How to get incredible actors headshots

Daniel Carter
2 min readAug 31, 2017

A few things that may strike more fear into the mind of an actor than a regular headshot. If you have been acting for some time now, you are possibly less satisfied with at least a set of headshots or the photographer who took them. May be the lighting was a bit too striking. Maybe your makeup was quite heavy for the role types you’d like.

Or maybe, you’re just starting your career and you have heard of all the horror stories related to actors headshots from friends in your acting class. You might have been told that the only way to get a professional headshot is to go to LA or New York and spend a hefty amount of money. So you will ask your sister’s boyfriend to take your so called “professional” headshot.

Here are some tips for getting your London headshot right the first time and feeling great about the experience:

Getting the ideal photographer

One of the best ways to look for a headshot photographer is by browsing the internet. Answering the following questions before booking your session will help to shortlist your options:

  • How much does a session cost and what will you get?
  • What will be a typical photo session like? How long will it last? What are the responsibilities of an actor?
  • Are there headshot examples on the website? Do the images look all the same, or is there any difference in styles and poses? Do the actors look comfortable?
  • Does the photographer you approached take headshots personally? If so, how long he or she has been working with actors?

Considering that all your questions have been answered, it’s now time to call them or send a comprehensive mail. Note how long the photographer takes to send a personal email response or call back. You should get your potential photographer within a day.

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Daniel Carter
Daniel Carter

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