Actor audition headshots are printed in 8x10. Here are some Boston local and Internet-based printing options.
Audition headshots are printed on 8×10-inch paper, which is the standard dimension; any other size, including 8.5×11 inches, will signal that you are not well informed. On the 8×10 paper, the image can be printed with or without a border, but always with your name placed in the bottom center or corner. On the back side, your one-page resume should be pasted. Regular office paper comes in letter size or 8.5 by 11 inches, so your resume needs to be trimmed.
When printing 8×10 prints for auditions, we recommend a medium to heavy weight paper stock (165 gsm or heavier) and semi-matte, luster or matte surface. Glossy surface looks good when framed, but they will show fingerprints and scratches more easily. If you are printing headshots by yourself, Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte (165gsm or 44lb) produces good results. It is readily available in the 8×10 size and inexpensive.
When pasting your headshot and resume, 4 to 8 small pieces of thin, double-sided tapes are the easiest to use. On Epson Premium Presentation paper, I like a wrinkle-free stick, specifically “UHU stic” that comes in yellow twist applicator. This glue sticks strongly on non-laminated paper stocks, and you don’t feel a bump; you would feel the thickness of the double-sided tape when you touch.
There are some debates about white borders. Many people are strongly inclined to have white borders and have the name printed on the border. Some others prefer borderless prints for a more modern look.
After shooting your headshot at BEAUPIX, you will get print-resolution JPEG files. You can use these files to print 8×10 yourself if you have a photo quality printer, or you can order prints from one of many photofinishers.
If you are starting small, and printing a few pieces of prints at a time, printing yourself makes sense. However, if you are printing many copies at a time, this option rarely makes sense, because premium paper and ink will cost more than ordering prints from some labs, although you do have the full control to finish your prints in the quality you want.
Please don’t contact the studio for prints. We don’t sell prints. We also do not sell retouching work if we didn’t shoot the picture.
If you are printing less than 10 copies at a time, it makes sense to order prints from shutterfly.com, Adoramapix or other similar online photofinishers.
If you prefer to work with professional photo labs, Colortek by South Station (Boston, MA) is a good option.
If you go to many auditions, it makes more sense to print 100 copies of 8x10 to take advantage of the best price.
Colortek is a full-service professional photofinishing lab, located right in front of the bus terminal building of South Station (Boston, MA) and they offer 100 copies of 8x10 prints for $150. The best way to order prints from them is to upload your print quality JPEG file on their website and call them to arrange payment. They can ship prints, or you can pick up in person.
Costco Photo Centers seem to have unified pricing and product lines across stores, but the materials/technology used varies from store to store. You want to find a store that uses Fujifilm Frontier system with Crystal Archive paper. In the greater Boston area, Costco Deadham at 200 Legacy Blvd, Dedham, MA 02026 is known to be the last store with this high-quality printing setup. They probably won't do any custom adjustments like professional labs but it is an excellent consumer-oriented lab.
Reproductions offers competitive pricing on 8x10 prints.
There are also other printers that provide bulk pricing of 8x10 prints. Many of them are located in Florida or California, however. When comparing the services, please be careful whether you are ordering photographic paper or lesser quality printing. The latter can be cheaper, but the quality is only about the same as consumer magazine printing.
Actor Paper sells regular office paper pre-cut to 8x10. As of this writing, their price is $8.69 for 100 sheets, plus shipping.
If you shoot your actor headshots at BEAUPIX, you are welcome to bring 100 sheets of 8.5x11 office paper, and we'll trim it to 8x10 for you.