Don't Waste Time/Money - Ask These 8 Questions to Photographers Before Choosing

Don't waste a lot of time and money. Make sure you ask these 8 questions to any photographer that you're thinking about using before you hire the photographer. So when you watch this video, you are going to learn very specific questions so that when you are searching for a photographer, you're going to know which one is the perfect one for you. and the perfect one to hire for your project, whether it's getting a headshot or some commercial shots. Okay, let's get going. Hi, I'm Aaron Marcus, and welcome to the Actor Career Center and the Acting and Modeling Quick Tips channel, where I share information to help people break into the acting or modeling industry, and also for people who've been working in the industry for a while and want to take their career to the next level. If you haven't done this yet, don't forget Click the subscribe button, and this is really important, click the notification bell. And that way, every time I upload a new video, you will be notified. And if you like the video, please give it a thumbs up. That would be great. So there are 8 things, 8 questions you absolutely need to ask any photographer you are considering hiring for either a headshot Or for some commercial test shots. So here's number one. Ask the photographer, what kind of type are you? And what I mean by that is, does the photographer see you as being the doctor, the professional? Maybe you're the tough person. Maybe you're the beautiful person. Every kind of look that you have will determine what type of headshot you put together. And what's really interesting is even if you wind up not hiring that photographer, if you speak and interview a number of photographers and you keep getting very similar messages, yeah, you look like the professional type to me, then you're going to know that is your type. And the reason why that's so essential is because that will help you determine What kind of shots to put together. Second question you absolutely need to ask: will the photographer shoot in studio, or are they willing to go out on location? Now, I can tell you, and as you can see, I like shooting my headshots inside. The reason why I like shooting them inside is simply because I have more control over the situation. I don't have to worry about my hair moving around because of the wind, my eyes slightly closing because it's too sunny. I just find it better for me. Having said that, one time I was working with a great headshot photographer, and like I always do, I say, look, I really prefer to shoot inside. And he said, I'll tell you what, make you a deal. Let's shoot inside first. Once you have a shot that you really like, then let's play outside. As it turns out, the shot that we did outside, that's the one that I used. I just liked it more. So look, it's not a rule, you know, you've got to shoot inside. I just like the control aspect of it. But yeah, sometimes working outside is essential, and especially if you are shooting Some test shots, because some of the shots that you do have to be done outside. So always ask that question. So the third thing that you want to ask is, are there any agents— assuming you don't have an agent yet, or if you're interested in expanding your representation, perhaps in different markets and things like that— but ask the photographer if he or she knows of any agents that can be recommended to you who he or she thinks would be a potentially good fit. Because, you know, a lot of times, especially headshot photographers, they have close connections with agents. So it could be a really great suggestion from the photographer. Okay, let's go to number 4, the fees. Look, you have to know ahead of time What are the costs to doing the shoot? And one of the other parts of the cost will be how many different wardrobes can be worn, how many different setups can be done. If you're doing a headshot— and look, everybody works differently, there isn't one specific number— but they might say, uh, for this fee, We can do 2 different wardrobes. Or they might give you an option for another fee for 3 different wardrobes. Or if you're going to try to combine a headshot and maybe 1 or 2 commercial test shots during the day, during the session, ask. Now, my, my suggestion is I like the idea of Splitting them up, only because getting an effective headshot, it's really hard. And I'm going to create another video very soon about how to prepare, how to find photographers. And so I'll go into more details about that later. But I can tell you, getting an effective headshot is hard, at least for me. There's a lot— I always feel a lot of pressure. And I know how important these things are. So my suggestion is, why don't you focus in on— no pun intended— my suggestion is just get the headshot and then set up another session to do maybe some commercial shots, unless it's a really simple commercial shot that can be done right in the studio, in which case, sure, that would be fine. Okay. Let's move on to question number 5. What is the fee for having a makeup artist? Now, whether you're a woman, whether you are a guy, I highly recommend that you pay an additional fee for a makeup artist. Sometimes the photographer has— it's all-inclusive. It's for, you know, a certain amount of Wardrobe changes and the makeup artist, that's the fee. Sometimes they're just going to charge you for the fee and then the makeup artist is separate. The reason why it's crucial is because, once again, your headshot is so important. In some ways, and I know this might sound weird, but in some ways your headshot is actually more important than your acting skills. And you're probably wondering, What is this guy talking about? Let me tell you why I firmly believe this. Because in order to show off your acting skills, in order to get the audition, how is that going to happen? Somebody has to see your headshot. So if you don't have an effective headshot, they're probably not going to ask you to audition for the project, in which case All of your tremendous acting skills are never going to be known. So that's why it's so, it's so important. So you want to make sure that you look great. Now look, I've been doing makeup for a long time on myself before some modeling jobs. Sometimes they just don't have the funds, it's a smaller project. So I know how to do basic makeup for the camera. Still, I always have a makeup artist there because I know they are going to make me look better. This is what they do. And the other thing that's great is you will have a second pair of eyes watching you during the photo shoot. You can't see yourself. The makeup artist can look into the camera and see what you're looking like after the shots are done, looking at the monitor. So I highly recommend that you pay an additional fee and always have a makeup artist. I know sometimes some photographers will say, yeah, it's only for