Should I Use a Hair and Makeup Artist? Objectivity It is nearly impossible to judge oneself objectively, and this could never be truer than in the case of having a professional acting headshot taken. When doing your own make-up, you may very well have a true concept of how you look best, but YOUR concept may also limit you to one specific "look" in a casting agents eyes, so you may be discarded for a large number of auditions. An objective professional will know how to bring out your special qualities without limiting your prospects. Lighting Photographic lights can change a subject's appearance dramatically. It is important to have experience applying make-up for such lighting variations so that the face does not wash out or appear painted, which may be distracting for the viewer. Especially For Men Men often question the need for a make-up artist. It definitely can make the difference between a headshot that looks professional to a casting director and one that looks like a school yearbook picture. A professional make-up artist knows how to minimize your flaws so that they do not become the focus of the picture, without making you appear made-up. Also, men often need help with their hair so that it appears properly groomed and appropriate to their specific type. An artist can also evaluate you objectively and give you a different look when two or more looks are needed. Girls Generally, for acting or a simple headshot, a hair and makeup artist for most children is not necessary. However, if you and your child are putting together a comp card for modeling, you should seriously consider having a hair and makeup artist. Alot of children's catalogue work is shot here in Chicago. Having worked on many of these shoots personally, I can tell you that a hair and makeup artist is almost always present, except for perhaps 2 year olds and younger. Its the hair and makeup artist's job to make sure your child looks as good as possible in these shots. That means even skin tones, blemishes covered, remove darkness under eyes, and contemporary hairstyles. It is not absolutely necessary to have hair and makeup artist, but keep in mind that higher production values on your shoot make a good impression all around. Boys It is not necessary to have a hair and makeup artist for boys for acting or modeling, as long as you feel you can competently groom their hair and make it look neat and presentable for camera.