Actor headshots: what casting wants, what to wear and how to get them

Actor headshots are close-up portraits that show casting directors and agents exactly what you look like today, so they can picture you in a role and recognize you when you walk in. A good acting headshot is in color, shows your face and eyes clearly, and looks like you on a good day, not like a glamour shot.

Printed headshots are 8 by 10 inches, and many are never printed at all because they are only uploaded to casting sites (Wikipedia). Black and white used to be the norm; most headshots are now taken in color, and Marietta College's theatre career guide names Los Angeles as a market where color is the right choice. The same guide compares the headshot to a business card and notes that virtually every headshot shows the actor looking straight into the camera.

The one rule every source repeats: it has to look like you. Spotlight says your images should be an accurate representation of how you currently look, and Missouri State's theatre department says the person in the headshot should be the same one who walks through the door.

• Your eyes. Spotlight, the UK casting directory, calls your eyes your most important feature and says to make them as visible as possible (Spotlight). Missouri State warns that shots that are not "informed" from the inside end up with dead eyes.
• A recent head-and-shoulders shot as your main photo. Spotlight recommends a close-up head-and-shoulders shot as the primary image.
• You, not the clothes or the set. Spotlight says to avoid props, hats, distracting backgrounds and accessories. Marietta College says hand props tend to distract more than help.
• Natural, not airbrushed. Spotlight: do not retouch out wrinkles, skip airbrushing and avoid dramatic studio lighting.
• Sharp focus. Missouri State says there is never a reason to use a professional shot that is even slightly out of focus, and suggests checking candidates at full 8x10 size.

Actors often talk about two kinds of headshot: commercial (for ads) and theatrical (for film, TV and stage). There is no official definition. Wikipedia describes theatrical headshots as usually very neutral-looking shots.

The more useful idea is to aim each shot at a specific market. Missouri State's headshot handout warns that an "all purpose headshot" often ends up a no-purpose headshot: a commercial headshot may not serve you when submitting to a regional theatre, for example. Its advice: decide your first target (a commercial agent, an Equity stage role, on-camera work), then aim the shot squarely at it. If you can afford only one look, choose the market you are pursuing first.

Casting sites let you keep more than one shot. On Actors Access each photo is a separate upload and you choose the order; on Casting Networks the first photo in a profile becomes its primary photo (details in the specs section below).

Missouri State's first answer to what to wear is a question: who are you, and how are you going to market yourself? Choose clothes that fit that goal, and keep the focus on your face. The sources agree on the details:

• Solid, simple pieces. Spotlight recommends simple, bright clothing without loud patterns (Spotlight). Missouri State says to avoid busy patterns, logos and colors that wash you out. Marietta College adds patterns, frills and too much jewelry to the list.
• A color that flatters you. Missouri State notes that most photographers recommend a color that complements your eye color. Spotlight warns against anything that makes you look ill or washed out.
• Backups. Spotlight says to bring extra outfits, because a color that does not work on camera is a common problem.
• No hats, props or busy accessories, per Spotlight and Marietta College.
• Do not over-glam. Missouri State says new actors commonly over-glam their first headshots and calls it a marketing error: friends and family are not the audience who will book you.

Makeup and grooming. Spotlight advises as little makeup as possible to keep the photos natural, and suggests that actors with facial hair shave halfway through the shoot to get both looks. If you hire a makeup artist, Missouri State says to tell them clearly what look you need rather than leaving them to guess your type.

Missouri State says your working headshots should come from a professional headshot photographer, not a friend with a good camera: someone who shoots consistently and keeps up with what the market wants. Before you book:

1. Study the portfolio. Some photographers suit some markets better, and some have a style that may not be right for you (Missouri State). Look for actors who resemble your type and the work you want.
2. Ask other actors and your agent. Spotlight recommends word of mouth, asking actor friends and your agent, and checking testimonials from past clients.
3. Confirm exactly what you get. Spotlight says to confirm exactly what is included, such as session length and the number of images you receive. Also ask whether retouching and extra looks are included and who keeps the files.
4. Meet or call first. Missouri State suggests meeting the photographer in advance to check rapport, and Spotlight says to choose someone you are comfortable with, because relaxed sitters get more natural photos.
5. Agree on the plan. Spotlight says to discuss what you want from the session and what clothes the photographer recommends you bring.

