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Everything you need to know about actor headshots, all in one place.
Need a Professional Actor Headshot? Click here to visit our Actor Headshots website. 
Not enough time to read this now? Download a PDF version to read later (even without internet)! Scary Fact: Some actors spend YEARS using shots that aren't taken seriously by casting directors, and they wonder why they never get called in for auditions. They either don't know that their shots aren't good... or they think they have to spend TONS of money for a good one! This guide will teach you everything you need to know about getting a great actor headshot. It's absolutely possible to get an extremely effective headshot without breaking the bank (or having to join a months-long waiting list to work with a specific photographer). Here's some of what's covered in this Ultimate Guide:
Ready to get started? Actor Headshots: The Ultimate Guide
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Why it's good:
Her expression is very natural – there is no tension in her face. This image has been only lightly photoshopped so you can still see some imperfections on the face, which makes it look real. She looks confident, relaxed and we get a sense that she's an experienced actor. She looks confident in herself, which tells casting directors that she can act. |
Why it's not so good:
He looks uncomfortable and has a weird posture – his head is tilted at an odd angle. The background is distracting with the lights on the left side and the harsh lines on the right. Even though it has not been retouched, that's not a problem here – the biggest problem is that his expression makes him look inexperienced and like he isn't a skilled actor |
Why it's good:
He looks very natural in the shot. Even though he has a serious expressions there is no tension in his face and he looks like he owns the frame. His hair is cropped off slightly at the top, but that's expected as casting directors know the top of the head is there. The checked shirt could be considered distracting by some, but because it's so dark it doesn't draw the eye, meaning it's fine. |
Why it's not so good:
All the technical aspect of this shot are good! HOWEVER, his expression looks a bit crazy/confused, making him look like he "doesn't know what he's doing." The photographer that shot this probably didn't have much experience directing expression, and it's costing this actor TONS of opportunities. We actually created a free guide called "Upgrade Your $400 Headshot to a $1,500 One" that shows you how to direct YOURSELF into great expressions – even if your photographer is unable to do it. |
Why it's good:
Her expression is extremely natural, the lighting is very soft, and the background is not distracting. She truly looks confident and relaxed in the photo, as though she's a bright, fun, and friendly actress. |
Why it's not so good:
His expression looks a bit confused and his head is tilted in a slightly unnatural way, making him look awkward. The background is distracting with the lines cutting across – they draw attention away from his face. Lastly, this image has not been retouched, meaning there is shine on his forehead and nose, which draws attention away from his eyes. |
Why it's good:
He looks very relaxed with zero mouth tension. His shirt could be considered distracting because of the slight pattern, but it's not very noticeable and so it still works. The white background creates a nice contrast so he pops off the image instead of blending in against a dull backdrop. That contrast is what makes the image "pop," and is what captures the eye of casting directors. |
Why it's not so good:
In this photo, the background and lighting are fine. There is a bit of shine on his forehead which could have been retouched or fixed with makeup, but the biggest issue is that he doesn't seem comfortable or relaxed in the shot. His eyes give it away. He looks like he's "trying too hard" but not getting there, which will tell casting directors that he's not a good actor (even if he is!). Can you see it? |
What Should an Actor Headshot Look Like?
To put it simply, an actor headshot needs to show you clearly, have a good expression, and look like you spent some money on it.
Low budget, unprofessional headshots tend to perform poorly because casting directors (who look at thousands of these a day) can tell right away if you spent money on it and shot with a dedicated headshot photographer.
Their thinking goes, "If an actor has a low-budget headshot (one that doesn't look expensive), they probably don't take their career seriously and won't be worth bringing in."
I actually spent some time putting together an easy-to-reference guide I highly recommend you review called The 7 Keys to an Effective Actor Headshot (you can read a preview of that guide here).
Low budget, unprofessional headshots tend to perform poorly because casting directors (who look at thousands of these a day) can tell right away if you spent money on it and shot with a dedicated headshot photographer.
Their thinking goes, "If an actor has a low-budget headshot (one that doesn't look expensive), they probably don't take their career seriously and won't be worth bringing in."
I actually spent some time putting together an easy-to-reference guide I highly recommend you review called The 7 Keys to an Effective Actor Headshot (you can read a preview of that guide here).
Here are a few important elements for a good actor headshot (according to the most recent trends):
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Actor headshots can be shot indoors or outdoors – it usually won't make much of a difference to casting directors. Indoor headshots are usually done with studio lighting and have either blurry backgrounds or flat backdrops (gray, white, or black are most common). Outdoor headshots should have the background blurred so you stand out in the frame.
- Smiling vs. Serious: Ideally you should do some of both. If you're worried that your teeth are a bit crooked or slightly yellow, it's still a good idea take some big smile shots because retouching can fix that up a bit. Smiling shots are called "commercial headshots" and are great for submissions to comedic and friendly roles, or for actual TV commercials. On the other hand, serious shots, which cover a range of expressions from confident to sneaky, are called "legit shots" and should be used when applying to more serious roles, such as dramatic TV shows and films.
- Framing: The framing of your headshot should be at least waist up, but more ideally it should be taken closer, from chest up. Further out than that would be considered a body shot which, although useful for certain things like websites and social media pages, is unlikely to be noticed by a casting director looking through hundreds of shots on their screen. Remember, they're looking at many photos at once (thumbnail size), and when your photo is shot closer, they can see your face better since it's so small. When they see you more clearly, they'll be more likely to click on your shot and look through the rest of your submission.
