Nicholas B. Nelson

There is just a certain type of professional who commands respect, the type who comes in for a meeting or a job prepared, knows the agenda, the goals and limitations. Quite simply, a professional delivers one-hundred percent every time.

Nick came to me with a very specific need. He's a model, who over the last few months has been actively booking gigs and expanding his portfolio. And like many models, he is starting to transition into acting and needed some strong, all-purpose headshots. I've got to say, for a model based in Madison, Wisconsin, Nick works more steadily than many professionals in Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. He's everywhere, turning over every rock, answering every audition notice, pounding on agency doors in all three major markets. Nick will not be denied.

We discussed his needs over the phone and had the standard wardrobe discussion. When Nick walked in, he was wearing his entire wardrobe. Dark suit, sweater vest, and interesting shirt, all impeccably tailored and pressed. Our shoot utilized pieces of what he was wearing and we got a wide range of looks. However, at one point he raised his arm and a tag fell out of the sleeve of his shirt. That's when he confessed.

"I spent twelve-hundred dollars for all of my shoots this week, and it's all going back."

Like many actors and models, Nick sometimes has to provide his own wardrobe, and he's found a creative way of doing it. It's a strategy that works for Nick. "If I didn't take all of this stuff back, I'd be broke." Yet, it's important for Nick as a working model and aspiring actor to give a flawless presentation. Even his shoes sparkled, and we didn't even shoot them, but it contributed to his frame of mind as a professional, and was reflected in the over-all presentation.

It's this attention to detail, this relentless energy, this preparation that is what makes Nick an outstanding professional, and what will eventually lead to unparalleled success.

Many agents will tell Nick that this headshot is not going to work because there is too much shadow in it. In point of fact, the shot works BECAUSE of the shadow and the way it falls below his right eye. The shadow frames the eyes and draws the viewer in to Nick. "But casting directors want to see what Nick looks like." Well, first, you can see that Nick is an attractive man in this picture. But what casting directors really want is to be intriqued. They want you to grab their attention. They want to be compelled to flip the picture over and look at the resume. And then they want an energetic, thoughtful professional to deliver the goods. That's Nicholas B. Nelson.