Headshots are the key to breaking in as a professional actor. It’s just a fact. It doesn’t matter how brilliantly talented you are; without the right headshot, the chances of anyone taking the time to discover that brilliance plummet. Headshots for actors are like business cards for busy corporate climbers or stunning Instagram grids for aspiring influencers. An actor’s headshot is their professional calling card—and the best ones don’t just catch a casting director’s attention in the moment. A great headshot is also memorable enough to pop back into the CD’s mind the next time a role suited for your type crosses their desk. Is that a lot to ask of a single photograph? Of course! That’s why headshots are so vitally important to building your acting career. Here are three things to keep in mind when looking for the right headshots for you:
1. Why do you need headshots?
Actors need headshots for:
Online casting profiles
Submitting to agents and managers for possible representation
Personal actor websites
Professional social media profiles
Marketing materials (i.e., postcards, business cards)
Your headshot should serve as the cornerstone of your marketing materials, tying together your website, social media, casting profiles, postcards, business cards, and résumé. Just like the Nike swoosh or McDonald’s Golden Arches, your headshot should make you instantly recognizable across channels. As an actor, you are pitching yourself as a product—and your headshot should be the image that best represents that product. (For that reason, many actors like to make their headshot the profile image for their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.)
Establishing your brand is the big-picture reason you need acting headshots. On a more practical level, however, an actor needs headshots just to be considered for most roles. These days, most auditions ask for online submissions, so in addition to hard copies (which are still important), you’ll also need digital copies of your headshot to upload onto online casting profiles. Projects will not even allow you to submit unless your profile has a headshot, and the first thing casting directors see with your submission is your headshot.
For theater auditions, it is standard practice to bring a hard copy of your headshot, so you should always come to an EPA (Equity Principal Audition) armed with your headshot. Many theater casting offices ask actors to mail their headshots and résumés to the office for consideration. For film, commercials, and print auditions, hard copies are less common, but it's never a bad idea to bring one.
When you submit yourself to agencies for possible representation, whether by email or mail, a headshot is the first item on the list of materials required for consideration. And any time you go to a workshop with a casting director or agent, you should always bring a headshot.
2. What makes a good headshot?
Most importantly, a good actor headshot looks like you in real life. It also provides casting directors with an accurate sense of who you are as an actor and the characters you might play, so they can call you in for the right auditions.
Ideally, your acting headshot will convey not just your general look, but your brand, your type, your age range, your possible occupations, your professionalism, your socioeconomic background, your personality traits, and even hints of your inner emotional life. Casting directors have specific ideas about the roles they have to fill. They don’t have time to ponder your myriad possible characters; they will take you at face value. Even if you want to play against type, it’s important to recognize how you may initially be viewed. Especially when starting out, your headshot will determine what types of roles you get called in for.
3. What are some headshot do's and don'ts?
Some headshot tips are obvious—for instance, don’t use a selfie. Others are a little more nuanced—for example, don’t show so much skin that it distracts from your face. If thinking about how to get the perfect acting headshot makes you nervous, here are a few guidelines:
Headshot Dos:
Do shop around for a photographer that makes you feel comfortable.
Do wear a little makeup (even if it’s just powder).
Do wear flattering, solid colors.
Do prepare your looks based on your unique talents and booking goals.
Do professionally format your headshot to industry standards.
Headshot Don’ts:
Don’t use your senior yearbook photo (or a selfie) as an acting headshot.
Don’t wear so much makeup that you’re unrecognizable.
Don’t wear distracting patterns or colors.
Don’t choose a pose or look that plays against the types you intend to audition for.
Don’t airbrush out all your freckles or laugh lines.
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