What Makes a Good Headshot for Actors

Headshot of actress Jané Gabriel; Photo by Aaron Hogan/Eye Wander Photo

Headshots for actors can be tricky because the tendency for everyone is to want to put on a lot of makeup and create character within your acting headshots, which is super fun to do. But most casting directors want to be able to see light in your eyes and to be able to see your face and know that when you walk into the room you’re going to match what that picture looks like. So I tell actors it’s important to give casting a hint of your character choices through your clothes. But mostly, you want to have minimal makeup— nothing overly fake like a horrible orange fake tan or fake eye lashes.

The most important thing when you book your headshot session is that you really need to be ready and prepared for what you’re going to bring to the session to really enhance who you are— this one hour long photo shoot will affect the next year of your life as an actor, so you must try to make good choices about what you’re doing with your hair or clothes. I love when actors come extremely prepared with multiple options that they feel confident in. Finding your “hero” shirt, for example, which is the shirt that makes you feel amazing about yourself and really enhances your skin tone, eyes, and hair, and the fit of it is also extremely important. This should be a shirt that you’ve worn multiple times and gotten lots of compliments on or are really comfortable in, and you know it really flatters your frame and makes you feel good when you’re wearing it.

Be very aware of what colors you look good in, especially be aware of your eye color and which shirt to bring to enhance them. For example, if you have blue or green eyes, find a nice blue or green that complements your skin tone and makes your eyes pop in the photos. If you have brown eyes, find a color that really enhances the different nuances/color (like gold or red) within your brown eyes. Brown eyes are all different— certain colors that enhance them could be: greens, purples, gold and different shades of maroon. Some brown eyes have more green or more black in them, or almost a copper or red tone. If you have black eyes, bring a black shirt or have a black shirt/jacket option.

You also want to think about your skin tone when picking out your shirt and what features are on your chest you would like to show or not show. If you have a nice clavicle, like if your collarbones look pretty, be sure to pick a scoop neck that really shows off that area. If you’re going for an everyday girl-next-door or young mom or dad look, a basic tee that compliments your skin and your hair that is solid will definitely need to be one of your choices that you bring. I also tell people to layer. You can bring a jean jacket or leather jacket that you can bring on top of a neutral colored shirt. if you want to have a business look, bring some sort of buisinessy look.

In Baton rouge there is a wonderful headshot photographer named Aaron Hogan. Book through hello@eyewanderphoto.com.

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