The painter constructs, the photographer discloses.
(Susan Sontag)
Talent and focus certainly increases your chances of success in the creative arts. But until you establish YOUR identity and YOUR brand, you will find it more difficult (than it already is) to set yourself apart from everyone else vying for a spot on that creative stage. As workaday as it sounds, one immediate way to stand apart are headshots that capture the essence of YOU. Sharing the right headshot with the right person at the right time can get you in the room so that you can prove that you have the talent, skill, energy, drive, and focus to be on that creative stage. For an actor, headshots are a commodity – not something that is just “nice to have.”
An actor’s headshot is more than a professional calling card and certainly more than a photo. The best headshots can catch a casting director’s attention in the moment – and give him/her enough of a pause to imagine YOU in the role they’re casting. A great headshot is also lasting enough to reappear in the casting director’s mind the next time a role suited for your look crosses his/her desk.
That’s certainly a tall order for a photograph! That’s why headshots (regularly updated – more on this later) are so important as you grow and progress in your acting journey. Interested? Good! This guide’s whole purpose is to give you all of the details you need on the who, what, why, when, and wheres regarding headshots and the role they play in advancing your career. Let’s go!
A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he’s being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a part of the photograph as what he’s wearing or how he looks. He’s implicated in what’s happened, and he has a certain real power over the result.
(Richard Avedon)
Why do you need a professional headshot?
Your headshot is the embodiment of YOUR brand and is your front-facing presentation to the world (creative and otherwise). Your headshot will work for you – as long as you put it to work. That is to say, an audition begins the moment you walk into the room. Your headshot however, may actually be the discriminator that gets you in the room instead of someone else who is also vying for the role.
It should serve as the centerpiece of your overall marketing approach. It should be a common and consistent presence that is featured prominently on your personal website, your socials, your casting profiles, business cards, and résumé. And like the Converse or Coca Cola logos, your headshot should make you instantly recognizable across all of those channels. As an actor, you are pitching YOURSELF as the brand or product, so your headshot should be the image that best represents that product. (For that reason, many actors also like to make their headshot the profile image for their IMDB, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram presence.)
Establishing your brand is the overarching reason why actors need quality headshots. On a more practical level, headshots are required to be considered for most roles. These days, most auditions ask for online submissions, so in addition to hard copies (which are still important), you’ll also need digital copies of your headshot to upload onto online casting profiles. You’ll want versions of your headshots in high resolution as well as a number of smaller resolutions that are easily shareable via text and email. Remember, projects will not even allow you to submit unless your profile has a headshot, and the first thing casting directors see with your submission is your headshot.
For theater auditions, it is standard practice to bring a hard copy of your headshot, so don’t forget them when you do audition. Many theater casting offices ask actors to mail their headshots and résumés to the office for consideration. For film, commercials, and print auditions, requests for hard copy headshots are less common, but it's never a bad idea to bring one.
Lastly, when you submit yourself to agencies for possible representation, whether by email or mail, a headshot is the first item on the list of materials required for consideration. Any time you go to a workshop with a casting director or agent, you should always bring a headshot. You just never know when you’ll need one, so it’s always best to bring them in these kinds of instances.
A portrait can go wrong because the sitter doesn’t let himself go. Even a tiny gesture, a light relaxation, a very small movement can lead a sitting in the right direction. A good portrait is the rapport that is established between two people, there has to be someone in front of the camera and someone behind it.
Jeanloup Sieff
Headshot dos and don’ts
Some headshot tips are obvious. Number one: don’t use a selfie unless you want to be ignored. Others are a little more nuanced. For example, don’t show so much skin that it distracts from your face. Here are some additional guidelines that can help you prepare for your session:
Do
shop around for a photographer that has a published body of work that you like and that you can afford.
wear a little makeup (even if it’s just powder). (This helps to reduce hot spots on the oiliest parts of your skin.)
wear flattering, solid colors.
wear colors that contrast very well.
prepare your looks based on your unique talents and career goals.
consider characters you’re interested in playing and get into the role of that character when sitting for your headshot.
Don’t
use a selfie or a friend’s snapshot of you for your your headshot.
wear so much makeup that you’re unrecognizable.
wear distracting patterns or colors plaids, or heavy stripes.
choose a pose or look that plays against the types you intend to audition for.
overly photoshop ALL of the lines and wrinkles in your face. A general rule of thumb is for the photographer to “clean up” temporary blemishes and pimples and to also lightly smooth out the skin, lightly whiten your teeth, and lightly enhance the whites and the color of your eyes. Everyone’s skin (even those with “perfect” skin) has texture. Your headshot should portray the BEST YOU, not a plastic version of you that can’t emote.
How to choose a headshot photographer
Everyone has a camera, right? And those iPhone 13 Pro Max jobbers take really good photos in portrait mode, right? Sure they do. Because of that, it might make sense to just ask your significant other or a friend to use their phone for your headshot. Worse yet, you might be tempted to completely cut the middleman out and take the photo yourself. I would argue (and have argued in the past) that this is NOT the way you want to support and defend your growing acting career. Headshot photography is all about capturing essence, expression, and emotion. You want your headshot to capture YOU – and not simply what Cupertino’s algorithm thinks is you. Take the time, energy, and – yes - expense to get your headshots done right – just like you take the time to correctly do what is necessary in all of the other facets of your career.
The best way to find a good headshot photographer is to ask for referrals. Ask your actor friends about their recent headshot experiences and then look at the portfolios of those that were positively recommended. Do your research. Look at websites and browse galleries of past work. Before committing to a session, have a conversation with a few photographers to make sure you have compatible visions for the final product and that you can work together.
