Acting Headshots

There's no getting around it, if you want to be an actor, you need headshots. The reason is simple, casting directors are almost always looking for a "type," and headshots are the first step in the process of compiling their list of potential actors for a part.

This is why you want your acting headshots to be a reflection of you. It needs the touch of a professional, but not make you into someone you aren't, but to bring out the very best of your features. Keep this in mind when looking for a professional to take your shots. Ask to see proof sheets of his or her work. Do you feel as if you know the person in the photographs? That's what you want. You want to look familiar, comfortable, the way you are as a person.

Size: always 8x10.

Finish: you can do either a matte finish or a glossy finish.

Dress: keep it simple. This is about you not the clothes you're wearing. Stick to solid colors. No tee-shirts with trademarks across the front. Simple, but not trashy. The same goes for jewelry ... keep it simple, keep it to a minimum. For the men, try shots with both a casual outfit and a suit. As for makeup ... use the same makeup you use everyday. Again, you want to portray yourself honestly, as the essence of who you are.

Backgrounds: don't let a photographer talk you into an exotic background. As we've been trying to emphasize here, an acting headshot is about you. Not the clothes you wear. Not your makeup. Not the background. You don't want backgrounds that draw the eye away from you. When someone looks at your head shot, you want to them to remember your face days later. Not how cool the background was. Keep the background plain and simple.

Selecting A Headshot: it can be difficult to decide which shots you want to use. While it's tempting to show them to your friends and family, it's wiser to show them to someone who works in the business. If you have an agent, let the agent help you choose the right headshots. If you don't have an agent, but you have other contacts within the business, seek out their advice. You can't rely on the opinion of the photographer. You really need an unbiased opinion.

Remember, your headshot is your introduction. It's the first impression you leave with the casting director. Since you don't know the role ahead of time, it's always best to simply be yourself. Capture your essence on the 8x10 and trust that casting directors will bring you together with the perfect role.

Here are some additional resources:

What Is An Acting Headshot?
Traditionally, actors use black and white 8"x10" prints of a 'head and shoulders' photograph of themselves, to submit to casting agencies or take along to auditions. A headshot is the most important marketing tool you can have. It IS your first impression -- it can lose you the job or get you the audition! They say that "A picture is worth a thousand words" ... so make sure yours says at least that many!

List of Headshot Photographers
Acting headshots are an actor's calling card, so you want the best you can get. But finding a headshot photographer who meets your specific needs can be a time consuming and often expensive process. The Actors Headshot Gallery at TVI Actors Studio makes finding the perfect headshot photographer easy by featuring the best in one convenient location. These Headshot Photographers are the best in the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago areas.

Getting A Great Headshot
Wear all solids. Never anything white! Women and men need make-up, especially powder. You want to look natural. No dark lips or heavy eye shadow. Wear your hair down, casting directors need to see your hair length. Look at the camera always. Hopefully your photographer will help you, but try not to look too sexy. Casting Directors are looking for comfortable, approachable, inviting, intelligent looks ...

How To Find A Headshot Photographer
Having your headshots taken is one of the most important things that you will do if you are a performer. Your headshot is often times the first thing that a potential client will see. There are times when your headshot is the only thing a casting agent will see and may hire you directly from it and your resume. The fact is that most casting agents look at the headshots of talent before deciding whom to bring in for an actual audition. For this reason alone you want to be sure that you are working with a photographer who will help you get the best headshot that your money can buy.