The Ultimate Guide to Headshots for Actors and Performers

2. Do all actors need a headshot?

3. Do you need more than one headshot?

4. How Many ‘looks’ do I need?

6. Choosing your photographer?

7. Preparing for your shoot.

Introduction

If you’re an actor established or new, then this guide is for you. It doesn’t matter whether your aim is to be on Coronation Street or on stage at the Old Vic!

As you have probably guessed, my name is John and I am a photographer. I specialise in photographing people. Headshots are my favourite type of people photography.

I take headshots extremely seriously because I know they are so important to the people that need them. They’re your ticket to an audition. And such a vital tool in your arsenal as an actor, earning a living in what has to be one of the toughest professions around.

Over the years I think I’ve read almost everything that has ever been written about headshots. I’ve Studied the work of all the great headshot photographers and taken numerous courses, about headshots not just by photographers, but by casting directors, agents and of course actors themselves. With one aim to ensure that I can give you exactly what you need.

In this guide I hope to lay out in detail everything that you need to know about headshots. How to get shots that will actually get you work. And how to choose the right photographer for you even if that photographer isn’t me.

Do all actors need a Headshot?

The simple answer to this question is yes.

The simple fact of the matter is that a Headshot is the first thing that an agent or casting director sees before they read your resume or even think of looking at your show-reel, and ultimately calling you in for an audition. They look at your headshot and if it doesn’t fit the brief or looks like you don’t take this whole acting malarkey seriously they aren’t even going to consider looking at your resume.

If your headshot is blurry mobile phone selfie, you’re not exactly giving the impression you take acting seriously! So not only does every actor need a headshot they need a professional headshot.

Do you need more than one headshot?

Most actors have more than one active headshot at a time. We usually refer to each type as a ‘look’. When your looking to book in with a photographer how many ‘looks’ they will shoot is something that you need to take into account.

How many ‘looks’ and ‘styles’ do I need?

I would suggest that every actor needs at least two distinct ‘styles’. The first is known as a ‘commercial’ headshot and the second as a ‘legit’. And you can have more than one of each with tweaks for each job.

Within each style of headshot (commercial and legit) you can also have multiple looks, different backgrounds, clothing, lighting etc.

The ‘commercial’ shot is bright breezy and displays a happy smiling version of yourself. This is the one that you’ll probably display on your agent’s website or as your cover image on casting websites like spotlight. And it’s certainly the one you’ll send off for a role in a sitcom or a commercial.

The ‘legit’ shot in contrast is one that has been styled to fit the ‘type’ of job you are likely to be going for. And of course you might be going for a variety of roles so you might want more than one legit shot. If you’re regularly up for the role of a middle-class business man you’ll want a headshot wearing a suit jacket, shirt and perhaps a tie. And if you want it could be shot in a ‘business area’ or an ‘office’. But if you also go up for the role of action hero, you’ll also want a shot in a tight-fitting tee that shows off your shoulders and indicates your physique.

If you only have one type of headshot though, choose to get a commercial. It’s by the far the most flexible and the least of a risk to send out.

Which ‘type’ are you?

Acting is one of the few jobs left where you can be put into a box because of how you look. Let’s face it, if you’re a 6 foot 5 inch 40-year-old black man you’re unlikely to be cast as a teenage school girl in the relaunch of Grange Hill!

To a degree at least you need your headshot to play into how you are likely to be ‘type cast’ so that you can get in the door and get that audition.

If you’re not sure what type you fit into (lets face it’s hard to know ourselves) there are a couple of things that actors do to discover their ‘natural type’. The first is straightforward just ask your agent, they probably knew when they took you on exactly what sort of role you suited.

If you don’t have an agent or you just want to try it, then the other is a little more complex but can be fun. Put your mobile on timer (or ask a friend for help) and take a photo of yourself dressed how you are most comfortable. Don’t do this by holding your arm out or using a selfie stick, they won’t work.

