There are two basic components to the headshot of a performer.The first, of course, is the performer as he poses.Second, obviously, is the photographer, photographing. Dallas photographer Mark Oristano works both ends of the equation.
With 30 years of acting under his belt, Oristano has been in more than 50 stage shows, from Shakespeare to Mamet. And as a portrait photographer, Oristano has helped the Dallas-Fort Worth theater community with quality headshots at a very affordable rate.
“I feel like I can make people a little more comfortable, even before the shoot starts, if they know that I’m an actor myself and that I know both what they go through, and what they need out of their session,” Oristano says.
Once you get the subject to relax, you’ve got half the session battle won. And even though actors and other performers are used to being in public, the camera can always become a barrier.
“It’s very rare that a headshot choice comes out of the first twenty or so shots of a session,” Oristano said between breaks at his Dallas studio.”Since I speak their language, the language of the stage, we can compare notes on roles and things and build a good rapport.”
Mark works in studio with hair/makeup stylist Kari Engelbrecht to create the proper look for each subject, which changes with age, coloring, wardrobe etc.
Kari is superb at judging hair, makeup and coloring. I bow to her knowledge completely and I let her set the pace as far as styling goes.”
And how much does he trust himself as a photographer?
“I take my own headshots,” Oristano adds, “using a remote shutter release. I’ve even taken the book jacket photo for my new book, A SPORTSCASTER’S GUIDE TO WATCHING FOOTBALL.“
Oristano also shoots in an old-style black-and-white fashion, which he calls “Hollywood/1935.” Shots reminisicent of the great Hollywood photos of the like of George Hurrell from the 1930′s.