Hints and Tips for your Headshots Session
Not a Fan of the Camera?
Headshots are something that you need to update regularly. I’ve found that actors are rarely comfortable in front of the stills camera, but it’s something that needs to be done. Whether you’re new to the game, or a seasoned pro, what do you need to know? Well, that’s the whole point of the post! You don’t know what you don’t know, but by the time you’ve finished reading this hopefully you’ll know a little more and be a bit more relaxed about your upcoming session.
I’ve pulled a few ideas together below about how to prep for your shoot but if anything isn’t clear, or you have other questions, you can DROP ME A LINE any time.
Acting Headshots
Your headshots are a big part of your marketing so you need to get it right. If you’re not entirely sure what you need from your session the best thing to do is to ask your agent. They’re the ones putting you forward for roles so they’re in a great position to offer feedback. Some agents will be looking for very clean, high-key photos that are pretty standard, others will want something more characterful. Some will have quite specific ideas about what they want from your shots, others will leave it up to you.
If you don’t have an agent and aren’t sure what’s going to be best, don’t worry. We can have a chat about your career aims, the roles you’re looking for, and what you want to put across in your pictures. We can do that over email, or phone, and we can talk on the day about how to get the most out of the session.
For Everyone Else
Talk to me, baby! Whether you need pictures for Linkedin, a dating profile, the back of your book, your website, or anything else, let me know your requirements and we’ll make it work. The dos and don'ts in this post will give you a good idea of what to bring, but there are always exceptions and personal requirements so, don’t take this as universal advice as this is geared towards actors.
Should I wear makeup to my headshot session?
Very light makeup is okay, but I mean VERY light.
Casting agents want to know what you really look like, not you done-up to the nines. Makeup can change and obscure your features, and that’s not ideal for the people who are looking to cast for their latest project.
That’s also why retouching is kept to a minimum for headshots, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t do any. Any temporary blemishes will be removed, but the things that are a part of you will stay. Essentially, if it’s something that will be gone in six weeks’ time I’ll get rid of it. But if it’s something that the camera will pick up in six months then it stays. Zits and bruises will magically disappear from your final retouched images, along with things like stray hairs, lint on you shirt, a coldsore, or even a flush due to an allergic reaction. Your wrinkles, scars, and the like? They’ll be seen on a 4K camera so they need to be in your shot.
You’ll look like you, but on a really good day.
What Should You Wear?
These are headshots which means I’m only photographing your top half. That means you can ignore the trousers, but you’ll want to bring a few tops. That’s quite a broad statement though, so what should you bring, or not bring, what should you do, or not do?
Headshot Dos:
Iron everything beforehand.
Bring a variety of styles and necklines, not just plain t-shirts in varying colours. You can bring a suit, t-shirt, cable knit sweater, halter neck, cardigan, blouse, etc.: mix it up!
Wear clothes that suit you, and that fit.
If you wear glasses, if possible, bring a pair with no lenses. Studio lights reflect on the glass and we may not be able to get the look you want due to those reflections.
Wear colours that are complimentary to your skin tone.
Wash and style your hair beforehand.
Don’ts:
Don’t wear anything with a logo or words.
Avoid busy patterns, ruffles, or anything that will draw attention to your clothes. you want the attention on your face, not your outfit.
If your skin is pale avoid whites and pastels; they will wash you out.
If your skin is dark avoid black and very heavy colours like navy.
Don’t bring a costume. You may get a lot of roles as a doctor, but turning up with a white coat and stethoscope is not going to cut it for other jobs.
Getting Different Looks
It’s always worth getting general headshots but, if you’re the type of person who gets typecast, it may be worth leaning into it and really selling that side of yourself. If you find you often get cast as the henchman, the Russian gangster, or the zany sidekick - or if you WANT to get those roles - then a supplementary image or two that showcases what you’re good at isn’t a bad plan. It’s surprising what can be achieved with a different backdrop and moving the lights around.
I know I said “no costumes” a moment ago, but this isn’t a costume, this is a character. There’s nothing wrong with making it easy for directors to envisage you in the role.
Final Thoughts
The rules above are more like guidelines: there’s always going to be exceptions to every rule. But essentially it can be boiled down to: be you, be comfortable in your clothes, know your target market, kick ass.
