Actor Headshots
Whether you are an actor, musician, or just looking for a new profile picture to post on social media, it is important to have amazing headshots. Headshots are your calling card in the entertainment industry and can make or break your chances of being cast in a role. However, choosing a headshot photographer can be difficult. Not only are there many photographers to choose from, but each one has their own style and price range.
If you live in Sydney Australia, the following information should be able to help you find the right photographer for you!
What is an actor headshot?
Let’s start off with the basics. What is an actor headshot photograph? A headshot photograph is a photo that includes the whole of your face down to around the top of the chest. There are some variations on this but this is the standard type of shot that is useful to a casting director.
What makes an actor headshot different to other types of headshots?
Actor headshots are lit differently to other type of headshots because they need to show your face in a very natural type of way. Casting Directors are searching for a very specific look, and because of this, the styling of the photograph needs to be kept to a minimum while at the same time still making you look your best. Actors headshot also need to concentrate more on expression compared to other types of headshots. This will help the casting director to get a feel for the different types of roles that you could play.
How to choose a headshot photographer
Choosing a headshot photographer that is right for you is not that hard. I will take you through my recommendations on how to do this given my experience over the years with shooting headshots professionally. The first thing you need to do is to check out the photographer’s website. On their site, they should have plenty of examples of the type of work that they do. What you are looking for here is the style of photography used. Make sure to notice things like lighting, expression, backgrounds, final edits and crops. There is no right and wrong way to photograph a headshot photo but aesthetic’s do come into the equation. When a casting director is browsing through hundreds of photographs, you want yours to stand out. When you have so many people going for a part, something as small as a shadow on the background can be the difference between you getting the part or it going to someone else. Generally, you want the photographer to have a style about their work. If the photos all look similar in lighting and styling, this is a good thing because you know exactly the type of headshot photograph you are going to get. If the photographer’s portfolio looks different from photo to photo, then you won’t know exactly the type of headshot you will get.
How to have a good headshot photo session for actors
After photographing hundreds of people, I’ve some to realise that just about everyone hates having their photo taken. This also applies to actors. Generally speaking, being in front of a camera can feel quite uncomfortable. This is why the first rule of having a good session is feeling comfortable in the environment. The best way to feel comfortable is to know exactly how the session works. This way there are no surprises. Your headshot photographer should explain the process to you from start to finish. Also I would recommend that the session is limited to just you and the photographer. Having extra people in the room with you most often results in distraction as well as feeling uncomfortable at being watched. Your photography session should start with a conversation between you and the photographer to find out a little about the type of roles that you like to play so that the session can be designed to exploit those types of looks. I would recommend speaking the phone with your photographer prior to booking a session so that you can get a feel for the person to see if you will feel comfortable with them. Your photographer will be coaching you through the session so you need to be able to get along with them and trust their coaching.
Make sure that your photographer is going to show you the photos during the shoot. This is the only way to get to the look that you are after. Make sure you give feedback to the photographer also so that you can fine tune the posing and expression to get an amazing shot.
How to prepare for a headshot photography session for actors
Preparing for a headshot photograph is not difficult but it is important. Good preparation is going to ensure you have the best start to your session in order to get the best shot possible. I provide my clients with a preparation guide for them to follow which is made up of common-sense recommendations. The main points are around:
- What to wear
- What colours to wear
- Which accessories you should bring
- Makeup
- Skin products
- Hair
- Sleep
What to wear for your headshot photo session
Working out what to wear for a headshot photo is really important. The good news is that we lots of options is key here. Just because something looks good in real life, doesn’t mean it will look good in a photo. This is the reason I ask all my clients to bring a good selection of changes. We can review all the items before we start and plan out which outfits we are going to photograph.
What colours to wear for your headshot photo session
Picking the right colours is really important. The wrong colours can make your skin look flat, dull and pale. Generally, I don’t like to photograph white shirts on men or women. They can make take away colour from the skin and also distracts the viewer’s eye because a white shirt is the brightest part of the photo. An exception to this if you are planning on wearing a jacket or blazer. Classic colours such as blues can work really well. It is also a good idea to stay away from very bright colours. Heavy patterns should also be avoided.
