One of the most important aspects of your headshot is that it must look like you. The biggest mistake many actors make is going to a photographer that will over-glamorize or misrepresent them. If you do not send out a headshot that faithfully represents you (on your best day of course), agents and casting directors will be misled and ultimately frustrated. What I want to achieve with each of my clients is to take the most flattering photo that conveys their personality and spontaneity in an environment that is fun and relaxing. I remember my first photo shoot when I was still an actor. I was a shy fifteen year old. The photographer put up her camera, I smiled, then she grimaced and said, "Don't ever smile unless you mean it!" I did not smile the rest of the day, and the headshots were terrible. I understand what it feels like to be in front of a camera and how intimidating it can can be. I have always approached my shoots with a simple philosophy: What would I want from a photographer? The shoot begins with us going over what we want to achieve during your session. We will go through my portfolio and discuss what looks, environments, and lighting you like the best. My style of shooting does not limit you to a "one look fits all" mentality. Everyone is different and the resulting combination of these elements is a major player in your final headshots. We will take periodic breaks to see your photos, giving us the opportunity to make any adjustments on the spot. When we begin, my goal is to make you as unaware of my camera as possible. I want our environment to feel as if you are at your friend's apartment having a good conversation. You want your headshots to convey a laid back and relaxed look. Between listening to your favorite CD's and our casual conversation, you will not even realize the camera is there. Many clients have lovingly told me, "You're such a dork", as they laugh at my bad jokes. One time, I was shooting a client in Central Park at the baseball fields. I joked and said, "See the lengths I go to for a good headshot? I risked being hit by a baseball for your headshot." Less than a minute later, I got hit in the back of the head by a stray foul ball. Yes, I survived, and the photos were some of the best in my portfolio. True story. Every shoot includes your own website with all of your photos and a list of my favorites, ready the same day. I include two carefully retouched images and a DVD with every high resolution photo from your shoot. Whenever I show my retouching samples, everyone always comments, "That's amazing, can you retouch me like that in real life?" All of my retouching work is very natural, keeping in mind that you should look like yourself. The moment I am done retouching your images, the labs are able to download your photos directly from my computer. You do not even have to wait for your DVD to arrive before you get your mass productions started. After everything is said and done, you have saved about 4 round trips to the studio and lab. No long waits before your photos go online, no hidden retouching fees, no more trips back and forth to the lab, and no more surprises! It's important to understand that even though shooting digitally has sped up many aspects of this process, I continue to dedicate the same amount of time and attention to the actual shoot. I only work with one client per day, so my shoots are never rushed. I'm not a headshot factory. I know there's nothing worse than feeling a number at the end of a conveyor belt. Since all of my sessions include two hours of shooting, we are able to shoot with studio and natural light (when available), while trying a number of different looks.
"Picture Yourself Working: Getting the Headshot That's Right for You"
Dolan is a solid character actor with theatre, film, and TV credits on both coasts, including touring runs of "1776" and "Footloose." His last headshot session was with New York-based photographer Chris Macke... "The atmosphere was very relaxed, very friendly. Chris made you feel like you had known him for years... I have been getting lots of positive response whenever I submit my photo at auditions, and have been called in several times from my mailed submissions. Everyone seems to agree that my photo is a good reflection of not only what I look like, but who I am."
"Photographer Extraordinaire, Friend to the Hopeful"
Why Chris Macke of all the photographers in NYC? Because not all headshots are created equal. Because you will walk away from your two-or-so-hour session with Macke with finished prints of exactly the kind you need. Because you'll also walk away knowing a whole lot more about how The Industry works, thanks to Macke's experience as both actor and talent agent. Because you won't have to mortgage your soul to pay for the session, and the insider info comes free.
"Chris is calm, caring, and creative"
I have been privileged to have Chris Macke take my headshots for many years now. Not only is the end result photos that truly capture who I am (photos for which I frequently receive compliments from industry professionals) but the process is lovely and stress free. Chris is calm, caring, and creative...I consider those 3 C's to count for a whole lot in a headshot photographer! - Jenn Gambatese
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