By the end of this article, you'll know the difference between commercial headshots and legit headshots, plus specific, actionable steps to get better quality shots (no matter who your photographer is).
No fluff in this guide, just real, actionable advice. Ready to get started? Commercial Headshots vs. Legit HeadshotsThere are two primary headshot types actors need: commercial and legit (also called a "theatrical headshot"). The term commercial refers to commercial acting work, including television commercials, radio commercials, and other advertising jobs. Legit, on the other hand, refers to entertainment-type acting work, such as tv shows, movies, theatrical shows, etc. Although there are some similarities between the two types of headshots, the fact that they're typically used for completely different kinds of submissions means they need to have certain distinctions – things we'll be discussing in depth in this guide.
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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who 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 acting work by thinking different? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com. |
Some Additional Q&A
What is the Difference Between Commercial and Theatrical?
Commercial essentially means for advertising, whereas theatrical (also called "legit") primarily means for narrative.
Think of commercial as the ads you see for companies selling products, and theatrical/legit as the movies and TV shows you watch for entertainment.
Think of commercial as the ads you see for companies selling products, and theatrical/legit as the movies and TV shows you watch for entertainment.
What Does it Mean to Have a Commercial Look?
If you have a commercial look, it means you have a friendly, approachable face that people trust. You're more likely to be able to sell a product than someone with a more sinister or intense-looking face.
What Different Types of Headshots are There?
There are commercial headshots, theatrical/legit headshots, comedic headshots, and business headshots. There are also other types of headshots including graduation headshots and medical residency headshots.
Further Reading:
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