- Horizontal vs. Vertical: In general, vertical headshots are easier to use and most casting directors prefer them. From about 2005-2015, horizontal headshots were very popular, but they've largely been fading since most online casting websites prefer vertical shots to be uploaded. Unless your outfit is not conducive to a vertical shot (meaning you can see cleavage or something else that's distracting below your neck), you should take your headshots vertically. Note: for the sake of this blog post, we mostly used horizontal headshots just because they worked better for the layout of the page.
- Natural vs. Studio Lighting: Some actors prefer natural light and some prefer studio light, but most casting directors don't care as long as they can see your face clearly. If the photographer uses specialized lighting to alter the shape of your face (making you thinner, for example), that's a BIG problem. Casting directors hate when actors look different in real life than they do in their headshot, so be sure to avoid that (more on this soon).
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Background: The background should not be distracting. If you're shooting with real life (as opposed to a flat backdrop) in the background, make sure it's extremely blurred out so you can't tell what's behind you. The sharper the background, the less professional and more distracting your headshot will look. You should also "pop" off the background, meaning if the background is really dark, you should be wearing a lighter color (or the photographer should light you in a specific way) so that you don't blend in with the background.
- Want to know what type of background will work best, based on your look and characters you're going for? I've created a detailed Backdrop Guide for Actor Headshots.
- Props: Avoid props and keep your hands out of the shot, unless it's being taken from the waist up. For true actor headshots shot (chest up), your hands should never be in the shot. The only "props" you can have would be glasses if you normally wear them. Keep jewelry and anything else that's not YOU out of the shot.
- Cropping and Dimensions: Actor headshots are usually printed on 8" by 10" paper, so they should be shot with a high-resolution camera so they appear sharp when printed big. It's common to crop off the tip of the hair in actor headshots, so don't worry if your photographer does this. We'll discuss printing in more detail later.
- Color vs. Black & White: Black and white was done in the past when it was more expensive to shoot and print photos in color, but nowadays since everything is digital, color is the way to go. Casting directors hate getting black and white headshots because it's impossible to get important info (like the color of your hair or eyes) without having to spend extra time looking at your resume.
Not enough time to read this now? Download a PDF version to read later (even without internet)!
Want to Keep it Simple?
Download our Free "Headshot Prep Checklist"
This handy checklist is perfect to review before any actor headshot session. It condenses the most important points from this "Ultimate Guide" into 8 key checkpoints to help you get the most out of your shoot.
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Here's what's covered:
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Why are Acting Headshots So Important?
Your headshot is always the first thing a casting director sees when looking through submissions.
They scroll through thousands – yes, literally 2,000-3,000 – of headshots per paid speaking role.
Here's some examples of what they're thinking as they look through all those photos:
Sometimes a casting director will literally take a headshot and post it up on their Wall of Shame (yes that's a real thing) if an actor sends in a terrible one (or does something really stupid with their submission like putting glitter into the envelope – yes, this happens!).
They scroll through thousands – yes, literally 2,000-3,000 – of headshots per paid speaking role.
Here's some examples of what they're thinking as they look through all those photos:
- Wow, this guy has no CLUE what he's doing. Did he get his friend to take this picture? Obviously he must not take his acting career seriously."
- "This person looks PERFECT for the role, and they look like they can act. I'm curious to look at their resume and reel."
- "There's no WAY she looks like that in real life. That headshot was definitely airbrushed into oblivion."
Sometimes a casting director will literally take a headshot and post it up on their Wall of Shame (yes that's a real thing) if an actor sends in a terrible one (or does something really stupid with their submission like putting glitter into the envelope – yes, this happens!).
Who Needs Acting Headshots?
Until the day comes where your name is widely recognized in the industry, you (and every other actor) NEED a great headshot.
Any actor – brand new or highly seasoned (unless they're a household name) – needs a professional actor headshot. This applies EVEN if you're submitting to VoiceOver auditions and background roles, believe it or not!
Any actor – brand new or highly seasoned (unless they're a household name) – needs a professional actor headshot. This applies EVEN if you're submitting to VoiceOver auditions and background roles, believe it or not!
How Often Should You Get New Ones?
Most people recommend actors update their headshots every 2-3 years. Although this is a great rule of thumb, the truth is that as you get older, you need to update your headshots less often.
Here is a better breakdown by age:
Unless you recently changed your look (shaved, cut your hair differently, died your hair, etc.) you don't need to update your headshot more often than the guidelines above.
The only other time you might want to update is if you recently discovered something new about yourself, such as a particular "brand" or "type" you want to capture, or if you're trying to get cast into a particular project and want to do a set of headshots specifically with that goal in mind.
Remember: if you don't look exactly the same as you do in your headshot when you show up for the audition, the casting director will get really annoyed and NEVER hire you for the part. That's why it's critical that you look the same as your headshot!
Here's a funny guide I created to help actors decide whether it's time to update your headshot:
Note: If you're on a mobile device, pinch to zoom in and see the text bigger.
Here is a better breakdown by age:
- 0-10 Years Old: Every 6 months to 1 year.
- 10-20 Years Old: Every 1 to 2 years.
- 20-40 Years Old: Every 2 to 4 years.
- 40 and Up: Every 5 to 7 years.
Unless you recently changed your look (shaved, cut your hair differently, died your hair, etc.) you don't need to update your headshot more often than the guidelines above.
