They where referred to as glossies. Glossies where usually Ferro-typed (glossy liquid coating) 8x10 photographs and cost $3.00 to $5.00 each. As technology advanced the photographic processes and printing techniques, prices for these products diminished. In the '70s the advent of cheap plates (lithograph) for presses opened up the industry to the masses. Now every serious actor that wanted to enter the business could almost afford their Headshot. It was not unusual in the early '70s for an actor to go to their photographer, have a headshot session and be charged $1,000 on average for a photo session. To have them printed black-and-white (ink) in a minimum quantity of 1000 would cost an average of $600. It was only in New York, Chicago and L.A. that these quality services where available. This is what professional stage or television actors had to contend with. These actors were not independent; they were represented by agents and under contract. For the most part, the agency or TV station were paying the bills.

As the industry opened up to the masses in the mid '80s to early '90s, the volume of individuals entering the market created a major problem; they needed to be noticed. Having no knowledge of the industry, an assumption was made, promoted and sold by inexperienced photographers and condoned by all the new agents and managers outside the major markets that had entered the business at the same time as the novo-Actors. The assumption was, that the style (Film Noir, check out the photographs taken by Sinclair Bull and George Hurrell) depicted in photographs out of Hollywood for many years as studio issued public relations shots, were headshots.

Today, when you walk into an agency and you look on the walls you'll see many headshots that are really public relations shots. It is very rare that you see the true headshot. Invariably it is a highly seasoned professional Actor or Model who learned the hard way what their headshot should show. You must not have your headshot retouched; casting needs to see what you really look like, flaws and all. The irony of all of this is that today the true headshot now stands out and everybody who thinks they have a dynamic; attention getting PR style headshot is really lost in the crowd.

Today, your major agencies and managers in Hollywood, N.Y., Miami, Chicago and Atlanta understand that it is the classic headshot the casting directors and producers want to see! Anyone that has been to a casting has had the experience that either as you entered into the room or the last thing you did, the accomplished Casting Director had you face a camera, look straight into the camera and your photograph was taken. The reason for this is the fact that you handed them a PR shot when they requested a working headshot with no digital retouching.

Don’t be an amateur. Give your Agent or Casting Director what they need!

When they ask for lifestyle shots this is when you provide your character PR shots. Today this means your Comp Card; see comp cards.

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