About Jackie
____________________________________
I
have been shooting headshots for actors for the past 9
years. It started when I began a non-profit theatre company, my shows
had to look as professional as possible in a small town that did not have much
theatre. Aside from the great high school programs, Cumming simply did not have
what was needed for people to pursue their theatrical side. Every show had a
marquis featuring each actors' black and white headshot...most of them shot by yours truly.
The theatre company was founded out of the blessings that I received from my first national commercial as
an actress. I know how hard it is to start in the entertainment industry, and I
had to start somewhere as well. Having a pretty good eye for talent, I
wanted to take a step further into offering headshots for all those talented
people who just could not afford the high prices found in the Atlanta
area. I began offering very low cost headshots to my friends - they were cast and even secured agents with these headshots. I also
began a "Headshots for Monologues" bribe for my high school students at a local
private school - a free headshot session if they performed a monologue at the annual talent
show - it worked. Friends of friends asked for headshots, senior pictures,
engagement photos, etc….
I hold a BFA in Theatre and
Film Performance from Chapman University in Orange County, California - one of the country's most elite film schools. As
a performance major in the BFA program, I was also required to
master several technical aspects of theatre and film - camera
work was always my favorite.
I have been involved in every aspect of the business in one way or another, and I am constantly researching what
the NY/LA market is looking for in a headshot. When I worked with my theatre company, nothing
was more frustrating than getting a headshot that looked nothing like the actor/actress.
I am still called to help out in various castings every now and again for local tv/film and theatre,
and I still get several of the proverbial glamour shots and old black and white headshots (yes, black and whites are totally out - color only). It wastes the casting directors' time,
thus, putting a bad taste in their mouth toward this possibly talented individual.
If you look differently, in ANY way, GET A NEW HEADSHOT: new hair style, longer hair, different
hair color, you are a couple of years older or you have new scars (don't be vain here, you're headshot will look
great if it is too retouched but will only get a place on the mantle and not a place in the casting
directors' projects). If you have a black and white headshot, it says that you do not want to keep up with the industry...yikes! I can help to bring out your personality, and you will have several great
shots from just one of my shoots. Your personality shining through in your headshot will catch the attention of
those casting directors and agents...and they will be pleased to see that it is YOU.
One More
Thing
I must give credit to my father. He began as a
photographer in WWII and always carried photos of the horrific Holocaust as a
reminder and as proof. Geology was his passion, but he was the kind of dad
who had a camera around his neck everywhere he went...and several different
types of cameras flooding his shelves. My dad was still an active and
successful geologist in Southern California, climbing the hills and wielding his
pick, until his death at age 82.
Thank you, daddy– I miss you & will see you soon.
Psalm 121: 1-2

Copyright 2007-2010, JACKIE GOLDSTON. All Rights Reserved