The only other time you might want to update is if you recently discovered something new about yourself, such as a particular "brand" or "type" you want to capture, or if you're trying to get cast into a particular project and want to do a set of headshots specifically with that goal in mind.
Remember: if you don't look exactly the same as you do in your headshot when you show up for the audition, the casting director will get really annoyed and NEVER hire you for the part. That's why it's critical that you look the same as your headshot!
Here's a funny guide I created to help actors decide whether it's time to update your headshot:
Note: If you're on a mobile device, pinch to zoom in and see the text bigger.
How a Headshot Session Works
Actor headshots are nothing to be afraid of! Sessions are very simple and straightforward (as long as you pick a good photographer).
Basically what happens is you'll contact some different photographers, find someone who's right for you, and schedule a time for your shoot.
You'll show up at their studio (or predetermined location), and they will guide you through the process.
Where Can I Find a Good, Affordable Headshot Photographer?
Choosing a photographer with a great personality is crucial.
Why? Because if you work with someone who's not engaging or boring, it will be very hard to get good expressions.
You might end up with a professional-looking headshot, but if you look uncomfortable or seem like you're trying too hard, casting directors will assume you can't act.
The result? You'll find yourself rarely getting called in for auditions.
Learn more about that in my guide: The 7 Keys to an Effective Actor Headshot
Here's a simple, 4-step process you can use to find the right headshot photographer for you:
Here's a much more in depth article on how to pick the right headshot photographer for you.
Note: My team and I shoot headshots for actors! Our prices are very affordable, starting at $149.
Check us out at actors.cityheadshots.com – we're based in the NYC and NJ area.
Why? Because if you work with someone who's not engaging or boring, it will be very hard to get good expressions.
You might end up with a professional-looking headshot, but if you look uncomfortable or seem like you're trying too hard, casting directors will assume you can't act.
The result? You'll find yourself rarely getting called in for auditions.
Learn more about that in my guide: The 7 Keys to an Effective Actor Headshot
Here's a simple, 4-step process you can use to find the right headshot photographer for you:
- Find at least 10-20 photographers to consider: To find photographers, you can ask anyone you know who already has a headshot or you can search Google and Yelp for "actor headshot photographers."
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Narrow those 10-20 photographers down to a few top choices: Once you have your list of photographers, you should narrow them down using the following criteria:
- They should specialize in headshots – if they usually shoot weddings or events, that's not a good sign since headshots are such a specialized branch of photography. With headshots, the need to direct and be highly specific is critical, whereas there's little to no directing of expression involved in most other types of photography.
- Their prices should be clear and straightforward – make sure they don't charge hidden fees (be careful of photographers who charge both a "session fee" and a "per image fee" – it should be just one or the other, not both). Also, sales tax isn't legally required by law for services (unlike for physical goods), so be careful of photographers who charge sales tax – they might be pocketing the extra money.
- The photos in their portfolio should look great – make sure you like what you see and that the images line up with what we outlined previously. You should also look to see if they have any shots of people who look like you in their portfolio.
- Contact your final selections and see how they respond: Email or call them to see how quickly they respond and how accessible they are. Some photographers (especially very expensive ones) will offer a free in-person, phone, or Zoom consultation to explain their process and sell you on working with them. During this consultation, you can ask them questions to get an idea of their personality and see if they seem like someone you'd like to work with.
- Go with your gut and commit: Once you choose a photographer, go all in. Many will charge a booking deposit that's applied to the total fee – don't be afraid of placing this deposit. If you try to avoid putting the deposit down, the photographer might get too busy and could schedule someone else over you.
Here's a much more in depth article on how to pick the right headshot photographer for you.
Note: My team and I shoot headshots for actors! Our prices are very affordable, starting at $149.
Check us out at actors.cityheadshots.com – we're based in the NYC and NJ area.
Can I Take Headshots Myself or Have a Friend Do Them for Free?
Because of how specific headshots are and the skill it takes to capture good expressions, having your friend shoot your headshots is usually not a good idea unless they already specialize in it.
Remember, casting directors make all kinds of judgment calls from your headshot alone, and since they look at SO many each day, they can easily tell if your headshots don't look high-end or expensive.
Using a headshot that looks low-budget or like it was done by a friend will make casting directors think you don't take acting seriously and they'll pass you up for someone with a better-quality headshot.
All that being said, if you still want to try taking your own headshot, check out this guide I wrote that shows you how to take a professional headshot with your smartphone.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
Remember, casting directors make all kinds of judgment calls from your headshot alone, and since they look at SO many each day, they can easily tell if your headshots don't look high-end or expensive.
Using a headshot that looks low-budget or like it was done by a friend will make casting directors think you don't take acting seriously and they'll pass you up for someone with a better-quality headshot.
All that being said, if you still want to try taking your own headshot, check out this guide I wrote that shows you how to take a professional headshot with your smartphone.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
What Do Actor Headshots Cost?
In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $800 for them, depending on where you are in the country and how many looks you need.
Avoid spending less than $150 to $200 because most photographers that charge super cheap rates do so because they don't do great work.
The more expensive the photographer (in general), the better your experience will be and the more usable shots you'll get.
That being said, avoid spending more than $800 because once you get to such levels, you'll find that you're just paying for the photographer's name (some photographers are really great at networking or have just been in the industry for decades).
