ABOUT YOUR SESSION
WHY ME AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?
There are many reasons. First, let me say that I have been hand picked by Peter Hurley (who mainly resides in NYC, but we are partners in our Studio in LA)) as his Headshot Crew Associate Photographer here in Los Angeles. I have known Peter for years, and he has become the most successful and elite headshot photographer in the world. I am so honored and ecstatic that we have formed an alliance and referral system through his Headshot Crew Photographer Program.
I am unique to the headshot photo business as I can empathize with you as an actor, because I have much experience both in front of and behind the camera. I too am a working actor in film, TV and commercials and used to be a top model (in my younger and more leaner days!) in NYC, Paris, London and worldwide. My modeling campaigns and TV, Film and Commericals have included Ralph Lauren Polo, Burberry, Armani, Diet Coke, Gillette, CSI Miami, CSI NY, Californication, Nancy Drew, 90201, Chasing Life, Drop Dead Diva, Hot in Cleveland, and many more. During this time, I have worked with the best photographers in the world, including Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Victor Skebneski, Patrick Demarchelier, Matthew Rolston. I learned so much from them not only about light and composition, but also about direction. And that is what I want to give you. We as actors love the moving picture, but tend to freeze up the moment a still camera is put in our face. But this is my job…to make the still camera less daunting and real.
I am invested throughout the whole process. I will take your photos, edit the images with you as we are shooting, upload them for your agents and managers for viewing, and do some retouching of the images. I am all in and want you to succeed and get into those Casting Offices. As we all know, Casting Directors are the first line of defense on our journey and the Headshot is the so important to get us in the door.
DO YOU DO INITIAL CONSULTATIONS?
It is not necessary as I will send you some information about our shoot and “What To Expect” and how to prepare for our shoot. But if you so desire, I can talk with you by phone, email or in person about all of the ins and outs of my headshot sessions and how to prepare for it. It's free and no obligation to book a session with me.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM A HEADSHOT SESSION?
You should expect to get some incredible, “active, not passive” photos that you have not had before. I believe in capturing your essence by capturing a person who is "Confident and Approachable". This is my mantra and this is the sweet spot of where we will go. I guarantee I will get the shots you want. Bring your cell phone with your music selections as I want you to be comfortable and music is all so important in putting us in the perfect state of mind. Otherwise, we have Pandora, Spotify or whatever you have on your phone.
HOW MANY "LOOKS" DOES THE SESSION INCLUDE?
I don't base my Headshot Sessions on "looks". I shoot until we get what we need and want. A "look" means a change in wardrobe, hair style, shaving for men and background changes. My philosophy is I want you to get a variety of shots, including commercial and theatrical. I don't want us to be limited by a number of "looks".
HOW LONG DOES THE SESSION TAKE AND IS THERE COLLABORATION BETWEEN US?
I usually shoot about 300-600 images depending on the session time, but don’t worry! I won't let you leave my studio with all of these. I don't want you to be overwhelmed with having to edit all of these photos. “Less is More” if done right. Believe me. Don’t get caught up in the idea that you need a 1000 shots to get your moneys worth on a headshot session. It’s about quality, not quantity.
I do feel that I have a great eye for what agents, managers, casting directors are looking for. So I am a big “deleter” of shots that will not work. Subsequently, you will end up with anywhere from 100-250 images to take away. And…I will give you my top few picks that stand out. Believe me…you will appreciate this. As an actor myself, I always dreaded the editing process of looking at my photos. We will make this easy and get rid of all of the images that don’t work. You will know exactly what you will be working with when you walk out of my studio, because we have approved each shot together.
I use a Canon 5D Mark iii Camera and capture the images in extremely high-resolution RAW files. I also use a “tethering” system, which connects the camera to a 27” iMac screen so that we can instantly view the images on a monitor during the session. This lets me show you the images while we are shooting, and we will then collaborate on the way we want to go with each outfit, hair, background, etc. I find that this technique gives you the confidence and freedom to have fun and to be more spontaneous…shots that will capture your true essence and personality. I call it…”Approachable Confidence”.
I use a variation of lighting possibilities. I generally use a kino flo system to surround your face with impeccable lighting. These are lights that most of TV and Film use. I can also mix in some strobes and do some dramatic lighting. I also love shooting with natural light, because of its nature and it provides variation to the shoot.
WHAT "WARDROBE" SHOULD I BRING?
