Two things make up a great performer's headshot. One is the performer, posing.Second, obviously, is the photographer, photographing. Dallas photographer Mark Oristano works both ends of the equation.
As a 30-year stage veteran, Oristano has appeared in over 50 productions, in works from Shakespeare to David 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.
The key to any good portrait shoot, obviously, is to get the subject to relax.Being used to being in public and used to being photographed are two very different things.
"The final shot usually never comes out of the first 20 or so pictures," says Oristano. "But since I can talk with them about roles they've played and roles I've played, we hit a godo rapport pretty quickly."
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 has a great eye for makeup, hair 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.