A good rate to aim for is between $350 and $550 for a two-look actor headshot session (more on "looks" in a moment). Learn more about headshot cost breakdown here.
Avoid spending less than $150 to $200 because most photographers that charge super cheap rates do so because they don't do great work.
The more expensive the photographer (in general), the better your experience will be and the more usable shots you'll get.
That being said, avoid spending more than $800 because once you get to such levels, you'll find that you're just paying for the photographer's name (some photographers are really great at networking or have just been in the industry for decades).
A good rate to aim for is between $350 and $550 for a two-look actor headshot session (more on "looks" in a moment). Learn more about headshot cost breakdown here.
Want to Save Up to $900 on Headshots?
Download our FREE Guide: "Upgrade Your Headshot"
WeI actually created a guide called Upgrade Your $400 Headshot into a $1,500 One (without spending a dime more). It's a guided "how-to" that explains strategies you can use to get high-quality headshots from lower-priced photographers.
Topics include the following:
Topics include the following:
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What Does a Headshot Session Look Like?
Headshot sessions usually consist of the following steps:
- Pre-Shoot Discussion: When you first arrive at the studio, the photographer will probably ask some questions about your goals and help figure out which outfits you should wear. They'll also explain what will happen during the shoot.
- The Shoot: Usually the shoot lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours, depending on how many "looks" you're doing (more on "looks" soon). The photographer will tell you where to stand and what to do, and will say certain things to try to get you to give certain expressions. All you need to worry about is doing what the photographer says, and asking questions when you're not sure. They'll usually take a lot of shots quickly (like 5-10 images per burst) so they can capture subtle expression changes on your face. Good photographers are usually willing to show you the pictures throughout the shoot so you get an idea of what they're looking like so you can make changes if you're not liking certain things.
- After the Shoot: Some photographers will sit down with you after the session to look at the photos together, and others will just send the images to you via an online link. They usually delete any unusable shots and do basic color adjustments before sending the shots to you for review. In some cases, you'll get access to the high-quality, full-size images, and in other cases the photographer will only send you small preview files with watermarks on them. Either way, your job at this point is to choose which pictures you like best and let the photographer know.
- Retouching and Printing: Most photographers include retouching in their packages, meaning they'll fix blemishes, whiten teeth, etc. You just need to let them know which shots you want retouched, and then they'll usually email them back when finished so you can get them printed and start using them (more on that soon).
How to Prepare for Your Shoot
In order to get a great actor headshot, there are a few key things to keep in mind before your shoot:
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
- The right mindset: Go in expecting to get a great shot AND have a fun time, and don't be overly obsessed with capturing the PERFECT shot. This means you should have an open mind – be prepared to try different expressions and body positions. If you're obsessed with only capturing one type of shot, it can make it difficult for you to relax enough to get good expressions.
- A great headshot should look like you: Wanting to look thinner or more glamorous in your headshot than you do in real life might sound good on the surface, but it's a mistake. Casting directors hate when you look different in real life than you do in your headshot, and they'll almost never book you for the role because you've wasted their time – they wanted you for how you looked in the photo! This applies even if your audition was perfect and you memorized every single line. Asking your photographer to use special lighting setups to change how you look will cost you in the long run, so be confident in who you are and what you look like! There is a place for everyone in this industry.
- Bring your clothing and anything needed for the shoot: Headshot photographers almost never carry clothing in their studio, so be sure to plan out what you're going to wear and bring in more than you think you'll need. Also, if you're planning to do different hairstyles or a scruffy and clean-shaven look, don't forget to bring the tools required!
- Plan to arrive early: Arriving late is one of the biggest pet peeves of headshot photographers, and if you're more than a couple minutes late to your shoot, it can eat into your session time. To avoid feeling rushed, be sure to arrive at least 5-10 minutes early (meaning plan ahead for possible traffic delays).
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
What are "Looks" and How Many Should I Do?
The following two shots are of the same actress, but with different "looks." Her hairstyle and outfit are different, as is her expression. Although she could have done two different backdrops (one outdoor and one indoor, perhaps), these shots wound up being taken on the same dark gray backdrop.
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- What are "Looks"? Looks are considered outfits + backdrops. So if you wanted three different "looks," that means you'd be getting three different kinds of shots. One look might be a business professional shot, done outdoors with the street blurred out behind you. Another might be where you look like a gang member, wearing a leather jacket with a dark alleyway blurred out behind you. The final look might be shot on a white backdrop, where you're wearing a dark blue t-shirt, to be used as a "commercial" headshot. For each look, you'll usually do a variety of poses and expressions, so you might walk away with 300 shots altogether – 100 pictures taken for each "look."
- How Long Should My Shoot Be? Depending on the skill level of the photographer, most shoots take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour per look. The most skilled photographers usually need less time, so a 3-Look shoot might only take an hour or so, whereas if you're working with a newer photographer it could take up to three hours to capture good expressions for each "look."
- How Many Shots or "Looks" Do I Need? Most actors should do at least two looks, aiming for one "commercial" and one "legit" shot at minimum. This means one bright, smiley, fun headshot, and one darker, moodier shot. The commercial shot can be used for submitting yourself to perform in commercials and bright, fun scenes, and the darker "legit" shot can be used for more serious roles in dramas, etc. At the end of the day, you should have at least one great headshot to use, but more ideally you'll have at least 2-3 different shots because it's better to submit specific headshots for specific roles (like using a business look if you're submitting for a business executive role). And remember – your photographer might actually shoot 100, 200, or 300 shots, but your goal is only to pick your top few favorites out of the bunch. No one will ever see all the other pictures you did.
