headshots

[rm]

I've not looked through all 505 shots yet. These are a few that grabbed me from the ones the photog said were his favorite.

Color is EXTREMELY unforgiving and these are unretouched. Just so you know. Comments on what says "me" and "hire me" welcome. Comments on things the retoucher will fix (everything from unevenness in my lipstick to stray hair to clothing wrinkles), while welcome, aren't needed; I pay people for that ;)

I have things to say about all of them and me and the process and what I see about me in them, but I don't want to share until I hear you all as I am a biasing force, although I will admit I'm in that "I'm ugly and weird" phase of this process (totally typical) because of how NOT MODERN my face is no matter what I do.

Also, there will be more posted later as I'll probably bounce around in a few directions in the process of making choices. And yes, I'll be choosing multiple photos for multiple purposes including a couple of headshots, a little special skills card (with dance and fencing photos) and various other things.

I am doing color because, despite kinda everything about me, film loves me and I love film.

Comments

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

In terms of pure strikingness, I like the first one. In terms of colour, the one in the red shirt. And the two in the suit are just... WOW.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

Of the blue, I like the top one better. I think it shows off the striking planes of your face better and the smile looks a little fake in the second.

The black and white is very, very not modern. I keep wishing it really was black and white. It just looks odd in colour.

I love the lighting in the red one and it's a good picture, though the one right below it has more character somehow. they are both good, but the one right below has something special in it, I can't put into words.

The suit ones seem more "you," the way I imagine you when I read your entries. Of those, I like the top one better as the second seems a touch strained.

I have no input on what will actually get you hired for things, as I suck at that sort of thing. Aesthetically, i thing the top suit picture and the one just above it with the cocked head and the wood paneling are my favorite.

[exbentley]

i love the second one and the last one, and i feel like they're at real opposite ends of both the gender and emotion spectrum, which is interesting.

[villeinage.livejournal.com]

These are head shots for jobs, so:

Number One conveys the potential for many different looks, and that you can portray 'soft' as well as 'elegant.'

Number Three, definitely for 'best friend/sidekick'. Not necessarily the prettiest shot, but it captures that look.

Number Five is interesting. It's a good photo, and made me look again, but if you could only send two or three, that's the one I would leave out, maybe? Especially if you are sending the subway pic as well, which captures elegance and line so well.

Number 7 versus number 6, because your face is more relaxed in number 7.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous photos.

I once had a dream that I was visited by two Egyptian Gods, and they looked beautiful and otherworldly. Long faces and deep eyes. You remind me of them.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

The first and last are the ones I keep coming back to. (I swear, if I didn't know you and someone told me those were photos of twins, I might well believe it at first.)

[liminalia.livejournal.com]

The top one and both the suit shots are my favorites. Gods, you weren't kidding about how awesome your tailor is.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

The one of you in the suit, looking straight at the camera is fucking amazing. I honestly like all of them, but that one made me actually *say* Wow.

[catbear.livejournal.com]

** 1 is a bit cold
*** 2 smile suits the fem outfit
*** 3 the upper background needs to be pulled away from the hair
**** 4 is very nice but watch the skin tone
** 5 very "sweetheart" but the expression doesn't match the pose
** 6 doesn't engage; smile doesn't match aloofness
**** 7 best of the lot.

[catbear.livejournal.com]

I note to those who may not be aware that it's important to recognize that headshots aren't intended to be portraits -- they're sales pitches.

Not "here's who I am" but "here's who I can be." One has to meet the casting director halfway by blending an honest depiction of one's self with a number of appropriate archetypes. This is so that someone who is spending maybe five minutes on a flip-book of fifty people doesn't have to use too much imagination to see one in the role in question.

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

I love the way the blue looks on you. And the one with the white button down and pencil skirt is lovely. The last suit one is A++.

[j-v-lynch.livejournal.com]

I like the first picture very much. I especially like it better than the second one as there is some level of intensity that is missing with the one with the smile.

The black skirt does nothing for me.

The brick shirt is, as you well know, awesome.

Something sad is about to happen with the woman in the black dress. She knows it and is savouring the last moment before it does.

The second suit picture has more something. I think it's the eye contact that adds it.

[gement.livejournal.com]

Without looking at anyone else's thoughts, 1,4,5,7 grabbed me to the exclusion of the others.

1 for feminine serious,
7 for masculine ambitious,
5 for looking like maybe you just fell in love with me (feminine),
4 for looking like I'm just about to fall in love with you because you actually looked at me and we connected (gender-neutral).

