If you want to know what makes the best headshots for actors, don’t just ask a photographer, ask an agent who reviews actor headshots for a living and decides which ones actually get submitted. That’s exactly why I handed this post over to someone whose opinion carries real weight in the room where casting decisions start.
Blog written by guest blogger Mike O’Dell – Media Artists Group.
I’ve worked with Mike O’Dell for over seven years now. Mike is a hard working no none-sense actor’s agent. His experience of 11+ years, first at SBV and now at BBA, two well recognized agencies, definitely gives his words weight so I asked him to guest blog. A wise actor would take his advice!
Headshot Perspective – My Opinion
Get a real photographer. Nothing is more lame for an actor than being surrounded by dozens of professional headshots while theirs is SO bad the DMV wouldn’t accept it. Anyone who cannot tell the difference is in complete denial.
Real photographers compose. Amateurs point and shoot.
Take no offense, amateurs. Some of us, like me for instance, cannot do that much.
Consult with your agent. Your agent has seen the actors that are booking the jobs you are not. They tend to know what and who is effective for headshots.
LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
Communicate with them. Very often, the photographer will be willing to talk with your agent prior to the session to further clarify what is needed.
Be on time and cooperative with the photographer. They know what they are doing. Most people do not feel comfortable posing for pictures for a long period of time, and most photographers know this.
They will therefore do all they can to set you at ease and BRING FORTH THE BEST OF YOU.
Don’t get chintzy with hair and make-up. While a glamour shot is NOT the goal here, most photographers will know what sort of light is needed for you and how best to tone your skin and make you as presentable as can be.
PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR AGENT when examining proofs. Be sure you know what they want, but be sure they know what YOU want as well. This way, there are exactly zero misunderstandings down the road.
Because most headshots are placed on at least one online casting site, make sure to take chosen proofs to a photo lab. Once there, have it processed into an on line image. All the sites currently in use have different specs for downloading, and most local labs are familiar with local photographers. Once more, they know what to do.
Otherwise, follow the same rules as always:
Don’t upstage yourself by wearing some distracting article of clothing or holding a cute, adorable animal.
PLEASE shower/bathe the day of the shoot. Sorry it is necessary to say this.
Follow photographer and agent advice for wardrobe and settings. (Costumes are not currently in vogue, FYI.)
Relax. You are about to be immortalized.
Most headshots are good for about 18-28 months depending on the actor. If you have headshots older than 2 years, talk to your rep or your favorite photographer–it is time to do it again.
Remember, this is YOUR investment in YOUR career. Do it right!
What Makes the Best Headshots for Actors, According to an Agent?
The best headshots for actors are the ones a real, experienced photographer directs and composes, not a rushed point-and-shoot session, paired with an actor who actually listens when their agent weighs in. That’s the whole list above in one sentence: hire someone who knows what they’re doing, then let the person selling you into rooms have a say in what you’re selling with.
As an LA-based headshot photographer with over 26 years of experience, I’ve sat across from plenty of actors who treated their agent’s opinion on headshots as optional. It never ends well. Agents don’t ask for a specific type of look, wardrobe direction, or a reshoot because they enjoy the paperwork, they ask because they’ve watched hundreds of actors get called in, or not, based on exactly that photo (source: Casting Networks).
This is also where a professional headshot photographer should bring more to the table than just a camera. A photographer who’s willing to talk directly with your agent before the session, the way Mike describes above, is doing exactly what “real photographers compose” means in practice: building a photo around what actually books work, not just what looks nice on your Mom’s mantle.
Why Should You Trust an Agent’s Take on Headshot Dos and Don’ts Over Your Own?
You should weigh an agent’s opinion more heavily than your own gut feeling because they’re the one pitching your headshot to casting, not you, and they know what’s landed auditions for actors who look like you before. That doesn’t mean your preferences don’t matter, it means the final call on what goes out the door shouldn’t be made in a vacuum.
Los Angeles actors hear a version of this constantly because the market here is more crowded and more type-specific than almost anywhere else, which is exactly why working with a Los Angeles acting headshot photographer who’s used to collaborating directly with agents matters. It also matters even more for actors newer to la actor headshots specifically, since a rep’s early input can save an entire reshoot down the line.
Part of trusting your agent’s take also means staying open to expanding your headshot repertoire as your resume grows. A strong commercial shot and a serious dramatic shot cover the basics, but agents often want more specific looks added over time, like a procedural type or a business-professional type, so there’s a photo ready for whatever breakdown comes in next (source: Casting Frontier).
Mike’s point about web-ready files is worth repeating in plain terms: know before you book whether your headshot package includes correctly sized digital files for casting sites, the same way agents and managers describe what they actually look for in a headshot. That single question prevents more post-session surprises than almost anything else on this list.
If there’s one habit that separates actors who keep booking the best headshots for actors from those who reshoot every twelve months, it’s this: they treat their agent’s feedback on headshots as data, not criticism. That’s also the habit that saves you from ever having to figure out what to do when your agent doesn’t like your headshots in the first place.
An Agent’s Headshot Advice: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the questions actors ask me most after reading an agent’s take on headshot dos and don’ts.
Should my agent choose my headshot photographer for me?
Not necessarily, but their input matters. Most agents have a list of photographers whose work has booked their other clients, and it’s worth hearing them out even if you make the final call yourself.
What’s the most important thing to listen to my agent about?
Feedback on which of your proofs to actually use. Agents see how headshots perform in real submissions, so their read on which image is working is usually more reliable than a friend’s opinion.
What’s the difference between web-ready files and hi-res prints?
Web-ready files are sized and compressed specifically for uploading to casting sites like Actors Access and Casting Networks. Hi-res, print-ready files are full-resolution versions meant for physical 8×10 prints, and they’re often sold separately.
Is retouching usually included with a headshot package?
It depends on the photographer, which is exactly why Mike’s advice to ask before you book matters. Some studios bundle light retouching into every package, others charge for it separately or only on hi-res files.
How often should actor headshots be updated?
Roughly every 18 to 28 months, or sooner if your look changes. If your current actor headshots are pushing two years old, that’s your agent’s cue to ask for new ones, and yours to book them.
What’s the biggest headshot mistake agents see actors make?
Ignoring their agent’s feedback on proofs, then wondering why submissions built around the wrong photo aren’t landing auditions. The photo that gets you called in isn’t always the one you personally like best.
An agent who’s willing to guest blog for you after seven years of working together isn’t handing out generic advice, my friend, it’s advice that’s already been tested on real submissions. If you’re ready for a session built around what actually books work, not just what looks good on your wall, book a session and let’s get you a gallery your agent will actually fight for.
A wonderful job. Super helpful inforatimon.