women, men don't— I'm telling you, you really want to have makeup done. So one other piece of information about the makeup artist. I know that sometimes people will say, actors or models will say, hey, look, I know a makeup artist, you know, I can bring him or her to the shoot. It will be less expensive for me than hiring the photographer's recommended makeup artist. Don't do that either. Let me give you a perfect example why. It's almost like, let's say you hire a builder and you tell the builder, look, instead of sending in your electrician, I'm going to bring in my own electrician because it will be a little bit less expensive for me. Well, what happens if there's a problem and something shorts out? Well, if it's your electrician, then you're stuck. You know, if it's somebody else's, then they will take care of it. Just like with the photographer, if the photographer brings in their own makeup artist and something doesn't look right, then that's going to be their responsibility. If it's yours and things don't work, then you're going to have a problem. And the makeup artist that is recommended by the photographer knows the photographer's already knows what to do with models or actors on that set. So anyhow, highly recommend the makeup artist and use the one that's recommended by the photographer. Number 6, are there fees for retouching any photos that are done? Now, you've got to be really careful with retouching. I, I've I've spoken with some people, and I remember there was one person in particular, so I'm not going to mention any names, who had this really long, deep scar going across her face. And she said, yeah, I'm really not concerned. I'm just going to have it retouched afterwards so you can't see it. Here is the problem. If you know how to use makeup and you can use the makeup in a way that covers up a scar or covers up some wrinkles or whatever it is on your face so that you can't see it while you're shooting, then that's great. Yeah, certainly you can get it retouched. If it's something that you can't change, then don't get it retouched because you need to look like your headshot. You don't want to be in a situation where— and sometimes you get hired directly from your headshot or maybe some commercial shots, and you don't want to walk up on a— Onto a set and have people say, wait a minute, I didn't see this in the headshot. So kind of like with everything else that I discuss in the industry, be honest and let people see what you look like. And, and look, I know sometimes people want to cover up aging things, and if it's not something that can be done with makeup, it's okay. We all age. I mean, that's, that's a positive thing that we are getting older. So it's okay to do that. Just don't do any kind of retouching that you can't do with makeup. Okay, number 7, will the photographer offer this service to you? And if not, is there a fee for that? Ask the photographer, you know, after we do the session, would you be willing to go through all the shots that we do And maybe choose your top 5 or your top 10, you know, whatever number you want to ask. And so that way you get one professional's opinion about which shot he or she likes the best. I mean, most photographers will do that for you, but I would ask that ahead of time just to make sure. Let's go to question number 8. More than just the way that the photographer responds to your questions. You know, what kind of answers are you getting? You know, is it within your budget? Um, you know, does, does the person give you good suggestions, good ideas, offering agents' names and things like that? Forget all that stuff. Here's what your decision will also be based on. your feeling about the photographer. And look, I'm not saying you have to be in love with your photographer, but what you do need is to feel comfortable with the photographer. And I'm not saying, you know, you feel like the photographer might do something weird with— I'm not— that's not what I'm talking about. But just that you can feel relaxed with the photographer. And, you know, even if, like, while you're having a conversation, Prior to making decision. If, you know, if you just say, boy, I get really nervous, you know, during, you know, headshot sessions or test shots, and, and see what kind of response you get. And if you're really not getting anything in the way of help, then I can tell you, if you feel uncomfortable during the shoot, you might be able to fool some of the people in the room. You're not going to fool the camera, and that stiffness will come through in the shots, and that's not what you want. And I'm not saying the photographer is going to take away all of your nervousness. Hey, look, and this is a whole other workshop and a whole other video, uh, that, that I can do just talking about nervousness, uh, during a shoot and things like that, which happens to every, you know, pretty much everybody being nervous. Is great, but there's a difference between being nervous and kind of shutting down and not being able to relax at all and just looking very stiff in your shots. So you want somebody who can hear you, who knows how to talk to you, who knows how to relax you. That is really crucial. So use these 8 questions and interview. A number of different photographers. And just always keep this in the back of your mind. And look, I can tell you, this took me years to get to, to get to this place. But the fact is, any photographer that you hire is working for you. You're not working for them. Look, if you get hired for a commercial modeling job, yeah, then you're working for the photographer, you're working for the ad agency, all these people. But when you are hiring a photographer for a headshot or a test shot, You're the boss. They work for you. And so always keep that in mind. And you want somebody who seems very talented. You know, you can look at the photographer's work. Maybe you can talk to some other clients that they've had. And but most importantly, just go with your gut and see if you feel comfortable. Working with that photographer. So I hope this was really helpful to you. Please let other people know if during your process and journey of finding a photographer, did you use any of these questions? Did you have other questions or other requirements or other strategies that you used to help you find the right photographer? Or maybe you didn't find the right photographer. Whatever it is, please leave a comment below so that way we can all learn from each other. And that's why— and I asked at the very beginning— please subscribe, click the notification bell. If you like the video, give it a thumbs up. And most importantly, help, help your fellow actors and/or models and share this link so we can all learn from each other and continue to build a family of industry professionals who are out there truly trying to help each other. I'm Aaron Marcus, and I can't wait to talk with you again soon. See ya.