Send the photo to yourself in an email so you can access it from a desktop computer. Upload the image to https://images.google.com. Google will find images of people that look like you. Find 4-5 that you think most look like you (not all the results will be good). And then with a pen and paper write down five things that you think ‘suite’ this person, Job, are they married, do they have kids, do they take part in sports etc.. You’re judging all this from an image to get down to the top 3 or 4 typical roles you think they’d be ‘typecast’ for. It’s a good assumption that you could be typecast for the same roles.

The one thing you shouldn’t do is ask close friends and family. They know you far too well to judge you purely on your appearance.

Choosing your photographer.

OK so let’s get this out of the way. I’m available and of course it would be great if you chose me. But this next section really isn’t about pushing you my way. It’s what to look for so that you can determine exactly what photographers mean when they describe what you get in your ‘package’ and importantly what you don’t get.

Session Fee Only vs Session Packages

Some photographers will charge you for a ‘session fee’ that covers just the time to take the photographs. You won’t receive any images without paying for them separately. There is nothing wrong with this but it can come as a shock if you don’t realise. Other photographers will offer a package that contains a fixed number of retouched images, usually with the option to add extras.

Styles and Looks

Most photographers will specify in their package how many ‘looks’ you’ll get from your session. If they don’t it will either be because they only allow one or place no limit, so ask. Also if they don’t specify if your session is for ‘legit’ or ‘commercial’ headshots it’s usually safe to assume it’ll be a ‘commercial’ – lots of photographers who don’t shoot many actors may not even know what a ‘legit’ is so if in doubt ask.

Session Length

It takes 250th of a second to take a headshot – but your session will last longer than that. It’s possible to do a full session in about 45 minutes. However, depending on how many looks you want and how long it takes for you and the photographer to ‘connect’ it can take longer than that. And you and the photographer do need to connect so that in turn you connect with the camera, and ultimately the casting directors viewing the images. As standard I allocate 3 hours to a booking though it rarely lasts that long. I also do shorter sessions for returning clients that I already know (as they relax quicker).

The important thing is to make sure that you aren’t going to feel rushed, especially if you’re having multiple ‘Looks’ & ‘Styles’.

Hair and Makeup

Some photographers will include hair and makeup as part of the package. Some will offer it as an added extra. Some photographers will allow you to bring your own hair and makeup artist (at your own cost) and some will insist you only use the people they book.

I’m happy for you to arrange your own if you wish. But, for reasons I’ll explain later, I think most people really shouldn’t bother with a hair and makeup-artist other than under very particular circumstances.

Retouching Fees

All photographers will retouch/edit your photos before they are finished. As I mentioned above, if you go with a photographer who offers a package some will be included. But even if there are some included make sure you know what the fee is per image if you want more.

Chaperone / Friend / Family

This one is somewhat controversial in photography circles. Will the photographer allow you to bring someone with you? And if they do will they allow them to sit in on the session or make them wait in reception?

If you know you want to take someone with you, this is something you need to check with your photographer ahead of time. Those that refuse, usually explain that clients are often distracted by the person they bring or they influence you badly on your choice of clothing, expressions etc.

I have certainly had those experiences. Often the people closest to us often like to keep us in a ‘box’ of how they see us and can knock our confidence and push us in the wrong direction. Partners and Mums are the worst for this in my experience. So if you are going to take someone along I would strongly suggest it’s either a fellow actor or your most positive friend.

If the person you are taking with you is a fellow actor it can be worth asking the photographer if he can do a double or split session for you…I do these all the time and they work well.

In my studio, however, you can bring whoever you like but they must be prepared to make the cups of tea ;-).

Image Format

These days all photographers will deliver your images to you digitally, occasionally by USB but mainly by download. So when we talk about format there are a couple of things to check or specify.

Will the images be 10×8″ or 12×8″ (A4)? Depending on where you are in the world, one of those sizes will be standard. In the UK 10×8″ is the traditional size but A4 has become more popular as those are the dimensions that come out of a camera automatically. Personally I favour the traditional 10×8″ for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it fits nicely on to a mobile phone screen and social media like Facebook and Instagram. And if you choose the traditional route of printing the images, a 10×8″ has more room to move in an envelope and less chance of being damaged.