Not enough time to read this now? Download a PDF version to read later (even without internet)!
What to Wear for Acting Headshots?
Wear what you love.
If you don't like something but someone tells you to wear it, you won't look confident in your shots and you'll probably feel awkward, so always start by choosing things you LOVE.
Now in general, it's a good idea to wear solid colors because patterns and logos are often distracting. Layers can add more depth, so open jackets are great additions to outfits.
You don't need to worry about your pants or shoes since they won't be in the frame, but for your shirt, subtle textures are OK, but they need to be minimal.
Most colors work fine, but you should stay away from pale colors like white, light gray, light pink, etc., if possible because they can look too bright on camera.
Be sure your clothing aligns with the character and "brand" you're going for (more on "brand" soon). For instance, if you're thinking of doing one business look and one gangster look, bring a professional suit and tie for the business look and a leather jacket and black t-shirt for the gangster look.
For an in-depth, detailed guide on what colors and clothing work best, click here.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
If you don't like something but someone tells you to wear it, you won't look confident in your shots and you'll probably feel awkward, so always start by choosing things you LOVE.
Now in general, it's a good idea to wear solid colors because patterns and logos are often distracting. Layers can add more depth, so open jackets are great additions to outfits.
You don't need to worry about your pants or shoes since they won't be in the frame, but for your shirt, subtle textures are OK, but they need to be minimal.
Most colors work fine, but you should stay away from pale colors like white, light gray, light pink, etc., if possible because they can look too bright on camera.
Be sure your clothing aligns with the character and "brand" you're going for (more on "brand" soon). For instance, if you're thinking of doing one business look and one gangster look, bring a professional suit and tie for the business look and a leather jacket and black t-shirt for the gangster look.
For an in-depth, detailed guide on what colors and clothing work best, click here.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
What About Hair and Makeup?
Makeup is not required for headshots but can be beneficial, especially for women.
Natural makeup is best because casting directors want to know what you look like in real life – when you're overly made-up, they find it hard to imagine what you could look like dressed as the character they're casting for.
A headshot makeup artist typically charges between $100 and $300 and will stay throughout the shoot to ensure your hair is in place, you're not looking shiny, and everything is on-point with your clothes. You can learn about our makeup artists here.
Natural makeup is best because casting directors want to know what you look like in real life – when you're overly made-up, they find it hard to imagine what you could look like dressed as the character they're casting for.
A headshot makeup artist typically charges between $100 and $300 and will stay throughout the shoot to ensure your hair is in place, you're not looking shiny, and everything is on-point with your clothes. You can learn about our makeup artists here.
- How to Hire a Makeup Artist: Most headshot photographers already work with someone they recommend. It's best to avoid going to a makeup counter in a store or hiring your own makeup artist because makeup for headshots is significantly different than makeup for real life or for glamour photoshoots.
- You MUST Look Like Yourself: Don't change your hairstyle significantly or do your makeup in a way you can't replicate every time you go to an audition. If you submit a headshot of you looking a certain way, the casting director picks it because they want you to show up looking EXACTLY like that, so if you hire someone to do your hair or makeup in away you won't be able to replicate easily, your headshot won't do you much good.
- Avoid Jewelry & Accessories: Jewelry and accessories like hats, sunglasses, chains, etc., are all considered distracting and should be avoided. The only acceptable jewelry is small stud earrings. Believe it or not, even wearing a simple necklace or chain is a no-no in actor headshots.
- Glasses: We highly recommend wearing glasses in your headshots if that's how you look day to day. However if you also wear contacts, your should do some shots with AND without your glasses. Remember – if you submit a headshot with glasses on, the casting director will expect you to show up with them on. And if you submit a shot without glasses, you should show up without them on.
- Shaving: Same goes with shaving. It can make sense to do some shots shaven and some with scruff, but if it takes you three weeks to grow a beard and you submit a shot with a beard for an audition coming up in 3 days, you better have that beard when you show up or your chance of getting the role drops significantly.
Want to go deeper on points like this? Check out my guide called The 7 Keys to an Effective Actor Headshot.
How Can I Get a Good Headshot?
In this section, we'll discuss some tricks you can use to look great on camera and capture a strong expression – one that will help you stand out to casting directors.
- The Basics: Your photographer should be experienced enough to direct you into positions that look good on camera. In general, for a good body position, you should be standing nice and tall so your shoulders look good, and you should try doing "the turtle," which means pushing your face towards the camera a bit – this strengthens your jawline and can help fix double chins.
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How to Look Confident and Capture Specific Expressions: There are two simple tricks you can use to look more confident and capture specific expressions in your headshots:
- Squint your eyes: Doing a very slight squint, almost like you're "curious" or "thinking" about something, can help make your eyes look more confident. Avoid trying to make your eyes look bigger than they are by widening them, or you'll get the classic "deer-in-the-headlights" look! Instead, doing a subtle squint can make you appear more confident and natural on camera.
- Imagine speaking to the camera: To get specific expressions, close your eyes and think of something you'd like your expression to say. For instance, if you want a friendly and warm smile, imagine saying, "Hey, nice to meet you!" Your expression will suddenly look way more friendly. Or for a more serious, sneaky shot, imagine saying, "If only you knew what I'm hiding right now."