You can bring 1 "look" or “oufit” or 10. Whatever you think you want to accomplish. We can mix and match. Bring what you feel comfortable wearing. If you think the item would look good for a characters, but you hate it, please don’t bring it. I tend to like different types of tops, which vary from tanks to sleeves. For women, please bring a variety from spaghetti straps, to tanks, to crew necks to sleeveless, etc. Plus, I have found that dresses work extremely well. So bring your favorite dresses, whether it is that great summer dress or something formal. We can rock it! I want all different colors from blue to green to yellow to red, etc. And please bring me a variety of some blacks and some whites…this is very important and a must! Stay away from bold checks and strips, unless it is a “character-type” or comedic thing. It is also great to bring some jackets, whether they are casual or business coats or suits and ties. Layers work too. Sweaters and cardigans are great as well as jean jackets and hoodies.
WHAT ABOUT MAKE-UP & HAIR?
For Women, I strongly suggest a Make-up Artist (MUA). Your makeup will be applied when you arrive at my studio. This takes about 1 hour, including minor hair fixes. Makeup will be very natural to start the session. No glam here. However, as the session progresses, we will go a bit darker or more "smokey" eyes, but never overboard. Women should come "hair ready" as if you were going to an audition. We will do minor changes to your hair, whether it is leaving it down or some variation of putting it up or in a ponytail. If you want curls or straightening, please bring your curling iron or straightener. The fee for MUA is $250 for Women. However, if you have someone you would like to use, we can talk about that as an option.
For Men, I don't feel like it is necessary to wear makeup for your session, unless you have problem skin or want grooming assistance. MUA fee for Men is $150. If appropriate, Men should come with some "scruff", and then shave at some point in the session. Please bring shaving cream and razor.
DO YOU RETOUCH IMAGES I CHOOSE?
I retouch all images you choose, which includes color correcting, cropping, cleaning up of blemishes, etc. Please note that I am a very light retoucher as I want you to look like you on your best day. The biggest complaint from Casting Directors is that the actor has too much makeup on or that there headshot is so over retouched that it doesn't even look like them. It is a waste of your time as well as the Casting Director. If you need additional images retouched, then I charge $20/image thereafter.
HEADSHOT PRICE
Headshot Session is $400 and $100 per image to purchase.
Portrait Session is $800 and $100 per image to purchase.
Each Headshot Session includes phone or email consultation prior to the session, the actual photo session, editing as we shoot and getting the images online for your viewing, water, music and some good conversation and collaboration. The consultation will answer all of your questions including wardrobe suggestions, hair and make-up issues and direction, and anything else you may require.
DEPOSIT
A 50% Deposit is required to confirm your shoot date. Cash, Check or Paypal are accepted for the deposit and is payable to MERRILL ENTERPRISES. The remaining balance is due the day of your shoot. I accept Cash, Check, Zelle, Venmo, and Mastercard, Visa or Amex if card is "swiped" in person.
DISCOUNTS
Discounts Offered to Returning Clients.
CANCELLATIONS
If you cancel your headshot session within 48 hours of the shoot date, you will receive a full refund of your deposit. Otherwise, we will have to find a mutual time and date to reschedule your session. Being an actor myself, I totally understand that last minute auditions and meetings will arise, and I will work with you in these types of circumstances to the best of my ability and schedule. Thanks!
ROBERT MERRILL’S
SESSION INFORMATION
INDIVIDUAL HEADSHOT SESSION
SESSION FEE $400
PRICE PER IMAGE $100
Includes retouching
WOMEN'S MAKEUP $250
Optional but highly recommended
INDIVIDUAL PORTRAIT SESSION
SESSION FEE $800
PRICE PER IMAGE $100
Includes retouching
WOMEN'S MAKEUP $350
Optional but highly recommended
A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the session fee is required to book either session.
“As a photographer, my forte is finding the essence of a person, and showing their multi-layered personality and purpose captured in a single image.”
For his headshot clientele, Robert offers a session that is designed to get the widest range of shots for you to use for your personal brand. He shoots all his headshot from above the chest and concentrates on coaching you to produce a number of different facial expressions that capture your unique personality. The most important ingredient of the headshot is the expression, and we want Confidence and Approachability in that expression. It’s our sweet spot. And then we can explore and vary it from there, which is the fun part! Much of it is merely technical and deals with minor shifts in the eyes and mouth. We will easily coach you on these techniques. For our corporate and business clients, we want our images to show confidence, trustworthy, competence, etc. For our actors, we want expressions that are totally different and wide-ranging, which we will consult on. Robert highly recommends multiple changes and to over-pack if possible. He always says if it’s not there he can’t shoot it! Having a wider range of clothing options allows for more variation within your session. He spends whatever time he needs to make sure you are happy with the outcome of your session and certainly doesn’t like his clientele to feel rushed in any way, shape or form. There is no time limit.
