DCA Productions, New York
The artist headshot is the most important tool a performer can possess. Your headshot will be the first impression and the most important impression that any director or potential agent will respond to. So getting a great headshot is critical. You should use a professional photographer, because his or her experience and talent will help your talent come across in the photo. In choosing a photographer, the more expensive photographers are not necessarily the best. Look for someone who is very experienced, and get references—find out how many successful shots he or she has taken.
Your headshot must tell its viewer something about you, something more than your basic look. It must tell us if you are a singer, dancer, or a triple threat. You will need more than one great photograph. Besides showing ones [that demonstrate your] skill as an actor, you may also show a promo shot of your cabaret act or a performance at the piano. If you are looking for [background] work, a character photo of you as the truck driver, an average person on the street, or the police officer about to book someone downtown could be included. But be careful to keep this look professional. All these things will make you more attractive to [auditioners].
Since submissions are now digital, a headshot, not a body shot, is a better choice because industry professionals are now looking at smaller, almost postage stamp–size photographs of you.
It is not uncommon for your photographer to take hundreds of snapshots to get just a few dynamic looks and capture the inner nature of your talent so it may become a displayed image of you. This is what you are looking to accomplish in a great headshot.
Letnom Management and Productions, New York
A strong headshot is obviously one of the most important parts of an actor's portfolio. There are many elements in obtaining a good headshot. Research is definitely one of the most crucial. Before actors get their pics done, they should research the black book of photographers or other photographer resources. These will have a variety of samples to look at that will give an actor a better idea of the latest headshot trends.
You should find a photographer that can relate to your look and style. This is someone who will be able to bring out your most favored facial features, whether it's your eyes, smile, etc. Up-and-coming actors may also be inspired by some of their favorite celebrity headshots. When getting them done, make sure to stay away from corny backgrounds and poses. Example: When managers, agents, or casting directors pick up a headshot of an actor riding a horse with a piece of straw in his mouth, they are going to throw it away on the spot, unless that actor's résumé is top-notch and heads above the rest. Or at least I would. So no themed pics.
Also make sure you get enough proofs done to cater to each need: commercial and TV/film, and if you model, a modeling shot. I have a couple of clients who do it all—act, host, sing, model—so it's good for a manager to have a few to choose from. To figure out which pics came out the best, actors should get a wide variety of opinions before going to print or [using it] electronically. If you have industry-professional contacts, those would be the best opinions to get, but you can also ask friends, family, and the photographers you used to see which [ones] they like the best before the photos get retouched.
TalentInk LA-NY, Toluca Lake, Calif.
It's when there's a message that's very clear that is definitely you that is coming through the eyes. The eyes have it all the time. You can have a lovely hairstyle, you can have wonderful makeup, everything can be great, and if the eyes aren't connected to the brain and the brain isn't connected to true emotion, you've just got a nice little picture to frame for granny on her piano.
Be clearly aware when going into a photo session what your casting type is and therefore what character types you should be looking for. Mix up your shots to hit the spectrum of all of the different ways you can play. There are some people who have what I call the Father Christmas or the Mrs. Christmas look. They're sweet no matter what they do. They are not going to play a serial killer dripping venom. So trying to force a shot that is not something you would be brought in for is a waste of your time and the photographer's time.
Write a list and go through it: "Okay, I need this nice best-friend kind of shot, I need this court or legal or governmental type shot." Clearly outline what it is. Then you need to decide, "What are they thinking? If I'm a public defender, I'm going to be looking for empathy. If I'm the prosecution, I'm going to be looking to nail the [guy]. And I have to carry that attitude with me into the picture. Am I a scoundrel? Can I sell you a refrigerator in Alaska? What is it that I am?" And truly own it in the picture, without taking it so far that it clearly looks like you're reaching to be something.