Headshot FAQs

What makes a Great Headshot?

If you ask an experienced casting director, they'll tell you a great headshot is one that accurately and honestly represents the actor's age, look, type, and vibe. I'm going to repeat the two magic words from that statement: "Honestly Represents". If you want to book acting jobs be honest with yourself about your age, look, type, and vibe. You may be a punk rocker in your heart, or a surfer dude in your soul, but if everyone you meet thinks you seem like a lumberjack or an office receptionist, you'll greatly increase the number of acting jobs you book if you come across the way the world sees you in your headshots. Now combine that with a dynamic image that makes a really clickable thumbnail and you are positioning yourself for success!

What makes a REALLY Great Headshot?

Oh, you want to know the top secret stuff. The secret to a really great headshot is: you pose for a picture, but you ACT for a headshot. Come to your headshot session ready to act with lines to say (in your head), characters to play (in your head). If you say it in your head it will read in your eyes.

What should I wear for my headshot?

This will depend on the type or look you want to be seen as. We will discuss this further in our pre-shoot meeting. Either way, please no white or black clothes. Solid colors and greys are the least distracting. Our entire focus is on helping people to see your personality, so we'll try not to distract them with fashion.

Do we have to meet in person prior to the shoot?

I know you're busy. I'm busy, too. But if you want to get the most value for your money you have to put in the work. If you don't want to do the work, I don't want to take your picture. I want your headshots to give you an edge over your competition. That means a face to face meeting prior to the shoot where I get to know a little about you and you make sure I am the right photographer to take your headshots.

How do I know what looks will book the most jobs?

Talk to your agent and manager! How do they plan to market you over the next six months? What characters or roles do you and your reps see you playing? Know the answers to these questions before the shoot. If you don't have a manager or agent, do some market research. Go to a mall or to the beach. Dress in nondescript clothes and ask 100 strangers how old they think you are and what you do for a living. You'll notice a trend in people's first impressions. We can use this to focus the headshot session on the types you are most likely to book.

What about hair and makeup?

When a casting director calls you in for an audition based on your headshot, they want to see that same you walking through that door. It is for this reason we don't recommend hiring a professional hair or make up artist unless you use them more as a consultant. You're going to want to be able to duplicate that look when you start getting called in for auditions based on your new headshots. If you still want a professional we can put you in touch with a few of our favorites.