My Approach to Acting Headshots

To me, a good headshot answers the question: “Who will I see when I open the door?”

A lot of my clients come to me because my actors headshots are more about who you as a person than what characters you might play. But you probably need a number of looks captured, and of course we will always work through them. If looks freak you out, and you don’t have anything specific in mind, just bring a few outfit changes and we will find looks as we go through the session. I am always excited to explore!

Looks can be straightforward outfit changes against the same background, or they might also need an adjustment of hair and makeup, and a change of my background and lighting set-up.

The sort of characters you go up for are clearly important. But often, if your personality comes through in the shots, they will naturally suggest your range. Nobody is ever just one thing. Any set of fifty shots of you will have one with a mischievous glint, another that looks vulnerable, shy, sad, or arrogant. It actually needs very little to show a lot in a headshot. You’re on camera, not on stage. Little nuances are all it takes. When you step out of the way for a second, stop ‘doing’ characters, your self naturally shows itself. All you really need to do is be present for a bit, and allow me to take some pictures. It’s a surprisingly simple process. I think people make it too complicated.

You tell me what you need. That is my starting point. Not the other way round. I don’t look at you and decide who you are and then force you through looks, or give you scenarios to act out in front of the camera (‘imagine you’re flirting with someone across the bar’). I don’t tell you who to be or what to feel. If anything, my job is to be perceptive to who you are, to let you be. I think acting looks are often overdone in headshots, and all you see is someone trying way too hard … you can almost hear the photographer shouting ‘More! Give me more Batman!’ I promise, that’s not something I do. I try and keep myself out of the shot as much as I can. Simple backgrounds, light and framing; simple tops and angles. Nobody’s ever been cast because of their frilly neckline, or the wall behind them. Casting directors will want to see you because of who you are.

If your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.

You are the work that speaks for itself. And I try not to interrupt. To see more examples of my headshots of actresses in Los Angeles and New York, click here; or for actors, click here. To book your headshot session, click here.