Tips for a Successful Actor Headshot Session

Learn how you can get a great set of headshots to impress casting directors.

What Are Acting Headshots?

Acting headshots are professional headshots for actors. Actors give these headshots to casting directors while casting for a role, such as in a movie or performance. Acting headshots showcase your look and may even represent your acting skills. It's possible that casting directors are sorting through tens, if not hundreds, of headshots for any specific role.

How To Get the Best Actor Headshots

Find a Photographer

Before the actual headshot session, it's important to find a headshot photography agency that has experience in taking actor headshots. Make sure the agency you're looking at has actor headshot photographers. There are a lot of acting headshot professionals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and other cities. But, most importantly, make sure to find a photographer that makes you feel comfortable for a great headshot.

It's important to find a photographer that will adjust the lighting of your session to your facial expressions and wardrobe. For example, if you're going for a moody look, make sure the photographer adjusts the lighting to complement the aesthetic. Here at 415Headshots, we cater our headshots to your personality and acting.

Lastly, if you've seen a headshot that you want simulate, bring it to your headshot session and show your photographer. Most photographers will adjust location, background, and even studio lighting to your preference.

Get Variety

You want to cast a wide net with your acting headshots. It's best to get a variety of different facial expressions, such as while you're smiling, sad, angry, and even serious. However, be specific in choosing the facial expressions you choose.

Someone might look great with a joyful acting headshot, but might not look stellar with a sad headshot. Pick the facial expression that works best for you!

Get the right poses for your look! Complement your body posture and poses to your facial expressions to get the best acting headshot.

Complement your facial expressions and the look you're going for with your wardrobe! It's important to bring different wardrobes for your acting headshot session. Bring a leather jacket if you're going for a serious look or wear bright colors for a lighter mood.

What Backgrounds Are Best for Acting Headshots?

Most acting headshots are taken in the studio with a backdrop. But, there are a couple acting headshot sessions that are photographed outdoors in natural light.

Make sure to go with a background color that goes with your aesthetic. If you're going for a gleeful aesthetic, go for a brighter background color. Vice versa, for a serious look, choose a darker backdrop color.

For outdoor acting headshot sessions, complement your look with the outdoor background. For example, an urban wardrobe will go best with a headshot session photographed in the heart of downtown. While, an athletic look will work best with a headshot session photographed on the football field.

How Much Are Actor Headshots?

Headshot costs may vary in price from $99 to $1,500. There's a whole range in between and it can be difficult in deciding how much to pay for a headshot. Before deciding on a price point, decide on what you're looking for.

Headshot prices are usually are based upon the package or photographer you go with. Always make sure to go with a quality headshot photographer, especially if these headshots will represent your acting career. If you go with a budget photographer, your headshots may not convey the professionalism a casting director may be looking for. On the flip side, more expensive does not usually mean better photographs.

Pick the headshot package that works for you. These packages vary in the amount of looks offered during the session or the amount of edited photos offered for free. You may also have to pay more for additional edited photos.

At 415Headshots, our price range for acting headshots is between $159 and $349. Our headshot packages also come with a certain amount of free edited photos.

Ready To Get Your Actor Headshots Taken?

Contact us at 415Headshots for further information or to book a session with one of our photographers. If needed, our photographers will also direct you with posing and wardrobe suggestions.