VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[HeatherMasters]

I am curious as to opinions on headshots on websites. Especially because I do a lot of sci/fi fantasy work, I thought it might help to have a headshot on my audiobook profile with that angle.

I've made it my profile pic to give you an idea.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter

Thanks!
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Heather

www.heathermastersvo.com

[paulstefano]

My entirely personal opinion is if you like the way you look, then use a picture. If you think you have a face for radio well...

Also, if you are one of those actors who sounds different than you appear. As in, everybody when they meet you says "Wow, I thought you would look different", then maybe consider keeping your appearance a mystery.

In this particular case, I like your picture a lot, especially if you are trying to trump up your fantasy work.

Paul
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http://www.paulstefano.com

[DenaliDave]

I was asked to provide a headshot by a production company for casting reasons.

As for your personal website? That's something that may or may not help or work for you. Some people really like to know the "face" behind the voice.

I see some similarities between "voice acting" and acting-acting. A lot of the casting pages for voice actors are similar to that of stage/tv/film actors.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[Deirdre]

I've always said you should keep your picture off your site because people looking for voice talent are usually quite sadly lacking in the imagination department, and they may not be able to wrap their minds around a 40-year-old woman with the ability to sound like a 20-year-old hipster. Or a boy, or an old, old woman.

— unless you're already famous, and then you get to put your picture anywhere you like.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[vkuehn]

I don't know if it is a good business decision, or if it is rational, but here is what I think I am seeing:

People who do what I think of a "traditional voice-over"..... stuff for broadcast etc. would rather feature their voice and leave the picture behind. People who are doing book narration are much more likely to put a picture in their website and other promotional material. Whether that is good marketing, lack of knowledge of how the industry works, or an ego style of people who like books.... Who Knows?

I chalk part of that up to the arrival of the ACX "business model" arrival on the scene. Maybe we haven't had time for our industry and this new business model to settle out yet.

[Bruce]

We've had this debate in the past and the majority seemed to feel keeping pictures of yourself (and microphones... meh, hackneyed) off your site was a good idea. As Deirdre stated you're selling your voice(s) and your demos should paint that picture.

Of course if you look really attractive in a green cape with a hood you can ignore this.

And then, if you're an actor who needs to also sell your image, then you have no choice. Let your flaring nostrils fly!


B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[paulstefano]

One other thought that came to mind. If you have any sort of online or social media presence, people can find your picture anyway. A quick google search of my name will pull up all sorts of pictures of me. So, I may as well try to get out in front with the Good picture I want people to see.

Then, I have a pretty unique name. If you had a more common name, say John Smith, then you have the issue of people googling you, finding another John Smith, and assuming it's you, and conjuring up the wrong image in their mind anyway.

All sorts of schools of thoughts on this, I guess.
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http://www.paulstefano.com

[Bish]

I think it's one of those "it depends" answers. A picture can personalize and give someone the warm'n'fuzzies that they are talking to a real person... or it can give them pre-conceived notions of what you do/don't sound like. Eloquent arguments can be made either way. It's a personal decision. I split the difference... I have a picture, but you have to go and look for it (i.e. not on the front page).
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[roger]

My feeling, albeit wrong, is that by including your picture you leave it up to the client to decide what age range you're able of performing,
rather than what you know you're capable of, considering past experience.
To a 70 year old codger like me, it might possibly mean a missed forty - fifty year old spec. job.
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Roger Tremaine
www.MyFavoriteVoice.com
http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)

[Philip Banks]

If a VO has a clearly defined set of career/business goals then those goals will answer the question "Headshot or No Headshot?"

If the VO has to ask the question then first they must get themselves a clearly defined set of career/business goals.

If the VO is Philip Banks then, as was once said by the lovely, pouting and dangerous D.B Cooper, he can do as he damn well likes.

tis the way of things.

[paulstefano]

[HeatherMasters]

Hmmm, such great food for thought. I know on ACX, where I get most of my audiobook jobs, they seem to really like the picture. It makes them feel like you're a real person, and they can trust you. I think I'll use this one for ACX, and then do what Bish says, put a more normal headshot on a separate page of my website.

[Scott Pollak]

I know that, for the most part, I'm being redundant with the great advice offered above, but I can't help myself:

1) If you do on-camera work, a headshot is a must. An equal MUST, is that the headshot MUST be professionally taken.

2) If you are voiceover only, I truly feel a headshot can only hurt you, even if you DO look as stunning as Ms. Masters. (And you do, m'dear). Why? Because, as others have already said, it can pigeonhole you. A client might think you're too young or too old, too dark or light-skinned, too ethnic, etc, based solely on your appearance, regardless of your voice capabilities.

Heather: Here's one more thought: Yes, perhaps the pic of you in the hoodie might enhance your chance at sci-fi narrations, but it may also equally hinder you when someone might be considering your voice for something more serious, say a medical narration or a documentary.

Finally, I choose, instead, to have an avatar or image that better conveys my sound and style rather than my ugly mug scaring people off.

I always loved it when I worked in radio and at live remotes people would say with great disappointment upon finally SEEING me in person:
"Hmmmm, you sound TALLER on the air!"
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[DenaliDave]

Well, I do agree a picture can typecast someone. Unfair? Absolutely -- but we are told time and time again to find a niche and specialize/stick to it.

Now, if you are a 68 year old Santa Claus looking guy that's specialized in doing young adult voices -- a headshot would probably hurt you. If that's your niche, you don't want people to first see Santa and "assume" you can't do what you claim your specialty is ...

Now if you ARE a young adult and DO specialize in young adult voices -- then maybe it might help.

I think it really depends on what you offer and how your image matches what you specialize in.
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"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve." - Buddha
www.alaskamic.com

[HeatherMasters]

Thanks Scott and Dave. Great points to think over.