As to the files themselves, your photographer should supply you with two versions of each selected image. A ‘full resolution print file’ and a ‘web optimised file’ – the web optimised file will be easier to send to people and upload for jobs. Not all photographers automatically supply both so make sure you check.

When you get your link to download your photos make sure you actually do download the files, don’t take screenshots on your phone and then use those instead. They’re not the same quality and while they’ll look fine on a phone if the person receiving them is viewing them on a monitor or TV they’ll look awful. Don’t spend your money on great headshots then shoot yourself in the foot like this…it happens all the time!

Studio or Location

Some photographers shoot in a studio and some work outdoors. One is not necessarily better than the other. If you’re going for an outdoor shoot there are a couple of things you should check. Ask the photographer if they are using natural light or flash. If they are relying solely on natural light, you will want your shoot to be early morning or late in the evening to avoid the unflattering harsh light of the day. If they are using artificial light (flash) they should be able to shoot at anytime.

Of course with outdoor shoots you might also have weather issues so make sure you agree with the photographer what is and isn’t acceptable weather. You may not agree, and you don’t want to be arguing later about cancellation policies!

I mainly shoot from a studio, as I have total control over the lighting and to have nothing in the background that could distract from the most important thing you! If you want to do some outdoor images though we certainly can do that.

Photoshop

A final word on picking your photographer, look at their editing style.

Now it’s possible for your photographer to retouch your images to a level that makes your skin look entirely flawless and remove at least a decade. But you do not want them to make you look that way…you need to look like you. Discuss this with your photographer if you’re not sure from their portfolio. Ideally they’ll remove nothing more than temporary blemishes and even out skin tone and blotches. Making you look like you on a great day. You can’t walk in front of a casting director looking 10 years older than your headshot, they’ll just be annoyed and it seems unlikely you’ll get the job.

Preparing for your shoot.

Ahead of your shoot you’ll want to prepare to get the best out of your time and ultimately a headshot that will get you work. Below are the key things that you should think about.

Clothes

Even if you have booked with a photographer that will only allow you to have ‘one look’ meaning a single outfit, you should still take multiple outfits with you. To discuss which one you’re going to go with at the beginning or if you prefer send them pictures by email beforehand and agree the best option.

A good photographer will have a lot of insight about what works and what doesn’t and here goes my insight.

Think about shoes…this one may strike you as odd, as they won’t be visible but your shoes will absolutely affect your posture and this will come through in your headshot. I know you’re probably thinking about women in heels vs flat shoes/trainers but it definitely also works for men too. Somehow wearing a dress shoe makes a man stand in a more ‘formal’ style and training shoes in a more ‘casual’ or ‘relaxed’ manner and you can see it in your headshot especially in the shoulders.

However, the most important part of your outfit is the top as it’s the only bit that will be seen and there are a few things to consider.

Headshot Outfit Colour

Solid colours. It’s fairly simple but go for a solid colour, but avoid white and black. The reason to go for a solid colour is fairly simple, your headshot is about you. we want to minimize anything that distracts from your face and patterns are distracting so solid colours it is.

So which colours work best? White and Black are bad choices generally as they cause too much contrast with your skin, making your skin tone look lighter or darker than it actually is. The one thing that you never want to do in a headshot is mislead the casting director! Even accidentally.

So now we’ve ruled out black and white we are left with a lot of choices and none of them are really wrong. However, my top tip is to go for a muted tone. Bright colours will draw the viewers’ eyes away from your face, and we want to minimise distractions. So I would always suggest going with a tone that works well with your eyes or complexion or colours that you’ve simply always felt suited you, you’re probably right.

Headshot Outfit Cut and Style

So as we mentioned above, there are two types of headshot the ‘legit’ and the ‘commercial’, the ‘commercial headshot’ is much easier to dress for.

You want a simple neckline no frills, puffs or anything similar. A tight-fitting round neck or simple collar are definitely the way to go for your commercial shot. Your commercial shot is meant to be a more pure ‘this is what I look like’ image and we try to infer as little as possible about the ‘type’ of role that you’re looking to play.

