How to Prepare for Your First Actor’s Headshots Session
So you’ve decided to give acting a real shot, and that means looking for an agent!
Despite social media streams being fit to bursting with people promising “no gate-keeping”, just how to go about getting an agent and landing auditions still seems to be a tightly guarded secret. I wish I was able to pull back the curtain on the whole process and promise you instant stardom, but unfortunately I wield no such power.
I can, however, speak with confidence on one small but essential part of the process, and that is what you should be thinking about when booking and preparing yourself for your first ever professional actor’s headshots.
So let’s dive in.
Actor’s headshots (a.k.a. casting headshots) are not family portraits
Before I get to what your headshots session involves and how to prepare for it, it’s worth discussing what it’s not.
Your actor’s headshots session is not like a family portrait session. It’s also not like corporate headshots or beauty portraits. It’s its own very specific genre, where authenticity, character and technical choices come together to represent you.
Actor’s headshots are shot and edited with authenticity in mind. The aim is to create polished images while retaining real skin texture, natural hair colour and the features that make you recognisably you. So you’re unlikely to see heavy presets or filters applied in the way you might in some other genres of portrait photography.
For the best results, you want to work with a photographer who understands what agents and casting professionals are looking for. Someone who specialises in actor’s headshots will understand the angles, lighting, backgrounds and clothing choices that help keep the focus where it belongs.
They should also understand the difference between commercial and theatrical headshots and be able to help you work out what you might need for the types of roles you’re likely to be considered for.
Show up as yourself
Reserve the performance for the audition room (or self-tape). Rather than obsessing about poses and performing in an effort to replicate what you think actors should look like, focus on the simple little things. Breathe. Move. Think about what your eyes are communicating.
Your photographer isn't trying to capture a performance. They're trying to capture you in a way that gives casting some insight into the person they're potentially going to meet in the audition room. Your headshots are about confidently embodying who you are so that casting can get a sense of who you might be able to play. So show up as yourself and go for it!
It’s really important that the photos you walk away with look like you. There should be no surprises when casting calls you into the room. That dictates how the photographs are edited, keeping them polished yet authentic, but it also impacts how you present yourself. Keep your appearance aligned with how you look most days, avoiding drastic hair changes or fake tanning right before your shoot.
Whether you choose professional hair and makeup or not is up to you. Either way, keep it simple and natural-looking to begin your session. If you use makeup, products with a more matte finish photograph better.
Remember, you're aiming for you on your best day, not a completely different version of yourself.
Take it seriously by preparing your body and mind
There is no secret headshot hack here. Just take care of yourself. Aim to get a good night's sleep, drink plenty of water and give yourself enough time to get ready without rushing.
On the morning of your session, take a moment to settle yourself. Put on some good mood music, drink your favourite beverage and give yourself plenty of time to arrive feeling calm rather than flustered.
You don't need to turn your morning into a wellness retreat. The goal is simply to arrive feeling rested, comfortable and ready to concentrate.
Plan your clothing in advance
Bring clothes that you actually wear so that you feel natural in them. Just make sure they're in good condition, with no holes, obvious pilling or anything else that might distract from your face.
Try everything on in advance so you know how it sits and you're confident you have the right underwear to go unnoticed underneath.
Avoid logos, busy patterns and neon colours. Rich earthy colours and jewel tones can photograph beautifully, while very bright white or black can be less forgiving because they can affect exposure and draw attention away from your face. A good rule of thumb is to think about the colours you're always complimented on when you wear them.
Adding a jacket or additional layer is also a nice way to add some variety and depth to a headshot without creating a distraction. Keep other accessories to a minimum. Hats and statement jewellery, for example, can draw attention away from your face. Glasses are a little different. If you wear them every day, they're part of how you look and may be relevant to your casting type, so don't feel you need to leave them at home.
Three to four different “looks” is a good starting point for a 60-minute session, but it's completely fine to bring more clothes than you need. You want some variety, and you'll probably feel different in different outfits. Focus more on tops than bottoms. Three slightly different pairs of jeans aren't going to add much meaningful variety to your headshots.
And remember: these are not costumes. You don't need to dress as the character you're hoping to play. Your clothes should simply help communicate something about you and leave the focus on your face.
Do a little homework before your session
If you're completely new to the industry, you don't need to arrive with a five-year acting plan. But it is worth giving a little thought to how you might be cast.
Are you naturally suited to warm, approachable commercial roles? The slightly chaotic best friend? The polished professional? The serious dramatic lead? The cheeky teenager? The quietly intimidating villain?
You don't need to force yourself into one category, and your casting range will change as your career develops. But having some idea of the types of roles you could realistically be considered for can help your photographer create headshots that are genuinely useful to you.
If you have examples of headshots you like, bring them along. They don't need to be photos of actors who look like you. They can simply show a lighting style, expression, or overall feel that appeals to you. The more your photographer understands about what you need from the images, the more useful your session is likely to be.
A little preparation goes a long way
Comfort and confidence are great assets on your actor’s headshot shoot day. Sometimes those things don't come naturally, particularly when you're standing in front of a camera knowing that these photographs could be the ones an agent or casting director sees first. But you don't need to become a different person to take a good headshot.
Do a little preparation. Choose clothes you feel good in. Get some sleep. Arrive with an open mind. And most importantly, give yourself permission to stop worrying about whether you're "doing it right".
A good actor’s headshot should feel like you, just on a really good day.
If you're preparing for your first actor’s headshots in Auckland and you're not quite sure what you need, I'm happy to help you work it out. You can get in touch to chat about what you're looking for and whether a session with me would be the right fit for where you are in your acting journey.