Hi all,
I'm less than 24 hours away from a major image change... I'm going to get my hair permed, guys! I've decided that I'm sick of looking like everyone else- ie the poker straight hair look. I thought that I might go a bit pre-raph like I was in the late eighties. Go for the posh horsey roles and the like.
Thing is, I'd been thinking about it for a few months and I wish I'd done it sooner, as now the whole of the fashion world has gone curly!
Ahhhgh! I'm going to look like everyone else again!!!
Personally, I blame that "Ashes to Ashes"...all this eighties retro stuff.
I could have just curled it with the tongs but it just doesn't stay looking nice for long enough- probably not even long enough for the photo shoot! So tomorrow's the day...
I'll be getting some more pics done in a week or so, so any opinions will be appreciated.
Anyone else looking to a drastic image change? It's fun, if nothing else!
Oh, Sharron! Why do you feel it neccessary to change your 'image'?
The third photo down on your set of pictures shows you as you are! The one you use for the main headshot is one that tries to show someone of 'determination'. But could be translated as 'desperation', I guess.
No! Don't do it! You are a lovely lady with fantastic hair and natural warmth which exudes confidence in the third pic down! Save yourself the money and just change your main headshot to that one!
When you've curled your hair will you feel any different? The women with naturally curly hair all want to be 'straighties' anyway. I know. I'm an old man who has lived with both 'types' of hair. (Forgive the male generalisation. We are a shallow species.)
Be confident in who YOU are. Your hair will follow! There is absolutely no reason to think that drastic cosmetic change will make your career blossom. Be YOURSELF! Life becomes so much easier. THEN your career will follow too.
I have to agree with Alan regarding your headshots. The 3d one down is much better than the one you use, it's really lovely, change your main headshot!
As far as curly hair is concerned, do whatever you feel like doing! But do it for you, not for work! And you'll need new headshots.
Let us know if you do it and show us the pics!
x
Or why not have some shots taken with your hair tonged? Then you've got pictures to show both styles without the committment to perming which can be a little damaging.
Third picture. Definitely. The others aren't as nicely lit, and feel a little less professional than the third one (feel free to throw a shoe at me, if it was taken by a brother/friend/lover).
As a wavy girly (for which there is little demand as I fall between two barbers stools) it's way better to have straight hair that you can curl, as it's far, far harder to straighten permed or curly hair.
I think most CDs look at the face, as they know hair can change in the makeup dept. Mostly having healthy hair is important, so perming...no. Please, no!
Hey I recently cut all my hair off and actually the change is as good as a holiday- Nothing is permanent and having worked at a hairdresser for a year Nothing is irreversable- If you wanna perm your hair you go for it. If not however the 3rd pictures IS a GREAT shot- Use it- Use it- Use it!
Thanks guys for all the advice!
Being the stubborn type I would have gone ahead regardless! It's really interesting that so many of you think that number 3 is the one I should use. Those were taken in 1996! I just started to think that a. I must have aged in that time and b. that particular photographer has a certain regogniseable style that I started to think was making me look like everyone else, and as you appreciate, that isn't what I like about my image!
I'm getting my pics done with Diego who has done some really nice work.
My hair is now done and I love it, so whether or not it's going to get me work, it makes me happy, though a little poorer!
I do have a lack of well-lit shots so I will concentrate on those and I've talked it over with Diego.
Thanks for all the comments, they are really appreciated and watch this space for the new photo!
PS- I might try change over the headshot in the meantime and see if it changes anything!
x
Being a very nosy person I just read Alan's post and then looked at your photos. I know you're asking about hair really but I agree with Alan, you are so much more interesting looking in the Chris Baker photos than the one you are currently using as your main CCP headshot.
As for perming your hair make sure you find it very good hairdressers I had one or two bad perms in the 80s and remember coming home and weeping because my hair been turned into an old grannies.
I was watching breakfast TV this morning and two celebrity hairdressers were being interviewed about the return of the 80s perm. Their opinion was that it was much better to curl your hair with hair straighteners, as this way you keep your hair looking shiny and healthy. Perms make your hair look very mat and can be damaging. They also pointed out that Keeley Hawes in the" Ashes to Ashes" programme has not had her hair permed but the make-up department have used rollers.
The thing is, women see their hair as more than just hair - it's a statement about themselves. Every woman I know who broke up with their partner (and that's every woman I know :-) ) changed their hairstyle - I've gone from permed and big to Liza Minelli in Cabaraet - and a lot of the changes were to do with starting afresh. It's a statement saying, 'right, I'm ready for a change -bring it on.'
Cheers
Whatever makes you happy, I'd say...but, of course, re:casting, the rule always has to be: if it's a mjaor change in look, and going to be a permanent one for the forseeable future, then make sure the headshots reflect it. I was only talking literally the other day to a film director (a man, of course) who was telling me how he was mortified when he cast someone on the basis of a photo in which they were shaven-headed to discover at audition that they had grown a full quiff since the photo was taken. It wasn't that he didn't get cast (I think he took to the face), but it sure as hell cocked up some of the shots he'd had in mind when he invited him for audition. I think embodying the precise look on the headshot is more important for film/TV than it may be for stage work, but you have to be careful with how the portrayal in the photos matches yourself. Frankly, if the portrait shots everyone likes were taken over a decade ago, then you've made the right decision not to use them anymore I think...but I imagine what is being said is that those shots have far more character than the current ones...so you should perhaps try and emulate something of that style in the next series of headshots you get taken.
As usual Lee, you make a very good point!
Let's say we send a letter for a casting on here we have a choice of photos to send with it, but what not a lot realise, our profile is linked, so they see, more than you think. the image linked to the profile!
You may have sent them an up to date, relevant photo, but unless stated, for their perusal against other applicants, they see what we ourselves, glue to our profile.
This may be taken into consideration, but it's relevant to say, keep whatever look you wish to represent yourself, as your headshot in compliance with your pofile.
Any changes you wish to make in the interrim, bear in mind the castings you've put yourself forward for, and send updates to those still pending, that way no nasty surprises lay in store!
True Kenny. Though if I'm sending a certain headshot then I'm saying to the Casting Director- "this is the face that I think you want". My profile says "oh and here are some more"!
I've gone for a couple of castings from the site in the last couple of days and have had to add in my cover note that my hair is changing as of today.
I don't know how quick Diego is from shoot to contact sheet, but hopefully I'll have some pics up in about a fortnight. And in good time for the Spotlight book!
What I will certainly do is take careful note of what people like from my current porfolio, both from you guys and the handful of agents that I've talked to in the last few months and build on that. (Agents that haven't taken me on- hence the decision to go for an image change!)
It's not just for my career- I'd been a bit down this last week or so and this has given me a bit of a boost!
Ta-da!
There's a couple more on my profile, possibly this new main headshot is a good "all purpose" shot... I'll see what I get back from the headshot review service.
In the meantime I thought it's only fair ro resolve this discussion with an end result!
x
Ah, bless you my dears.
Just been on the Spotlight Breakdown, looking at a job that came in. "20-30, slim, long straight hair..."
I nearly fell off my chair laughing!
Don't care- I love my new (old) look!
Your new hair looks great and your new headshot looks great!!!
I think it's a very successful change of image!
I hope this new found confidence will bring you lots of work! :-)
Yes.It works well, Sharon!
Well done. You certainly look far more confident in those shots.
I wish I could have curly hair now!!!
(Any hair would be nice, to be honest!)
Alan
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