If you’re comparing headshot photographers in Los Angeles right now, here’s something worth knowing about: this recognition isn’t just about a good eye behind the camera, it’s real, verified recognition from the industry itself. And if you had anything to do with it, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to vote for the Reader’s Choice Award. I’m THRILLED to have won LA’s favorite headshot photographer! It is truly an honor and makes me feel appreciated.
Why Did Backstage Vote Me LA’s Favorite Headshot Photographer?
Backstage named Vanie Poyey Photography LA’s favorite headshot photographer after more than 2,400 readers voted in the magazine’s third annual Readers’ Choice Survey. Read the Backstage interview with me here. Be sure to scroll down to the “headshot photographer” section.
In that feature, I told Backstage exactly why I think so many actors walk out of a session with me feeling like themselves instead of stiff and posed: “I feel like so many actors come in here, and they’re really nervous because they don’t get much direction from other photographers, not everybody, but not all photographers direct. And so they feel like they’re really good in front of the moving camera, but they’re really stiff in front of a still photo. They don’t know how to pose, and they’re in their head. And I think that I’m in tune with that, and I’m really conscientious about people’s comfort level. I don’t try to impose anything on them, and I try to make it about their day in every way. But also I direct them so that they’re acting and ad-libbing with me and I’m throwing things at them.”
If someone asked me today what actually separates a good headshot from one that books work, my answer hasn’t changed since that interview: personality, not just pretty lighting. As professional headshot photographers go, the ones actors keep coming back to are the ones who direct, not just point and shoot.
What Do Actors Say About Working With an Acting Headshot Photographer They Trust?
Backstage didn’t just take my word for it. Also, I wanted to thank Matt Ryan, Melissa Guillaume, Charles Allen, and Jennifer Shumaker for giving me nothing but accolades when interviewed about their experience with me, and their actual quotes from that feature say more than I ever could:
- Matt Ryan: “I never had a sense she was forcing me to be anything other than myself, which came across in the final product. Not only does she have a great eye for composition but also, and more importantly, she has an instinct for finding and bringing out your natural qualities. I’ve had more responses to the headshots taken by Vanie than any other photographer I have shot with.” (source: Backstage)
- Melissa Guillaume: “One of the best things about shooting with Vanie is that it feels like a friend taking your photos, so it automatically makes you feel more comfortable and at ease. She truly cares about making sure her client is completely satisfied.”
- Charles Allen: “She has a talent for bringing out the soul of her subjects. Her work is more than static shots with good lighting. When you meet someone she has shot, you feel that you know them because she has captured the essence of the person within her shot.”
- Jennifer Shumaker: “Of all the photographers I have worked with, she had the best eye for lighting and composition, made me feel the most comfortable, and really got a ‘character’ out of me. Her shots show the most personality and book me the most gigs even five years later.”
As a Los Angeles acting headshot photographer, that last line from Jennifer is the whole point of a marketing look: a headshot that still books work years later isn’t luck, it’s built around who the actor actually is, not just a pretty face.
Why Does an Old Backstage Award Still Matter for Actor Headshots in 2026?
Because the thing readers voted on in that survey, comfort, direction, and photos with real personality, is still exactly what actors who work with me talk about today. As an LA-based headshot photographer with over 26 years of experience now, I can tell you the technology and the trends have changed since 2009, but casting directors are still looking for the same thing Backstage readers named back then: a photographer who can get the real, castable you on camera instead of a posed “just pretty” version of you.
That kind of marketing and specific looks is exactly what casting directors expect from la actor headshots today, and it’s why headshots should never be treated as an afterthought. Also it’s worth regularly asking yourself whether your headshot is still competitive, since a marketing tool with a shelf life only works if you keep it current.
A few things worth researching on any photographer you’re considering, award or no award:
- Do they direct you, or just tell you where to stand?
- Do actual clients say the photos book them work?
- Will they help you figure out your specific type, not just take a pretty picture?
If you’re trying to figure out what a great headshot should actually look like and deciding who to trust with your next session, real client testimonials from a verified, published source tell you more than a portfolio ever will. That’s true whether the source is from 2009 or 2026.
Anf if you’ve been struggling to get it right, the truth is, it’s probably not you, it’s your photographer, and that’s still exactly what Backstage’s readers were voting on: a photographer who treats your headshot like the business card it actually is, not just a pretty photo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Backstage’s Readers’ Choice Award and Actor Headshots
Here are the questions actors ask most about the Backstage Readers’ Choice Award and what an old industry accolade actually means for choosing actor headshots today.
What is the Backstage Readers’ Choice Award?
It was an annual reader-voted survey where Backstage magazine’s audience named their favorite acting teachers, casting directors, and industry professionals in categories like favorite headshot photographer, based on real votes and real client interviews.
Why did Backstage readers vote me LA’s favorite headshot photographer?
More than 2,400 readers voted in that year’s survey, and Backstage interviewed real clients about their experience. The feature specifically credited my ability to direct actors and put them at ease in front of a still camera, not just my technical skill.
Does an old industry award still matter when choosing actor headshots today?
It matters as a track record, not a guarantee. What actually matters is whether a photographer still delivers the same comfort, direction, and personality-driven results today that earned the recognition in the first place.
What should I look for in a professional headshot photographer besides awards?
Look for real client testimonials, evidence they direct rather than just pose you, and a clear process for figuring out your specific type. A verified quote from a working actor tells you more than a portfolio.
How often should actor headshots be updated, even with an experienced photographer?
Roughly every two to three years, or sooner if your look changes. If your current headshots aren’t landing auditions, it’s definitely time. Sometimes even if your look hasn’t changed, getting them updated every 6 months to a year is helpful to get you in front of casting directors who aren’t responding to your current shots.
Do la actor headshots need a different approach than headshots in other markets?
The fundamentals are the same, but the LA market is more competitive and more type-specific, so a photographer who understands current casting trends in Los Angeles specifically matters more here than in smaller markets.
An award is nice, my friend, but what actually books you work is a photographer who directs you like an actor instead of posing you like a model. If you’re ready to see what that looks like for your own actor headshots, let’s get you on the calendar.
Vanie,
Congratulations…I couldn’t be more happy for you. It’s totally well deserved!!