- How to Get Real Smiles: The fastest and easiest way to get a real smile is to fake laugh and say "Hey!" while laughing. Literally laugh as you say the word "Hey!" and imagine you're greeting someone. And then you can just hold the smile that comes right after it. If you have a great photographer, they can get you to smile naturally by telling jokes, but if your photographer isn't funny and your smiles are starting to look fake, this is one of the best and easiest tricks you can use.
- How to Find Your Best Side: The fastest way to find your best side is to simply turn your face to each side very slightly and have the photographer take a picture of each. When looking at the two shots, pay special attention to your eyes, nose, and cheeks. If anything with them seems distracting, look at the other side to see which one you feel looks best. Once you find your favorite side, focus on that for most of the shoot so you get tons of shots you'll love!
Want Amazing Expressions in Your Headshots?
Download our FREE "Expression Secrets" Guide
We've been shooting headshots for over a decade and have learned how to help actors look more experienced and natural on-camera within just the first few minutes of their shoot. In this guide, we'll show you the best expression secrets we've learned, and we'll teach you how to pull them off on your own – no matter who you're shooting headshots with.
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A Secret Headshot Hack
Think "Outside the Industry"
As Einstein says, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
I'm all about thinking differently, and I teach actors how to break the rules and do things most other actors have never considered.
In fact, one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of implementing some of these "outside the industry" strategies.
So now that you understand the basics of professional actor headshots, I'd like to present you with an "outside the industry" tactic you can use to make your headshot even MORE effective.
I'm all about thinking differently, and I teach actors how to break the rules and do things most other actors have never considered.
In fact, one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of implementing some of these "outside the industry" strategies.
So now that you understand the basics of professional actor headshots, I'd like to present you with an "outside the industry" tactic you can use to make your headshot even MORE effective.
"Outside the Industry" Headshot Hack:
Capture Your "Pride Words" in Your Headshot
The most effective actor headshots are not just "commercial" or "legit." They go deeper than that.
Every actor has "Pride Words" – deep, unconscious words that capture the best elements of their personalty.
When you combine your "Pride Words" with your "Type" (what you look like), your headshot will give casting directors all the information they need to decide whether to bring you in for an audition.
This technique has more than 10X'd the number of opportunities some actors get from their headshots.
Every actor has "Pride Words" – deep, unconscious words that capture the best elements of their personalty.
When you combine your "Pride Words" with your "Type" (what you look like), your headshot will give casting directors all the information they need to decide whether to bring you in for an audition.
This technique has more than 10X'd the number of opportunities some actors get from their headshots.
Headshot that Captures "Pride Words"
We get a clear sense of the kinds of characters he's right for: intense, darker roles, and confident characters. Everything works together and it's easy for casting directors to figure out what kinds of roles to hire him for. His pride words were "Strong, Driven, and Confident." |
Standard Headshot
Although this shot is technically fine (lighting, backdrop, body position, etc.), we have no idea what kinds of characters she'd be right for. She's wearing a shirt that doesn't say anything specific, she's on a white background that doesn't say anything, and her expression is neutral. A casting director would not know how to place her. |
Why "Pride Words" Are So Important:
As you begin to submit yourself for productions, you'll find that character descriptions are often somewhat vague. Most casting directors will never tell you what they're specifically looking for.
This is because they don't want actors to "fake it." Instead, they want actors who are "naturally" the character they're looking for.
That's why if you play the best aspects of yourself (your Pride Words) each time you go in for an audition, you'll book more jobs!
How to Capture Your Pride Words in Your Headshots:
First, I highly recommend going through the short "Find Your 5-Word Brand" process found in my Actor's Toolkit to discover your Pride Words and "Dark Word."
Note: If you don't want to do that, you can shortcut it (though it's not as effective) by writing down a few words that describe your personality. For instance, if you're a supportive, fun, and intelligent person, you can write the words "supporting," "fun," and "intelligent."
Next, you'll use an "outside the industry" strategy I teach called the Google Image Search Technique:
Using Google Image Search, type each of your Pride Words and Dark Word one by one. Using the example above, we'd first type "supporting." Images will show up that capture the word "supporting," like someone hugging someone else, someone smiling, etc.
Do this for each of your words. Google will give you a visual representation of each of these words, and you can print out your favorites images and bring them to the shoot and show the photographer the feelings/moods you'd like to capture in your headshots.
Then during your shoot, you can think about and focus on each of your words one by one to capture expressions that work perfectly for your brand. Close your eyes and think of the word "supporting," and then open your eyes. Your expression will capture that word perfectly, and you can repeat this for each of your words.
Guess what? You've just captured your Pride Words in your headshots.
Check out my free Actor's Toolkit, where I outline the exact process to discover your "Pride Words" and "Dark Word" (plus a few extra bonuses).
Note: If you don't want to do that, you can shortcut it (though it's not as effective) by writing down a few words that describe your personality. For instance, if you're a supportive, fun, and intelligent person, you can write the words "supporting," "fun," and "intelligent."
Next, you'll use an "outside the industry" strategy I teach called the Google Image Search Technique:
Using Google Image Search, type each of your Pride Words and Dark Word one by one. Using the example above, we'd first type "supporting." Images will show up that capture the word "supporting," like someone hugging someone else, someone smiling, etc.
Do this for each of your words. Google will give you a visual representation of each of these words, and you can print out your favorites images and bring them to the shoot and show the photographer the feelings/moods you'd like to capture in your headshots.
