In our blog series about how to have the best headshot for your portfolio, your social media presence and even your business cards, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about hydration. Most people don’t believe that hydration is an important step, but it’s actually one of the most important ones to take for having a great headshot.
When you are fully hydrated, it brings out the best in your mood and your skin for a photoshoot. The truth is, most of us are technically dehydrated most of the time; we drink when we’re thirsty, but we often reach for something that doesn’t hydrate us. Here are some tips and why you should be fully hydrated for your shoot.
Bags under your eyes.
Yes bags! When you’re dehydrated, one of the first places where it will show is under your eyes. That matching luggage most of us try to avoid with fancy creams and other products will appear even worse in a photoshoot. So, for those that are having headshots or close-up shots of you done by a professional, it is best to be hydrated… otherwise those bags that may stand in your way of getting that role, or even representing you properly on a small business card.
Red Eyes/ Dry Eyes.
There are some that would say that the eyes are the window to the soul, and I find that to be very true. The eyes, for the most part, are the first thing that people notice on a headshot and the last thing you want is to have bloodshot eyes or even dry eyes that are constantly being rubbed. For models this is extremely important, as your print work is the first thing that an agent will notice on your shots. For actors, unless you are auditioning for an eye drop commercial, having red eyes is a sign to people that you are either high or have bad allergies, which in either case may lose you work. Now for those that have chronic dry eyes or itchy eyes, carry eye drops with you or see a doctor get this treated.
Skin.
When you are dehydrated your skin becomes dryer and sags, and for close-up shots this can be a nightmare. For makeup artists, photographers and other types of post-editors, this can either spell doom for a shoot or lots of extra time doing touch ups. When skin is dry from dehydration this can cause your skin to come out looking less than desired. Dry skin can make you look older, hungover or otherwise just not your most attractive self.
Muscle Cramps, and Soreness.
Now this is important as dehydration can cause some serious issues during a shoot or even an acting scene. Like sports, where you have to do your pre-stretches and loosen up your muscles before a game, the same goes for a photoshoot or acting scene. There will be times that you will have to do a repetitive motion or sit still for hours at a time for a shoot or acting scene, and the last thing you want is to get muscle cramps. We have seen shoots where our models will not drink anything for fear of having to use the bathroom during the shoot (BTW it is ok to use the bathroom during your time at the shoot 😊) and this leads to times where, during a photoshoot, that a model will either have sore muscles or even cramp up during a shoot. With any shoot it is best to bring a large water bottle and keep it with you. In our 20-plus years of working on photoshoots and movie sets, we have never seen anyone have an issue with a model/actor having a water bottle with them. So, the next time you go out for a shoot, be sure to bring that water bottle.
Fatigue
One of the biggest photoshoot saboteurs we’ve seen is fatigue caused by dehydration. This can be a deal breaker for most casting agents, as fatigue is nearly impossible to hide. When most people are dehydrated, they become tired, and it will show both in your actions, facial expressions and to others in every image. Also, when you always look fatigued, it is a sign to others that you are not getting enough rest and that either you are overworked or too lazy to do the assignment. Most know that they will spend a long time on set for a photoshoot (sometimes up to 12-14 hours depending on the shoot)… when it’s your time to shine, you don’t want others to see you fatigued but more energetic on the set, so grab a drink and stay awake! Even a quick headshot for business can be ruined by being tired.
The rule of thumb for pre-photoshoot hydration is one liter for every 50 pounds of body mass; so if you’re 150 lbs, you should be drinking 3 liters of water (or juice) per day for at least 3 days before the day of the shoot. And remember, hydration is portable, so let the hydration flow for a photoshoot that captures your glow!