Actress Headshots

A lot of actresses struggle to decide what their headshots should look like, because the content of these actress headshot photos can have a tremendous impact on the jobs you do, or do not, get. So first you have to decide what types of acting jobs you want, and then you have to understand how you can convey that in a single photograph. Read carefully and you’ll learn how to do both.

As I mentioned, the first major issue with actress headshots is that they are the main representative of what you are going to be expected to look like when you show up for the audition. So they certainly have to be an accurate representation. But on top of this, an actresses headshots must convey her potential and her unique proclivities. So, a lot of actresses get stuck on how to represent themselves. Should you have a serious, dramatic look? A fun, whimsical look? Maybe a goofy and comedic one?

The answer is, there simply is no single correct answer. An actress headshot has to reflect you, and the types of acting jobs that you are most able to get cast for and successfully complete. Re-read that sentence carefully. It is not necessarily supposed to represent the actress that you dream of being, or the parts that you could possibly play, but rather the roles that you are most likely to get hired for. Why? Because the whole point is to get hired.

Now as you advance your career and have a little extra money to work with, I always recommend that actresses get a handful of more specialized headshots taken in order to apply for specific types of jobs. It is standard to have at least two: a serious, dramatic headshot and an joyful, comedic headshot. And then you send  the different types of headshots to the different types of jobs you want. A Shakespearean theatre is probably going to prefer a serious and dramatic headshot, while commercial producers and casting directors may be more likely to call you in for an audition if they see a warm, smiling, inviting actress. It’s like anything else: you want to present the appearance of exactly the person you imagine getting hired. That’s called being an actor.

Next comes the selection process. Once you have had a lot of photos taken you will have to choose the core set of headshots that you will use for auditions. Get help with this. If you can, assemble a committee of trustworthy friends who you believe will be able to take an objective view on how you look in each acting head shot, and give you some critical feedback. Use that feedback to determine which actress headshot makes you the most hireable in each category of acting job.