:

‘Wonderful session, Remy put me at my ease immediately. He directed every shot, ensuring I had enough interesting things to think about whilst being snapped. He sends detailed instructions previous to the shoot, it is really very well organized. With really fast turn around it was a great experience from beginning to end. I’d have no hesitation in recommending Remy to my colleagues and friends.’