My top tip for both men and women if you’re unsure is to pop to a budget clothing store or supermarket, and purchase some of their simple round neck t-shirts. Get a size that is a tight fit, so if you usually wear your clothes loose get a size or two smaller than you normally would. The t-shirt being a tight fit will help to show off your physique. Although only your upper chest and shoulder maybe on show a great deal can be inferred. As with all things though this doesn’t work for everyone but it does work for a great number of people.

Now when it comes to your ‘legit’ shot you can be a bit more distinctive. Sticking with the guidance of solid colours and no ‘frills’ or ‘fussy’ neck lines will go far but beyond that you’ve heard the saying ‘dress for the job you want’ that’s 100% the case in an Actor’s Headshot. So if you go up for eccentric characters, dress like an eccentric character, in your legit shot. If you’re booking for a legit shot make sure you talk to your photographer about what you want, it’s a true collaboration (or it should be).

Hair and Makeup

Most of the time I think you should do it yourself!

On this one I might have a view that differs from most but bear with me and I’ll explain.

Your headshot needs to look like you…shocking I know! But if you get the audition and you walk into the room and the casting director looks at you they need to connect the person in front of them to the one in the headshot they received. Imagine how annoyed they’ll be to have called you in based on your headshot and it not really look like you (It’s why you update them often). So if on audition day you’ll be doing your hair and makeup yourself then you should do it yourself for your headshot! Knowing that you can recreate it for yourself comfortably on the day of your audition means that you will look as they are expecting.

However, if you always get someone else to do your hair and makeup (and you always use the same person) then you should definitely book them to do it for your headshot.

Hydration

This is really a bonus tip – make sure on the days building up to your headshot shoot you drink plenty of water…it really does make a difference to how light bounces off your skin.

Glasses and Contact Lenses

This is a question I get asked a lot…”should I remove my glasses?”

The answer is fairly straightforward, if you’re always going to wear glasses on the job then you need to wear your glasses in your headshot. If you’re someone who can or will wear contacts then I’d suggest getting images both with and without.

I have had clients bring along frames without lenses because they don’t wear glasses themselves but the characters they go up for likely will.

Why frames without glass in them? I hear you ask, to eliminate reflections. When you photograph someone with glasses you have to position the lights differently in order to minimise reflections, this of course affects the outcome of the images. I don’t mid a little reflection in the corners of the lenses, it shows they’re real. The important thing is that your eyes are not obscured, they are the most important feature of your portrait after all.

Things to Bring Along.

Beyond clothes, the things to bring along to your headshot session will vary based on who you are and what your photographer has available for you to borrow.

In my studio I keep a few things in the changing/dressing area that are regularly useful now not all photographers will do this, so look at this list and if your photographer won’t have these things then you might want to take them along;

Garment Steamer

I keep one of these in the changing room to help you quickly refresh clothes that may have creased packed down in your bag.

Dressing Table Items

I keep the following:

Hairspray
Moisturiser – especially useful for those that have dry skin or facial hair.
Blotting Paper – great for shiny skin spots.
Tissues
Wet Wipes
Hair Straighteners
Hair Dryer

Something that I don’t keep are brushes or makeup. I’m assured by my wife sharing those items is not hygienic so I don’t.

Now if anything on that list above is essential for you, do not assume your photographer will have them available…so ask ahead of time. And don’t think you’re bothering your photographer if they make you feel like your a bother get a new photographer. If the photographer cares about how good the headshots will be they’ll appreciate that you’re taking it seriously and properly prepared.

How often should I update my Headshot?

There is no specific rule on how old your headshot can get. That being said your headshot should look like you so if you don’t change your look much I’d say once a year is probably enough for an adult once every 4-6 months for kids. But if you change your hairstyle etc. you should get one done as soon as it ‘settles’.

Although once a year may be enough from a purely ‘looking like you’ perspective you should speak to your agent regularly, sometimes they’ll recommend an update with a different look or style more frequently if they feel they’ve sent your headshot to ‘everyone’ they might feel your current headshot has become too familiar.

The Most Important Thing

Try and relax, I know it’s easier said than done. But if you can relax during the shoot it will result in a much better image than if you’re worrying about the outcome.

If you have any questions please email and maybe I’ll update this guide with the answers.

Break a leg!