Specific tips for wardrobe on for actor headshots
Actors are generally able to wear more casual type of clothing in their headshots. The idea behind this is that the photo should make you look like its a very casual type of shot. This is because a lot of the time, this is what you will be wearing while playing parts and also because the casting director wants to see what you look like in your normal environment. This also works well for the actor because casual clothing usually makes you more comfortable which comes across well in the photograph.
Skin products
Skin products are fine to use for your headshot photography session but you need to keep to your regular routine. This is not the time to be trying new products that can result in acne or a rash. Be aware that some skin products can result in a shinny look to the skin that is not very flattering.
Hair
If you are going to style your own hair, make sure you give yourself plenty of time and also make sure that you bring along any accessories that you may need to fix any hair issues. The best advice is to bring all your hair products with you to the session so that you are prepared for anything. If you are getting a hair stylist to do your hair on the day of the shoot, the most important thing is to wash your hair the night before and not on the day of the shoot. Hair that has been washed on the same day can be harder to style and will not hold it’s shape as well as if you wash it the night before.
Jewellery and accessories.
Generally, I would recommend you to not wear any accessories. These can be distracting for anyone looking at the photograph. This is something that can also work against you if the person looking at the photograph doesn’t like a particular set of earrings or necklace. This photo is designed to show you at your best and there is not need to gamble this with wearing accessories.
Makeup tips for headshot photography for actors
Makeup is very different when we are referring to actor headshots. Normally, we apply a quite specific type of makeup when shooting headshots but for actor headshots we have to have a different approach. Makeup is kept to a minimum. The only part of the face I would recommend applying makeup to are the eyes and even then, very lightly. Makeup can transform a person’s looks quite dramatically which can be a good thing but not when it comes to actor headshots. The casting director needs to know exactly what you look like. Having heavy makeup can work against you. Of all the makeup products, foundation can be something that can help you look your best. Applying a small amount of powder can assist in getting rid of shinny spots that don’t look very flattering. If you have a makeup up stylist doing your makeup on the day of the shoot, make sure you arrive at the studio with no make up on. If you do, it will only lengthen the session because the makeup artist will need to remove all makeup before they can apply theirs. Not only does this lengthen the session but it may result in skin irritation because you are removing makeup and re-applying immediately.
How to edit headshot photos for actors
Just like with makeup, editing actor headshots is very different to how you edit a corporate headshot. When editing an actor headshot we mainly work on temporary skin issues. Things such as pimples, rashes, cuts and stray hairs. As a general rule, you should not edit things such as freckles, moles or anything that is permanently part of your face.
Copyright and Licensing
Copyright is not something that most people understand. When a photographer captures your photos, they own the rights to the images. This is not just an Australian thing. It works like that all over the world. This means that you can use your photograph on social platforms as well as prints that can be made for casting directors. The images cannot be re-sold or used for large media advertising such as posters. Most people don’t realise that this is the case but it is very similar to when you purchase a movie DVD or some music. You are allowed to view the movie or listen to the music but you do not own the music or movie even though you paid for it. The studios still own the movie or music recording and what you paid for is the right to listen or view the content. Photography is very similar. This doesn’t just apply to headshot photography but to all photography and videography. If you would like to use your headshot for any other type of purpose such as movie posters please contact your photographer to negotiate usage rights. This is a common transaction and easy to do.
I have been shooting professional headshot for many years now and, I can say that doing your research into what it takes to get a good shot starts with preparing yourself with knowledge. Knowledge of what happens in a photo session. Knowing how to choose the perfect photographer for you. Knowing what to ask for, and knowing what type of support you should be getting from your headshot photographer. I can say with no doubt that arming yourself with all the information possible, is going to ensure that you get an amazing shot that is going to represent you the best on all social platforms. If you need any assistance in getting your headshot or your simply have some questions that I haven’t answered here, please do get in touch for a chat. I would be more than happy to help you.
Dan Cantero