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

These are stunning - you look fantastic! My favorite is the suited one where you're looking at the audience.

[dabhug.livejournal.com]

No, you don't have a modern face and that's a great thing about you. You have classic features and I don't think your face is long. Although, I know all of us telling you this and you actually hearing it and believing it are two different things.

These are amazing. You chose an excellent photographer. The first one catches my "I am a bad-ass, confident, strong woman" eye and I love it. I love the fiery orange tone in the background and your expression. The one in black, leaning against the wall is indeed a story waiting to be told. There is so much there in that photo. I like the last suit picture, it exudes a different kind of confidence, but there is also a - softness isn't the right word, I don't think, but something like it, compassion, maybe - in your eyes.

Thank you for sharing these with us. I haven't read your thoughts yet and am looking forward to that.

Forgive my rambling.

ETA: In all that, I forgot to mention how much I love that brick color on you! Such a great color!

[nicoli-dominn.livejournal.com]

The last one, you in the suit, is very engaging and, I think, very you. I don't know you half as well as the zillion other people around here, but I'll say it anyway. :-)

I also love the pictures with you in the red shirt, in the black skirt and white shirt, and the first one of you in the blue, but the suit picture is definitely my favorite!

[ubixtiz.livejournal.com]

The first time through, I found the last photo quite powerful, but was not certain whether that was due to the contrast with the one preceding it. On returning now, and looking at it without viewing the other one first, though, it's still very effective.

Other than that, I seem to be agreeing with the majority. The first shot is arresting; the second one in the blue dress is friendlier, but not nearly as strong visually. You look fantastic in the brick shirt, but it's not an interesting photo. The wall photo draws the viewer in with its composition, but there's something off about it.

/the opinion of an internet stranger!

[girlingoldboots.livejournal.com]

I like the first suit pic with you looking up, I also like the one with the brick coloured shirt. I also like the blue dress pic with the smile because 1) That's an awesome colour, and 2) You have a fantastic bust-line. I also like the transition between masculine/feminine.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Long face may be long, but your face is just so incredibly versatile, making you look so at-home and natural in all of these styles. I'm envious! You look stunning in all of them, and your photographer is wonderful!

[realtsunamigirl.livejournal.com]

The first and last ones were the ones I found most intriguing (although you're right, you were born to wear brick.) The directness of your gaze in both is very striking and even though they come from opposite ends of the gender spectrum they lose neither femininity in the first nor masculinity in the last, if that makes any sense at all.

[seaopaque.livejournal.com]

last one for sure.
suit=hawt but also you just look so, I don't know, composed. real. authentic.

[sola.livejournal.com]

Funny; i know people are supposed to generally prefer smiles in photos and especially on women (emotional availability go), but i really prefer your serious ladyface and the smiling suit.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

Wow - the second one in the pinstripe is screaming... intelligent, focused, unafraid. Also a bit of a mischievous streak but in a good way.

I also prefer the top of the two in blue, again because it reads as in control and somewhat fearless among other things.

But I am a horrible judge of what would and wouldn't be the right shots, and for what purpose. And in all of them I'd peg your age a lot younger than you are, which probably won't hurt, because making someone appear a bit older is easy and making them look years younger is hard.

Apparently in spite of not owning a TV, and rarely going to the movies I still notice how things are cast and the attitudes that women shouldn't ever look their age on film etc.

[better-late24.livejournal.com]

The COLOR of that blue in the first one brings out your skin and hair color so well. I also really like just the way the light looks in the one with the blouse and skirt. I like the look of a blouse and skirt like that, probably because it's not one that works on my body type, so you should probably go with that.

[amara-1783.livejournal.com]

First uncensored impressions:

After seeing the first one, all the others struck me as being somehow trite. And I realised it was because you are smiling in the others. Your beauty is not in your smile. And yes, I use the word beauty advisedly. Not pretty, but striking, and with a great deal of countenance, to use an expression my grandmother would have used.

Somewhat more considered thoughts:

I like the first one and the final three best. Not fond of the one with all the white in the background. I very much like the one of you in the black top. I like the composition, the way you look in it, and also it seems to capture what I know of you from reading your journal.

The two of you in a suit are both compelling, and I can't decide which I like better. I'd be very curious to see any more of the suit photos.

Hope the above is of some use!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

#1, #5 & #7 (if I'm counting right): The first one, the one with you leaning (R) againt aluminum wall, and the 2nd suit - reminds me of Annie Lennox in a Good way. Gorgeous job on your eyes & mouth in some of these! Do you do your own makeup? Will you teach me?