California law protects you here. Under the state's Talent Scam Prevention Act, a talent service (a talent counseling, listing or training service) may not require you to pay for photographs as a condition of using the service or of getting preferential treatment. It may not refer you to a paid service it has a financial interest in unless the fee and the interest are disclosed in a separate writing, and it may not take a kickback for a referral (AB 1319, Labor Code § 1703.4). Read Arlo's guide to pay-to-meet casting workshops for the warning signs.

• Practice first. Missouri State says new actors make a mistake by waiting until they need headshots urgently, and recommends practice sessions with peers so you are at ease in front of the camera on the day. An on-camera acting class helps for the same reason.
• Rest and hydrate. Missouri State suggests a good night's sleep and staying away from caffeine and alcohol in the 24 hours before, since both dehydrate.
• Bring a friend, if the photographer agrees. Missouri State says a friend can help you relax; check with the photographer first.
• Act for the camera. Missouri State's handout treats the still camera as your acting partner: if the photographer asks for more warmth, make a choice from within rather than just smiling bigger.

After the shoot you usually get a selection of images to choose from, called a contact sheet (Spotlight). Spotlight suggests reviewing it with your agent and getting a second opinion from people in the industry. Missouri State is blunter: choose with professional guidance, not friends, family or social media likes.

The photographer usually handles edits after you pick a shot. Spotlight says to make sure you completely agree on the final image before it is finished. Keep retouching light: smoothing away wrinkles or reshaping your face defeats the purpose, because casting needs to see the person who will show up.

Many headshots are only ever uploaded, never printed, so your digital files matter as much as prints. Here is what two widely used US casting sites say in their own help centers:

• Actors Access: the help center gives the optimal photo size as 500 x 700 pixels (a portrait-shaped frame) and says to rotate photos upright before uploading. You can post 2 photos for free and swap them as often as you like; additional photos are $10 each to post and cannot be swapped for free. To replace a free photo, remove the old one first. Removing a free photo from all agencies deletes it permanently, along with any SlateShot attached to it (Actors Access).
• Casting Networks: accepts jpg, jpe, jpeg, png and gif files up to 30 MB, at least 360 x 360 pixels (help center). A free account has two photo credits, and deleting a photo does not restore the credit; Premium allows unlimited photos. The photo in the first position becomes the profile's primary photo, and you can crop the photo and its thumbnail in the Media Bank (Casting Networks).

Ask your photographer for full-resolution files; a full-size JPEG will clear both sites' minimums, as long as it stays under Casting Networks' 30 MB cap, and you can crop the thumbnail on each site. Do not add a watermark or photographer credit inside the image; Spotlight asks actors to credit the photographer separately, not on the photo.

Background casting has different rules. Central Casting does not accept professional headshots for its profiles, because they are often retouched. It wants a current headshot and a full-body shot, both in portrait orientation and straight on, against a plain white or light background, with no filters, edits, hats, sunglasses or props. The headshot is framed from head to mid-torso with your shoulders at the edges of the frame, and a friend or family member can take it. Optional extra photos can show casual, business and formal looks, or a uniform you own.

You still need prints for in-person auditions, theatre open calls and agent meetings. Print at 8 x 10 inches and attach your acting resume, trimmed to the same size, to the back. Missouri State says to use a reproduction house that specializes in performer headshots, not a drugstore photo counter.

Sources disagree on borders. Missouri State recommends a border with your name in it; Marietta College says the photo should be borderless. Pick one style and make sure your name is on the front or on the attached resume. The free acting resume builder prints an exact 8x10 page to match.

None of the sources sets a fixed schedule. The test is whether the photo still looks like you: Spotlight says not to be afraid to remove old headshots and replace them, and Central Casting asks for photos that reflect your current appearance. Update after a haircut or color change, new or removed facial hair, a change in weight, or simply when you look older than your photo. On Actors Access, swapping the two free photos costs nothing, so there is no reason to keep an outdated one up.