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In this guide, you'll see examples of good headshots and bad headshots, plus detailed explanations of what's most important for a great shot.
Here's what's covered:
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This is an "expensive" looking headshot. Can you tell?
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This headshot looks like it was taken by someone without expensive equipment.
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Unfortunately, casting directors make assumptions on how serious you are about your career... based solely on the way your headshot looks.
If you've done any research online, you've probably heard people say that your headshot is your calling card as an actor.
That's because it's the only marketing material that is absolutely required to get called in for any audition. Sure, you might be able to get away without having a reel or even a resume... but there is no way you'll get anywhere without having a headshot.
Because of the price tag however, many actors are tempted to take their own photo or ask a friend to take it with a decent camera.
While that might work if you just want auditions for unpaid student films or community theater, it will NOT work for professional projects unless your friend really does know how to take great headshots.
Why? Because if you use an unprofessional shot or something that looks "cheap," casting directors will immediately assume you're unwilling to invest in your career.
Their thinking goes: "If you're unwilling to even invest in the most basic marketing material needed as an actor, can I trust you to invest any time and energy into this production?"
Some things that can make your headshot look more "expensive" include a blurred background, soft & even lighting, subtle retouching, and even in some cases, closer framing.
Key #2: Your Expression Needs to be Strong
Her expression looks confident, strong, and yet still relaxed.
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We can't really tell what's going on with his expression, except that he looks a bit uncomfortable (maybe even worried) in the shot.
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Casting directors can tell a lot from the expression you have in your headshot. If your expression looks even the remotest bit uncomfortable or your smile looks fake, a casting director will be able to tell – remember, they're looking at hundreds of headshots every single day!
Their line of thinking is simply that experienced actors will never have an uncomfortable expression or fake smile in their headshot, and inexperienced actors will.
Even if you have a great reel and strong resume, casting directors will never look at them if your headshot makes them think you're not experienced!
If you're curious as to whether your expression is good, you should check out a free site called PhotoFeeler. They let you test different photos and you can get votes from people and comments on how good your shot is, based on whatever criteria you choose.
To learn in-depth about how to capture a great expression for your headshot, check out this guide.
Key #3: The More Specific You Are, the Better
His Type is: Professor. Can you see it in the shot?
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His Type is... What? It's unclear what kind of character he was going for in this shot. The fancy watch also looks a bit out of place with the casual t-shirt.
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Most actors want a headshot that gives them flexibility. They'll often wear something nondescript, like a black or charcoal tee shirt that will allow them to submit to as many different kinds of roles as possible (learn about what to wear in headshots here).
This is a huge mistake.
Think about it from the casting director's perspective: They're almost never going to be casting for a nondescript role unless they're only looking for background actors. Instead, they always have an idea of what they want for each character, even if it's as simple as the mother, waiter, pilot, professor, etc.
Because they're looking for a specific character type, they'll almost ALWAYS choose an actor with a headshot that looks like who they want – over a headshot that is generalized and capture anything specific.
This is why finding your "type" and "brand" is so critical, and why there are entire workshops devoted to just that!
Related: A Shortcut to Find Your Type in Just 10 Minutes.
Sure, using a very specific headshot might block you from submitting to certain roles, but wouldn't you rather submit to fewer auditions and be called in for ones you're right for... than submit to a ton and hardly ever get called in for any? You'll save time and get more opportunities you're right for (which also improves your chance of booking the gig).
Experienced actors often shoot multiple looks – they might do a business professional look, a rough street thug look, and a caring father look. Then they'll submit whichever headshot makes the most sense for the role they're applying for.
Only use a generalized headshot for your website or business card – something that will be seen by all different people.
Key #4: Distracting Elements are a Big No-No
The background, clothing, and overall look of the shot are clean and not distracting.
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The lights on the left, the lines on the right, and the wrinkles on his shirt are all quite distracting.
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An actor headshot is simply a closeup photo of your face. It should not be framed to show too much of your body and it should also not be taken so close that you can't see your neck and chest. From chest or waist up is best, and your head should be near the top of the frame.
