Beginning a career anywhere can be tricky, however if you are determined to get a good start in Portland, there are a lot of opportunities out there. The first thing you want to start with to get yourself going in Portland is to get your headshots and resume made up. Do not just use anyone when you are looking at photographers to do your headshots. Headshots are literally considered an art, so making your own with your phone will not do at all. You want to make sure your headshots have a professional polish to them. You are worth investing in; investing in yourself will help ensure that you will make the strides to make your career successful. When you show that you can present yourself as a professional; casting directors will notice that and being professional makes a better impression and shows that you will work hard at any role you land.
Take a good look around at the photographers in the Portland area and do your research; the photographers you look at should specialize in headshots. That is an important factor because you do not want your professional headshots looking unprofessional. They need to have that polish on them, so you can show your own professional appeal as well. The photographers that work in the entertainment business in Portland consider what they do as a professional to be an art. So the photographer that you choose should have that kind of value towards their work if they are going to be worth your time and money.
Look at the photographer's portfolio before you even book an appointment with that studio in Portland. Their portfolio should showcase photos that appeal to the style you are looking for and they should stand out. Comfort with your photographer is extremely important and will ensure that you are showing your best side in your photos. This will also help the photographer too when deciding the best angles to take your headshots in and what your preferences may be so there can be collaboration and a great finished product.
When coupled with your headshot, your resume is the fuel to the fire so to speak when you are putting together what you need for your actor’s toolkit in Portland. A resume will let any possible employers in Portland know about all the experience and acting work you have done until that point and keep in mind that the poses that are done in headshots are either ¾ shots or a close up.
When you are working on completing your resume in Portland make sure that you don’t forget to also list off the teachers that you have had when you were taking acting courses and those that you had contact with as well. They can help show that you were making the effort when you were taking acting courses. You need to have a resume that is to the point, but also honest in Portland. There may be someone that is looking at your resume; that will actually fact check when they are seeing if you are a good fit for their agency or production. Honesty in this industry is really important because you can ruin your reputation by fluffing out your resume, especially if the skills you have don’t back what you have in your resume.
Anyone that is anyone will tell you that grammar and having correct grammar in your resume can not be more important. Check for typos, you want to look professional and not illiterate on your resume. You can even have a friend or family member look it over as well just in case you missed a mistake yourself and get their input on the resume that you plan on sending out all over Portland. Having a second set or even a third set of eyes looking over your headshots and resume can really help you figure out if there are any weak points in your resume.
It is also important that you couple your headshot with your resume. When you start going to auditions in Portland, have your resume neatly attached to your headshot and make sure that the resume is trimmed to fit the back of your headshot and be sure to attach it with staples; one in each corner. Keep in mind that there are also companies that will print your resume on the back of your headshot if you have the budget for it. This allows for you to consolidate your own marketing tools. Your headshot and resume need to be pretty much perfect in Portland, especially since these are your calling card as you start your career in the entertainment industry.