Here are just a few questions to ask a headshot photographer about the mechanics and logistics of a headshot photo session:
What are your rates? What’s included in your rate?
Do you shoot indoors or outdoors?
How many looks does your session include?
How long is a session?
How do you deliver the photographs to me once the session is finished?
There are plenty of other questions you should ask potential photographers as well. Many of those questions go past the surface about length, rates, and location and get to the essence of who that person is. Let’s face it; you don’t want to endure a photo session with a creep or a jerk – even if the person is a good photographer. There are PLENTY of excellent photographers who are (a) really good people, and (b) are someone you can afford. Find ‘em and co’opt them as partners in your career.
Cost
Like with most things, headshots can be super cheap or super expensive. With the understanding that you get what you pay for, the average rate in the Los Angeles area is around $350–$400 for one look. Adding additional looks and time will increase the price accordingly. Many photographers also include photo editing and light retouching in their baseline price. Be sure to ask for an actual (final – not estimate) cost before signing a contract. You’ll usually pay a deposit in advance, and the remainder either prior to the session … or … on the day of your session itself.
If that amount sounds excessive, remember that a headshot session involves more than just taking photos for both you and the photographer. Photographers are simply small business owners who have same kinds expenses (insurance, equipment, professional subscription fees, etc) that other small businesses have and that have to be covered BEFORE they can make a profit (and … pay rent, buy food, and have a life, etc). On your side, you should also expect to spend additional time and money on hair/makeup, transportation to and from the shoot location, and printing your shots once you receive the files.
You don’t have to fall into bankruptcy in order to fund your next headshot session. But you don’t want to sell yourself short either. Your headshot is a direct reflection of your professionalism, commitment, focus, and resolve, so it’s an investment in your career.
“I've never taken a photograph of someone and created a persona, I've just discovered what was already there.”
Anthony Farrimond
What to wear for headshots
Actors should wear simple, non-distracting clothing for their headshot sessions. Avoid neon and “loud” colors (unless you’re up for a remake of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper), plaids, heavy stripes and jewelry. You want the focus of your headshot to be on YOU (specifically your face), not your clothes. Solid primary colors are great – as are pastel colors that contrast (but play well) with each other.
When selecting your headshot wardrobe, consider:
the types of projects are you looking for. If you want to work on noir shows or late-night crime dramas, a dark, gritty-looking headshot fits the tone. If you aspire to be SNL's newest cast member or a sitcom darling, a bright, light, and airy shot may be a better idea.
the types of roles you want to play. If you're going out for a high-powered executive, your hair, makeup, and clothing should be polished and should mirror those kinds of characters.
What to bring to a headshot session
You should bring all your wardrobe changes to your headshot session. If you don't have a makeup artist on hand, you should also bring essential makeup and a small mirror for touch-ups. Even actors who don’t typically need makeup should bring translucent powder in order to help reduce the hotspots from the lights. Photographers/retouchers can photoshop those out largely later in post processing, but “getting it right in camera” is much easier for everyone involved.
If you're shooting outdoors, bring comfortable shoes. You may need to walk to multiple locations, and your feet won’t be in the shot anyway. Since outdoor shoots may not have changing facilities, you may want to bring a towel to cover you during quick changes (or stick close to public restrooms).
Bring water and a snack (especially if your session allows for multiple looks and multiple locations).
How many different kinds of headshots do you need?
Aim for at least two looks for each headshot session. This will give you some flexibility in submitting a headshot that better fits the roles in which you’re interested. If you have a niche skill or look, it’s perfectly legitimate to have a set of headshots that reflect that. Show some muscle – as an example – if you’re a fitness expert (and especially if the character set you’re interested in fits that type). An instrument is a perfectly legitimate prop if you can actually play that instrument. Be careful, however. Those looks and skills should not be your top level, “go to” headshot. Follow the steps listed elsewhere in this article for your main headshots and only distribute those that show a unique aspect of your character or talent when there is a specific need.
Lastly, don’t lie. Be prepared to play the harpsichord if you say you can … or … be prepared to be humiliated in the room if you’re asked to do so and can’t.
How many headshots should I print?
You should print between 20 to 100 headshots at a time. The absolute total depends on the number of agents and casting directors you are meeting and how many auditions you are going on.
Bringing hard copy prints of your headshot is not always mandatory in the film, TV, and commercial world, but many audition postings ask you to bring them, so you should always have some on hand. Some actors I know here in Los Angeles carry a few everywhere they go … because … well … you never know …
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Frano Selak (probably)
Update your headshots at Least Once Every Two Years
As an actor, headshots are a commodity. You need ‘em, you know you need ‘em; they’re more than something that’s just “nice to have.” Because they’re a commodity, because you age, and because your creative interests will likely change over time, headshots have a definite shelf life. You should ESPECIALLY change your headshot if you change your look via permanent or semi-permanent changes such as tattoos, piercings, weight gain/loss, etc.
If you’re the parent of a child actor, consider updating those headshots every six months – especially as your child actors reach their growth spurt ages.
You’ll also want to update your headshots if your current shots show outdated clothing and hairstyles (unless … again … that clothing and hairstyle matches the roles you wish to play).
Wow! That’s a long blog post! Thanks for hanging in there! Remember … headshots are YOUR currency in the working world of an actor. Find a photographer you’re comfortable with and who sees you for you and can capture the YOU that a casting director is looking for. Get those headshots, keep ‘em updated, and spend that currency wisely. I’m looking forward to helping you in your journey. Are you ready to talk? Call me @ 310.614.5119 and let’s get together!