Professional Actor Headshot Photography

What do casting and directors want to see in actor headshots?

Several prominent directors and casting agents have repeated the following advice when it comes to actor headshots:

1. Show that you take your acting career seriously enough to produce a strong, effective headshot.   Great lighting and camera technique (they have specific preferences here – more on that later) will help .  More importantly, you should present yourself as an expressive, believable and relateable person.  Subtle and real beats over-dramatic.
2. Your headshot should project some of your own personality.   People want to work with someone who they think they can trust, and someone they feel they have things in common with.   A good headshot can make you relateable.  It allows you to make a personal connection with the viewer.   Your secondary headshots are where you can branch out and show some range but keep this advice in mind for your main headshot.   If casting sees something they like in your headshot, they would also like to see it when you show up in person.   They want you to succeed and be the actor they’re searching for. They picked your headshot for a reason (or two).
3. Your headshot should look like you!   If you show up at your audition or a call-back looking very different than your headshot, you will waste everyone’s time and annoy them.

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More talent, time and effort devoted to your headshots

I will not do quick and cheap actor headshots.  Yes, we can achieve an attractive, generic headshot in 20 minutes. Most photographers can.   It takes more time and talent – on your part and mine – to bring out natural, expressive, real portraits of you.   Getting you comfortable, relaxed and having fun in your session is a great start.  I allow time and a supportive place for you to play with it, be yourself and focus on your headshot goals.

Headshots on Location

Using several real locations helps you be more relaxed and natural and gives us a good variety to choose from.   Lighting, background colours and depth and selective focus are chosen to meet the preferred look among Hollywood, New York and Toronto casting agents and directors.

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My Style

I use professional lighting techniques;  soft, flattering light to make sure your skin and eyes look their best.  I also provide professional quality retouching and colour adjustment on your selected headshots.  I always leave real pores and texture in your skin.   Blemish removal is included.  Sleep circles under eyes can be faded without removing form (shadow) and texture.  Yellow can be partially removed from teeth.   The end result is a beautifully lit portrait that looks like you, with no hint of airbrushing or photoshop retouching – totally natural looking!

Actor Headshot Prices

Actor Headshot Clients

Some sample actor headshots from the blog:

• Summer Brockwell
• Amanda Cortes
• More Actors