Actors who want to enter the professional acting world need professional actor headshots. It makes no difference how exceptionally talented you are; if your headshot portfolio isn’t up to par, there is a likelihood that you will not stand out from the crowd. Actors need headshots just as busy corporate climbers need business cards or aspirational influencers need attractive Instagram grids to showcase their work. The headshot that an actor presents to the world is their professional calling card, and the best headshots do more than just grab the attention of casting directors in the present. A superb headshot is memorable enough to bring you to the casting director’s attention the next time a position that would be a good fit for your type is presented to them.
Do you think that’s too much to expect from a single photograph? Of course! That is why headshots are of such critical significance to the development of your acting profession. This book will provide you with the inside scoop on everything you need to know to take a flawless actor headshot, including how to choose a headshot photographer, how much professional headshot sessions cost, top headshot recommendations from industry professionals, and a great deal more.
Why Do Actors Need Headshots?
Headshots are necessary for actors in the following situations:
- online casting profiles
- Submitting to representatives of agencies and managers in the hope of gaining representation
- Websites belonging to individual actors
- Professional social media profiles
Your headshot should be the cornerstone of your marketing materials, connecting with your website, social media, casting profiles, postcards, business cards, and resume. This will help potential employers see you. Your headshot should make you easily recognized across all platforms, just like the swoosh logo that Nike uses or the golden arches that McDonald’s uses. As an actor, you are essentially selling yourself as a product, and the photograph that you use for your headshot should be the one that does the product justice. (Many actors, for this reason, choose to make their headshot the profile picture on all of their social media accounts, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.)
You need acting headshots for various reasons, but the overarching one is to build your brand. However, from a more pragmatic standpoint, an actor requires headshots to even be considered for most roles. These days, the vast majority of auditions ask for submissions to be made online; consequently, in addition to hard copies (which are still vital), you’ll also need digital versions of your headshot to upload onto online casting profiles. Certain projects won’t even let you submit unless your profile already has a headshot, and the headshot you submit is the first thing casting directors view when they look at your submission.
Because it is usual practice to bring a hard copy of your headshot to theatre auditions, you should always arrive in an EPA (Equity Principal Audition) armed with your headshot. This is especially important if you are applying for a principal role. To be considered for roles, the casting offices of many theatres request that players send in their resumes and headshots by mail. Even though hard copies are less prevalent for film, commercial, and print auditions, it’s still a good idea to carry one with you just in case.
A headshot is the first thing requested for consideration when you submit yourself to agencies for possible representation, whether by email or by mail. Additionally, you should always bring a headshot whenever you go to a workshop with a casting director or an agent.
What Characteristics Make For A Strong Headshot?
The most vital aspect of a good actor’s headshot is that it accurately portrays the actor in real life. In addition to this, it gives casting directors an accurate picture of who you are as an actor and the types of roles that you could potentially play, which enables them to bring you in for the appropriate auditions.
In an ideal world, your acting headshot will communicate not only your general appearance but also your brand, your type, your age range, your potential occupations, your level of professionalism, your socioeconomic background, your personality characteristics, and even some hints about your inner emotional life. Casting directors typically have very clear expectations for the roles they are tasked with filling. They are too busy to speculate about the plethora of conceivable characters you could have, so they will take you at your word. Even if you intend to subvert expectations, it is essential to be aware of how others may initially see you. Your headshot, especially at the beginning of your career, will be the primary factor in determining the kinds of parts you are considering.
Tips For A Great Actor Headshot
Beauty Is Not More Important Than Personality
Everyone has the desire to have a picture of themselves that looks amazing. The fact is that casting directors prefer it when actors look like themselves. Flaws, eccentricities, and anything else included. When looking for someone to play a role, casting directors are not looking for the most attractive candidate possible to fill that role. If that were the case, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt would play every role.
They are looking for an actor who can perfectly portray that character. Just be the best version of yourself when you’re acting out the part of the person you want to portray in your headshots. Exhibit some of your unique characters. Increase your range of expressions and challenge yourself.
It’s All In Your Eyes
It’s something that’s constantly being said. It may be seen in their eyes. What exactly does that entail? It indicates that you need to give the impression that your eyes contain some form of life, personality, expression, and depth. What are the steps to getting that? … Practice.
Perform the smile in front of a mirror to get started. Smiling comes more naturally to certain people than it does to others. Make a slight squint starting at the bottom of your eyelids and working your way up. You should practice this in front of a mirror until you feel as though you have mastered it. Simply put, the smize is just the beginning. After you have it mastered, you may experiment with making minor tweaks to expand your range.
Natural Makeup
A fantastic makeup artist may completely transform a photo shoot. On the other hand, a poor makeup artist can completely wreck a shoot. Generally speaking, a skilled photographer will also have excellent makeup artist access. If you enjoy the makeup worn in the photographs that your photographers take, you will also like the makeup that they apply to you for your photographs.
When it comes to headshots, the greatest makeup to wear is understated and natural. You may choose to dial it up slightly for some of the leading woman shots, but for the most part, keep it natural. You will never achieve the desired effect when applying lipstick outside of your natural lip line. You are not succeeding in deceiving anyone. It doesn’t make your lips look fuller. It appears as though someone has painted lips onto your face. Always be true to your natural features and use makeup to only accentuate them a little bit more.