Ideal Actor Portfolio Or How to Organize Photography

However, it is a dilemma to create a good acting portfolio, organize his photography and organize a good photographer for this. Let us step by step go through the process of drawing up an actor's portfolio.

We define with the term "actor's portfolio"
Let's start by understanding what an actor's portfolio is. Initially, the word portfolio means a list of activities performed by an organization or an expert. For example, the portfolio of a construction company is the number of objects it has built, and the designer's portfolio for interiors is the number of well-designed facilities.

Proceeding from the above, the actor's portfolio is a list of his works, that is, the actor's portfolio is the number of roles played by the actor in theatrical productions, movies and serials.

Portfolio of a novice actor
However, what the director or casting director puts into the concept of an actor's portfolio, asking to send a novice actor who does not have any currently played roles or the number of played back episodes is quite small.

The answer is simple. The portfolio of a novice actor should include two main elements: a questionnaire describing the actor's abilities: vocal, choreographic ... In a word, all those abilities that are made from an actor's person.

An important point of this questionnaire is the lines with education and the presence of scenic experience. Here, in as much detail as possible, it is necessary to describe all your experience, your data and university, in which the actor had the honor to receive a theatrical education.

The second important point of the actor's portfolio is a set of photographs that reveal the actor's type and his ability to enter the image. Depending on the agency or the director, the number of photos attached to the questionnaire of the actor's portfolio varies from 20 to 35 shots.

Typically, to understand the actor's type enough 20 photos. 35 pictures are necessary if the director needs to see his ability to enter the image even before the actor is called to audition. Who from the directors will demand this, and who does not - you will not guess, and therefore do not neglect the presence of these pictures in your actor's portfolio.

How long does it take to shoot an actor's portfolio?
It should be borne in mind that a person who finds himself in an unfamiliar environment, despite his sociability and acting skills, needs a certain amount of time to "get used to", as they say. Especially if you have to get used to the camera lens. Especially when it comes to maximally open up, and then enter into the image.

Let's remember that even in the theater before the theater goes to the stage a lot of rehearsals take place, which helps the actors to reveal themselves and enter the image, and before taking the episode of the movie, several takes take. And this time. The actor's portfolio is taken about this way. It can even be considered a rehearsal for the future role.

According to statistics, a person reveals about after the first forty minutes of photography, and, as they say, "anneal", begins around the beginning of the second hour. Therefore, the optimal amount of time that must be spent on photographing the actor's portfolio is 2-4 hours.

Is it necessary to enter the image when photographing the first actor's portfolio?
As a rule, a novice actor does not yet have sufficient experience of entering the image and, importantly, still does not really know how he looks from the outside when entering the image.

Therefore, when photographing his first actor's portfolio, too much time to take photos of entering the image is not worth it. It is better to concentrate on revealing the type in the photos. And on the first photographing, limit to one or two images and then, after coming home and analyzing the pictures, and what can be worked out - to embody on the next photo shooting.

Actor type
The actor's type is the main element by which the actor is selected for this or that role. Therefore, it must be disclosed as well as possible.

When disclosing the type in the photos should not be played. It is very important to be and remain yourself. It is necessary to show your natural emotions, your behavior and movements. Also, what the director is looking for is the proportions of the body and the features of the face, look. Try to show it in as much detail as possible.

Do I have to ask the photographer to put you?
This is certainly a losing option for the actor. Remember that when you come to audition or get a role, you will not have a person who will put and guide you. I'll have to play it myself. And when photographing an actor's portfolio, you must also behave - play and move yourself. The only thing you can agree on with a photographer when photographing an actor's portfolio is that he tells you how and in what light you look the most advantageous. In this case - the better you tune the tandem with the photographer, the greater the chance to get good photos.

What to bring with you to the photo studio.
It is a well-known fact that clothing can change a person quite strongly. Therefore, do not be lazy to bring in the photo studio several options for clothing: business suit, sports, evening attire ...

Clothing should not be bright, so as not to divert attention to yourself, without bright spots. It will be better if the actor, when photographing an actor's portfolio, discards jewelery and jewelry.

Requirements for the actor's portfolio
On the acting photos should be a minimum of make-up, a minimum of retouching. Do not embellish photos - they must be truthful and show you. Be sure to attend full-length photos, close-up portraits, shoulder portraits, half-height photographs.

Photographs should be made on a monophonic background (white, black or gray). The light should be smooth, without bright light spots.

When choosing a photographer to photograph an actor's portfolio, make sure that he specializes precisely in studio photography of actors. This will give you a chance to get the best quality actor's portfolio from a photographer who knows all the subtleties of his photography.

You have a successful acting career. Sincerely yours, professional photographer Leonid Starikov.