Renee Farias's Lounge Discussions

Hello Community,

My name is Renee and I am a full-time photographer based in Los Angeles. I have been a photographer since 1996. I fell in love with photography as a child, and after 8 years in the US Army as a combat medic, I ETS out and started my career as a photographer.

My work entails advertorial/fashion photography, celeb portraits, and headshots.

Feel free to review my work here, www.reneefarias.com

All the best.

Hello my name is Renee and I have been a full time photographer for about 21 years. I produce commercial work of all types and headshots. Feel free to DM and I will send you my portfolio websites ASAP. Thanks.

Attention actors! Most of you understand how crucial a good headshot is. If you read my last blog post, I briefly discussed why they are so important. Your headshot needs to capture your type and natural essence, and must leave a lasting impression on a casting director or agent. The first step to getting your money headshot is to choose the right photographer. Due to the rise of social media and our easy access to cameras nowadays, so many people are claiming to be photographers. It can be hard to know who to trust and overwhelming when you first start your search. For you lost souls, I am here to help! Before you schedule a shoot with a potential headshot photographer, be sure to ask the following key questions: How many images will I get for the price you are proposing? Do you use studio or natural lighting? Do you have any clothing recommendations? Is hair and makeup included in the fee? Do you do the retouching? If I am not satisfied with the end product, will you reshoot? In addition to these questions, also take the photographer’s personality into consideration. In order to capture your best shots, you need to be relaxed and comfortable. This means that you need to have excellent chemistry with your photographer. Try meeting them in person before booking to make sure you will work well together. In terms of your physical appearance, you can wear makeup but make sure it looks natural. You still want to look like you, so avoid caking on the makeup. When you get in front of an agent or casting director, there should be no surprises! You need to look exactly like your photo. And finally, don’t necessarily believe that the more expensive headshots are going to be better quality. So many factors come into play, and I mentioned a few of them in this blog. If you would like to learn more or schedule a no obligation consultation, feel free to contact me!

For those of you who are new to Hollywood, welcome! The 2017 pilot season is quickly approaching, and it is an exciting time to start your acting career. Television is taking over the entertainment world, thanks to Netflix, HBO Go, etc., which is why pilot season is so exciting for aspiring actors! It’s time to hit the ground running and begin your search for representation, introduce yourself to casting folks and gain the experience necessary to prep you for the important months of January through March. I’m here to tell you, and I’m sure veteran actors would agree, that your headshots are going to be vital to your success as a working actor. It is the first impression that agents, casting directors and anyone capable of helping you in your career will have of you. Although no one can guarantee you success in Hollywood (if a manager or agent tells you they can, head for the hills!), it is important for you to invest in yourself in order to advance your career. The acting profession requires the proper marketing and branding of your image. You have to ask yourself, “What is my brand? What is my type?” Your headshots should embody that type. Great headshots will open doors for you. Here are a couple of tips on how to have a great session: 1) Choose a photographer that you are comfortable with. If you are uncomfortable, it will be apparent in your photos. 2) Have an idea of photos that you would like to get out of the shoot. You can even show the photographer samples of photos you like so that they know what you want. While “making it” is completely in your hands, a well-planned photo session and unwavering determination can bring you many opportunities. Feel free to contact me for more information and planning a great headshot session. :)

Some guy in another post said a DRSL are only ment for stills. But with Tech advances I would like to disagree. What do other people think?