For Robert’s portrait clients, he not only likes to shoot a variety of looks but also varies the lighting and backgrounds as well. These sessions generally last a minimum of 3 hours and include a wide gamut of images from headshots to full body and everything in between.
Throughout either session, you will be reviewing the images with Robert on the computer to decide whether or not you feel it would be beneficial for your personal brand. By narrowing down in this manner, it allows for us to only focus on the cream of the crop and anything that you don’t feel would be in your best interest to keep will be deleted.
At the end of the session, you will select the final images you’d like to keep from the best of the best. The price of each image that you select to purchase is $100 and that includes unlimited licensing of the image for personal use as well as professional retouching to Robert’s specs.
Should you feel the need to bypass the process of choosing with Robert at the end of the session then we can send you the low resolution images to you for $200 where you will be able to choose the images you’d like to purchase at your convenience.
HEADSHOTS VS. PORTRAITS
During a headshot session, we keep the camera up close and personal. All the images are captured from the chest up while we concentrate on coaching you toward your best expression. That’s 100% on us and something we pride ourselves upon. We’ll coach you throughout the entire process to not only capture superb imagery but to educate you on what angles and expressions work best for you. We often vary the background colors and love a variety of clothing changes over the course of the session. As you can see from our work, we have created beautiful lighting that is headshot specific and matches our aesthetic that we believe will have you looking your best.
Our portrait sessions are where we love getting creative and vary things up quite a bit. We’ll be including portraits along with your headshots, so you’ll have an assortment of different backgrounds, lighting and we change the proximity of the camera to the subject as well. You’ll walk away with a broader range of pictures and everything you’ll need for your own personal branding purposes.
COVID 19 AND CLEANING
The studio only schedules 2 sessions a day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, which allows us to have less traffic in the studio. We disinfect all communal surfaces in between shoot sessions. You will not be in contact with other clients for your session. You will be the only client in the Studio during your session. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us before your session.
ABOUT THE SESSION
In preparation for our photo session, it’s a good idea to start a regime a few days before the shoot of drinking plenty of water and moisturizing your face more than usual. Hydrated skin looks amazing on camera.
During the shoot session, you'll also be given advanced coaching techniques to give your shot the impression of confidence and approachability. Did you know that confidence comes from the eyes, and approachability comes from the mouth? We want to incorporate both confidence and approachability into your headshots for maximum positive effect.
We will be capturing and reviewing the images together as we go. Inspecting the shots in this way helps us to determine their viability for your use. In doing so, we will be able to adjust the focus of the session to account for anything we feel you could additionally benefit from along the way.
PURCHASING AND RETOUCHING IMAGES
At the end of the session, we’ll sit down and review each shot from the entire shoot individually. After discarding the obvious shots that you won’t need, we’ll hone in on the ones you’ll end up keeping. Throughout this process, we’ll be narrowing down your selection so you only leave with the best of the best. We consult our clients on things like expression, what can and can’t be done in the retouch, as well as making sure you have a nice range of shots to utilize from your shoot. By the end, you’ll determine the images that you are going to purchase and know they really are the cream of the crop. They will go off to the retoucher and be delivered to you within a few days of the shoot. All of the final images you get will be professionally retouched. Robert instructs the retoucher to remove any blemishes. Skin discoloration and skin tone is evened out for a really high quality, flattering, and natural look. Color correction, hair flyaways are tidied up, lint etc. removed from clothing. This minimal, but highly skilled process is really important to give your headshot a high end, polished overall feel. Robert is a big advocate of natural retouching. Heavy retouching and fake looking features do not serve anyone. Robert wants you to look like you, albeit on your best day!
CLOTHING
Feel free to bring a range of different options for clothing. The #1 rule for us is that you have to love it! If you don’t feel comfortable in it, you most likely won’t shoot well while wearing it. We suggest you bring a range of different cuts, colors, and necklines.