Then during your shoot, you can think about and focus on each of your words one by one to capture expressions that work perfectly for your brand. Close your eyes and think of the word "supporting," and then open your eyes. Your expression will capture that word perfectly, and you can repeat this for each of your words.
Guess what? You've just captured your Pride Words in your headshots.
Check out my free Actor's Toolkit, where I outline the exact process to discover your "Pride Words" and "Dark Word" (plus a few extra bonuses).
So What Happens After Your Shoot?
Congratulations, you've finished your first headshot session!
In this final section, we'll talk about how to pick the best headshot from the shoot, plus how to use your headshot to get auditions and bookings.
In this final section, we'll talk about how to pick the best headshot from the shoot, plus how to use your headshot to get auditions and bookings.
How Do I Pick the Best Photo?
It can feel overwhelming when a photographer gives you hundreds of images to look through. How do you choose the best one out of so many? And what if you pick the wrong shot?
Well, the best way to choose your headshot is the same way a casting director looks at actor headshots: Quickly.
Click through your photos very quickly and ONLY download your favorites onto your computer. Leave the rest on the image sharing site your photographer used and don't bother with them anymore.
It's important that you ONLY consider images you like because even if someone tells you a shot is good, if you don't like it, you'll always feel awkward submitting it, and that's NOT a good thing for a successful acting career.
Once you've got only your favorites to look through, you might only be seeing 20-50 shots, which is much easier to narrow down.
At this point, you can do the same thing again – quickly thumb through all those remaining images and ONLY select your favorites. Move the ones you like into a different folder on your computer and you should only be left with 5-10 shots, which will make the final selection process super easy.
Choose your shot based on the one you feel best captures your brand or the feeling you want to convey to casting directors. For instance, if you're going for a friendly smile shot for "commercial" use, then choose a big smile with nice, bright colors! If you want something more serious, look at the more serious expressions you did and figure out which one you think might work best.
And if you're not sure, at this point you can absolutely ask a friend or acting teacher to help you choose.
Just be sure your expressions look natural (don't pick one where it looks like you're trying too hard).
Here's a great article that dives much deeper on choosing the best headshot from your shoot.
Well, the best way to choose your headshot is the same way a casting director looks at actor headshots: Quickly.
Click through your photos very quickly and ONLY download your favorites onto your computer. Leave the rest on the image sharing site your photographer used and don't bother with them anymore.
It's important that you ONLY consider images you like because even if someone tells you a shot is good, if you don't like it, you'll always feel awkward submitting it, and that's NOT a good thing for a successful acting career.
Once you've got only your favorites to look through, you might only be seeing 20-50 shots, which is much easier to narrow down.
At this point, you can do the same thing again – quickly thumb through all those remaining images and ONLY select your favorites. Move the ones you like into a different folder on your computer and you should only be left with 5-10 shots, which will make the final selection process super easy.
Choose your shot based on the one you feel best captures your brand or the feeling you want to convey to casting directors. For instance, if you're going for a friendly smile shot for "commercial" use, then choose a big smile with nice, bright colors! If you want something more serious, look at the more serious expressions you did and figure out which one you think might work best.
And if you're not sure, at this point you can absolutely ask a friend or acting teacher to help you choose.
Just be sure your expressions look natural (don't pick one where it looks like you're trying too hard).
Here's a great article that dives much deeper on choosing the best headshot from your shoot.
How Does Retouching Work?
Retouching can take your final image and make it look even more polished. It involves removing temporary blemishes, whitening teeth, fixing facial shine and flyaway hairs, and even lightening under-eye circles.
Retouching should remove anything noticeably distracting from the image, while still making sure you look like yourself.
It can be tempting to make your face slimmer or make your teeth perfectly white and smooth out your skin so there are no wrinkles, but casting directors hate that because you'll show up to the audition room looking different than you do in your headshot.
If you can tell it's been retouched or you look different in real life than you do in your headshot, you've gone too far with retouching.
Learn about our actor headshot retouching work here.
Retouching should remove anything noticeably distracting from the image, while still making sure you look like yourself.
It can be tempting to make your face slimmer or make your teeth perfectly white and smooth out your skin so there are no wrinkles, but casting directors hate that because you'll show up to the audition room looking different than you do in your headshot.
If you can tell it's been retouched or you look different in real life than you do in your headshot, you've gone too far with retouching.
Learn about our actor headshot retouching work here.
How to Get Headshots Printed?
Once the retouching process is complete, you should plan to get at least 25-50 copies of your headshot printed in 8" by 10" paper. You shouldn't need more than that because these days, submissions are primarily done online.
Your headshot should be printed on semi-gloss paper (not high gloss) and you should ideally get them printed professionally by a company like Actor's Photo Lab or Print Headshots – make sure to use a company that specializes in printing headshots for actors. We used to recommend Color Works NYC and Reproductions, but they have since gone out of business unfortunately.
Bringing your headshots to Kinkos or trying to print them out on your own is a recipe for frustration and re-prints when you realize they don't look like high-end actor headshots. Believe it or not, cheap prints can make a casting director think you don't take your career seriously! So spend the extra $50 to get them printed right so your $400-500 shoot investment was worth it.
When you get them printed, the company will ask you to confirm the layout, and you'll usually want your name printed at the bottom left or right corner. You can choose to have it printed full-bleed or with a 1/2" white border – either is acceptable.