Casting directors need a closeup of you because they're often looking at tiny thumbnail-sized photos on their computer screen, and if your shot is taken too far away, they won't be able to get a sense of what you look like and might skip over you.
Some other headshot rules include NOT wearing jewelry or accessories, keeping your hands out of the shot, and ensuring the background is not distracting (this means do NOT use strong, warm-colored backdrops like bright yellow, orange, and red). A headshot is not about the photography, but about your face and expression.
Finally, keep the lighting simple. Too many shadows or intense lighting setups, though cool-looking, can make it difficult for the casting director to see you clearly and might cause them to get annoyed and move on.
Remember, the headshot is about YOU, not about the photographer's style. Capture YOUR brand, not the photographer's.
Key #5: You MUST Prepare Properly
Make sure to prepare properly for your shoot. This includes getting enough rest and planning out your looks in advance. Here's an in-depth guide that covers everything you need to know on how to prepare for a successful headshot session (including mindset).
It's also important to remember to consult with your talent rep (agent or manager) BEFORE scheduling a headshot session to ensure you're all on the same page.
Way too many actors realize only too late (after they've spent hundreds of dollars) that they're going to need to retake some photos to capture what their rep wanted.
Make sure to contact your rep(s) at least 1-2 weeks before your shoot to ensure you have time to go out and buy the necessary outfits.
To learn more about getting an agent or rep and how to work with them, check out my Ultimate Guide to Getting a Talent Agent.
It's also important to remember to consult with your talent rep (agent or manager) BEFORE scheduling a headshot session to ensure you're all on the same page.
Way too many actors realize only too late (after they've spent hundreds of dollars) that they're going to need to retake some photos to capture what their rep wanted.
Make sure to contact your rep(s) at least 1-2 weeks before your shoot to ensure you have time to go out and buy the necessary outfits.
To learn more about getting an agent or rep and how to work with them, check out my Ultimate Guide to Getting a Talent Agent.
Key #6: Your Headshot MUST Look Like You
When it comes to makeup and hair, it can be tempting to overdo things a bit just to look extra put-together for your headshot. After all, you're spending all this money for a good-quality photo, so it only makes sense to do everything perfectly, right?
Well, unfortunately this is another mistake many actors make before their shoots. They ask the makeup artist and/or hairstylist to do them up more than they'd normally do in real life and then realize that – although they look fabulous in their photos – they can't replicate that look in real life.
They find themselves either spending a ton of time getting ready for every audition (to ensure they look exactly the same) or they just show up looking totally different.
If you show up looking different than you do in your headshot, you'll significantly hurt your chances of booking the role (it's actually one of the most common reasons actors don't book the roles they audition for).
Looking the same includes whether you're wearing glasses, the type of makeup you have, and even what your hairstyle looks like.
Key #7: Minimal Retouching is Critical
This photo has had very subtle retouching done, but it looks natural. Casting directors are fine with this!
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This photo has not had any retouching done. Casting directors love this!
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To jump off from Key #6, over-retouching headshots is another huge mistake that causes you to look different than you do in your headshot.
Don't make promises you can't keep. Using Photoshop to clean up your skin, digitally remove braces (related guide: Acting with Braces), make your face slimmer, or even remove natural redness in your cheeks are all things that change the way you look, and while it can be tempting to make ourselves look better in our photo because it might result in more auditions, you'll constantly wonder why you're rarely being called back or booking roles you audition for.
It's much better to use an unretouched or minimally-retouched photo and get fewer auditions, but book way more of them (because you actually look like what the casting director is expecting).
To learn about actor headshot retouching in more depth, click here.
If you want to go deeper on actor headshots, check out the video below or read my Ultimate Guide to Actor Headshots.
ARE YOU GETTING AT LEAST 1-2 AUDITIONS PER WEEK?
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Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses strategic thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 14,000 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 strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com. |
Examples of Good Headshots
Further Reading
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