For our corporate and business clients, we like the men to have a variety of jacket/shirt/tie combos and for the women some options of blouse/dress/jacket combos. Avoid busy patterns, textures, or distracting necklines. Wear your favorite suit or business dress, your crispest shirt, your go-to tie. Have all clothes cleaned and pressed before the shoot if possible. Pay attention to older shirts which have collars that have become soft or floppy over time, or fit too loose around the neck. Keeping jewelry to a minimum is key, studs or small earrings work and simple necklaces, anything hanging or chunky will usually draw too much attention to itself. If you wear glasses and have multiple pairs, then we’d appreciate you bringing them along in order to ascertain their glare factor. If you have any doubt about whether something will work or not just bring it.
For actors, layers are fantastic and no need to be seasonal; everything from t-shirts, tank tops to sweaters and light jackets can work. Have some fun with this. If you feel your wardrobe is missing something then go shopping and we’ll keep the tags on it in case you’d like to return the items after the shoot. We have a steamer in the studio, so we’ll be able to easily sort out any wrinkling for you. Actors need to know their “casting” and what roles they are striving for. I can schedule free phone conference to discuss what type of clothes you should bring so we can hint at your different casting and roles.
HAIR AND MAKEUP
Women’s makeup:
Makeup for the session is not required but highly recommended for all women. The cost for makeup during your session is listed above and includes hair help. The makeup is applied specifically for the lighting we use and we usually start very naturally to give you a very clean simple look. We do touch-ups and will add subtle changes to the makeup as the shoot progresses. If you choose not to use our makeup artist, please keep the makeup simple and clean. At least to start with, this is especially important for headshots. When we've got a few shots in the bag, you can apply more liberally to suit your tastes.
Whether you're using our makeup artist or doing your own makeup, it's a good idea to start a regime a few days before the shoot of drinking plenty of water and moisturizing your face more than usual. Hydrated skin looks amazing on camera.
Women’s hair:
We ask that everyone come in with their hair ready the way you would like to present yourself. We want your hair in your pictures to be as close as possible to the way you look on a fantastic hair day and can’t have you showing up to the studio as if you just rolled out of bed. Of course, our makeup artist is there to make sure it’s shoot ready and we will discuss what you’d like to do with it and make a game plan at the beginning of the shoot.
If you need a major overhaul hair-wise or you are naturally curly and want to go straight there may be an extra $50 charge for our makeup artist to blow it out for you. Make sure you discuss this with us prior to your session, so we are all on the same page.
Men:
We don’t recommend makeup on men, but our makeup artist can provide light grooming for skin and hair on the shoot if you like. Just inquire with us about pricing prior to your session. Our professional retouching usually covers any issues that may arise skin-wise, so there are no worries in that dept.
Facial Hair:
If you’d like to shoot with facial hair ,we’d be happy for you to come in with whatever level of growth you’d like and can shave or trim it down once we’ve gotten the scruff covered. Bring whatever grooming products you’ll need with you to get it done.
SCHEDULING AND PAYMENTS
We are normally available for shooting Monday through Friday and we usually schedule 1-2 sessions a day starting around 10 am. We are happy to tweak the time of your booking, so feel free to request the best time that might work for you. We do ask that you don’t schedule anything important right after your shoot in case we feel we need a little more time with you.
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to book a spot on our calendar. The fee is due at the time of booking a shoot date and time. Contact the studio and we will get you set up with a session that is perfect for you. If the times that are shown available don’t work for you, but you’d like that specific day just reach out to us and ask! We are flexible and at times can possibly get you in on a weekend if need be as well.
We accept Cash, Checks, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal as well as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, if “swiped”. The remaining balance is due the day of the session.
We work with freelance makeup artists and you will be paying them directly, they require cash on the day of the shoot.
All deposit checks can be made payable to: Merrill Enterprises and mailed to our LA mailing address: 12405 Venice Blvd. #405 Los Angeles, CA 90066
DIRECTIONS AND CONTACT
LOS ANGELES STUDIO
4106 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505.
Directions: 4106 W Magnolia Blvd
Parking --- There is parking in the back parking lot of the Studio, but there is also plenty of free street parking available in the front of the Studio and side streets.
We like our clients to be 100% informed, so thanks for taking the time to read all this pertinent information. If you still have questions feel free to ask us.
Call us at 310/916-6333 or email us at robert@robertmerrill.com.
We look forward to hearing from you! Thanks!
Robert