The printing company will walk you through this step by step, and a good company should let you see a hard-copy proof before they run your entire order to make sure you're happy with the overall look.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
Your headshot should be printed on semi-gloss paper (not high gloss) and you should ideally get them printed professionally by a company like Actor's Photo Lab or Print Headshots – make sure to use a company that specializes in printing headshots for actors. We used to recommend Color Works NYC and Reproductions, but they have since gone out of business unfortunately.
Bringing your headshots to Kinkos or trying to print them out on your own is a recipe for frustration and re-prints when you realize they don't look like high-end actor headshots. Believe it or not, cheap prints can make a casting director think you don't take your career seriously! So spend the extra $50 to get them printed right so your $400-500 shoot investment was worth it.
When you get them printed, the company will ask you to confirm the layout, and you'll usually want your name printed at the bottom left or right corner. You can choose to have it printed full-bleed or with a 1/2" white border – either is acceptable.
The printing company will walk you through this step by step, and a good company should let you see a hard-copy proof before they run your entire order to make sure you're happy with the overall look.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Stay focused on what matters most with our free Actor Headshot Checklist.
How Do I Use My Headshots?
Getting your headshot printed is just the first step. You should also upload your headshots to casting websites and keep an image file in JPEG format to be added as an attachment via email whenever needed.
Here are a few more ways you can use your headshots:
Here are a few more ways you can use your headshots:
- Casting Websites: You should create free or paid profiles on websites like Casting Networks, Actor's Access, and Backstage. You can upload your headshots on those sites and then submit to paid and unpaid projects to start building your reel.
- LinkedIn: Believe it or not, casting directors will research you online, especially if you're submitting to a bigger role. They want to get an idea of your reputation and make sure there is no major reason to not bring you into the production. Your LinkedIn page is one of the first social profiles that will show up when people google you, so make sure it's up to date and has your most recent headshot on it.
- Your Website: If you're just starting out, an acting website isn't necessary, but as you begin to build your career you'll absolutely want to have one made, and it's the perfect place to post all your headshots (and other photos of you working on set and with different people in the industry). Here's a great article on how to design your own actor website for free.
- Email Profile Image: A lot of actors forget to update their Gmail or other email profile image when they get new headshots done. Your profile image shows up to EVERYONE you email, so be sure it's up to date with your most recent favorite headshot!
- Social Profiles: Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok should be updated with your favorite headshot as well, and ideally you should use the same image across all of them so you're memorable to casting directors looking you up. If you use a different headshot on each site, people might get confused and think the profiles are all for different actors (who happen to have the same name).
- Business Cards: If you get business cards designed (a simple but important thing to do), you should absolutely put your headshots on them.
Want Success With Your Actor Headshots?
Think "Outside the Industry."
Most actors are afraid to do things without first asking, "Is this OK?"
At the end of the day, this is YOUR headshot and no one can decide what it should look like but you.
Don’t be afraid to step out of the mold and break the rules. You don’t have to ask permission. The sooner you feel confident in your choices, the sooner you'll start seeing more acting success come to you!
If you're interested in learning more about my "outside the industry" actor marketing strategies, please take a look at www.martinbentsen.com, where I give away over 97% of my material for FREE.
Me (Martin Bentsen)
--About the Author of this Guide--
Martin Bentsen uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.
Want to book more work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.
Want to book more work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.
Where to Go Next?
Congratulations!! You've completed your headshot session and are now using them to book more acting work!
What's next? Well, there are plenty of other things you can do to start booking more consistent jobs and work your way up in the industry. Here are the three most important areas to focus on that will give you the biggest bang for your buck:
What's next? Well, there are plenty of other things you can do to start booking more consistent jobs and work your way up in the industry. Here are the three most important areas to focus on that will give you the biggest bang for your buck:
- Work on Your Training: You need to be a fantastic actor – great at both auditioning AND performing on stage and/or screen if you want to get anywhere. Casting directors will know right away when they see your audition whether they'll ever want to bring you in again. And remember – they keep a list of people who waste their time, so if your acting is problematic, no great headshot can make up for it! Hire an acting coach or join an acting class to begin improving.
- Work on Your Networking: Just because you're a great actor with great headshots doesn't mean you'll consistently get auditions. You need to either have an agent who has great relationships with casting directors... or you need to have great relationships with casting directors yourself. You should occasionally reach out to casting directors to keep in touch with them and build your network so they remember you and bring you in for the jobs you're right for. The Actor's Toolkit shows you how to do this (with email templates included).
- Get Your Other Marketing Materials Together: A great headshot is just one of your three primary marketing materials. The other two are footage of yourself performing (known as a demo reel) and your actor resume. You should get your resume created and then either hire a reel production company to shoot some scenes for you (www.actorscreenershoot.com) or simply take your smartphone and stand against a flat wall and record yourself performing a monologue or dialogue scene with a reader. Then you can upload the footage onto YouTube and share the links with casting directors when submitting for projects.
Further Reading
Congratulations on getting through this enormous guide!
If you're wanting to learn more, here are some links I highly recommend checking out:
If you're wanting to learn more, here are some links I highly recommend checking out:
1 Comment
1/11/2021 01:16:17 am
Thanks for the tip about how eye squinting can help a lot when it comes to headshot photography. A friend of mine might need to have some for his new business soon and he is currently working on finding models for them. What's left to do now is to have a photographer for them.
