ACTOR HEADSHOTS

The short answer is no. Although educating oneself never hurts, there’s really not a whole lot you need to know about posing. I’ll guide you through the whole process. I approach headshot sessions collaboratively. I’m open to however much you’d like to offer. Some actors like to drive the process and simply use my eyes to make sure everything’s working, other actors like to be guided all the way through. Just let me know what you prefer and we will find the best balance between the two.

First, as I’m sure you’ve heard, because actor headshots are suppose to be designed to meet the needs of a specific industry there are a few technical specifications that need to be met. Actor headshots typically need to be 8 by 10, in color, cropped at about mid chest or less. Actor headshots typically will not include props or hands or anything else in the foreground but your upper body, head and face. Casting directors often complain about too much make-up or anything that presents you differently than how you really look. Wardrobe is typically simple and should compliment the face at most but never distract from it. With all of the basic out of the way, what makes a good actor headshot? Well, the easy short answer to this is a good photographer makes a good actor headshot. That might sound a little flippant but the point is true — you pay me to make a photo, all you really need to do is cooperate with what it takes to achieve that end goal. And honestly, it doesn’t take all that much on your part. There are a few things you can do leading up to the session that can help, e.g., try and get good sleep the night before, browse other photos for inspiration, but I wouldn’t stress about these things too much. There’s very little that can’t be coached or corrected. You can view my tips on how to prepare to learn more about this. That said, there are certainly a few aesthetic qualities that make a headshot most effective. The focus should be on the eyes. An actor headshot should present the eyes as the star of the show. There are a number of ways to do this from the photographers end, (focus, composition, color) I try to take advantage of them all. But what’s most important is what the subject in front of the camera is doing. The actor needs to engage with the camera. This is not as complicated as it may sound. And, again, if you don’t know how to do this, I’ll help you. There are a few easy, organic, techniques that will get you right on track. A good headshot or portrait is dynamic. Just like any other art form, a powerful photograph almost always has a dynamic quality. In headshot terms that might mean the head turned subtly one way while the shoulders are angled another. It might mean creating negative space between an arm and the body or something as simple as shifting the head one way and the eyes another. Lighting can also provide a dynamic quality. Sometimes I’ll shoot subjects straight on, almost perfectly symmetrical and let the lighting and design add in the dynamics. Typically with actor headshots I like to keep the lighting ratio more flat than a dramatic portrait. Sometimes I’ll go for a little more drama but I would never suggest dropping a whole side of the face off to anything close to full shadow. A good headshot is honest. There’s something I call the honest gaze. This is a feeling of genuineness portrayed by the look or gaze of the subject being photographed. This does not mean intense, or confident or anything else. It means genuine. If your look is genuine, it’s going to by nature also be confident and powerful. A genuine or honest look is usually simply you un impeded by the present circumstances of being in front of a camera. Does that mean you can’t be nervous, well no. It means you need a good photographer to read between the lines, determine your baseline and do what’s necessary to capture it.

The first and most important thing is to remember that I’m here to guide you through the whole process. Most people tell me they don’t like having their photos taken. Including myself! I expect that, and do everything I can to make it an easy, fully guided process. Second: Communication is key. Let me know what it is you’re trying to achieve. If you see photos on-line that inspire you, send them over. If there’s a particular mood you’re going for, let me know. If you’re undecided about wardrobe, etc., run it by me. Third, try to be at your best. That may mean a good nights sleep, or the right kind of meal, or particular kind of inspiration. But don’t over do it. Worrying about being prepared is often the worst thing you can do to prepare. With exception to extreme cases, you don’t need to cancel if you don’t achieve these things—most of the signs of a poor nights sleep can be edited out, fly away hair can be fixed. There are techniques we can use to help you engage. With respect to hair and make-up: some actors like to have their hair styled before the shoot. If this makes you feel more confident, I’d say do it. However most tend to take care of this themselves. The same is true for make-up. An actor headshot typically should not include heavy make-up. The vast majority of my clients choose to do their own. If you’d like to have an artist do it for you on site, you can arrange it yourself or, we can help you arrange it at an additional fee. If you’re looking for some make-up basics, check out this article.