ACTOR HEADSHOTS PREP GUIDE
How to prepare for your actor headshot session with Eldeen Annette, Orlando Florida
Congrats on booking your acting headshot session with Eldeen Annette Headshots!
Our goal is to create powerful headshots that will help you stand out to casting directors and get you that audition.
Headshots that are strong enough to stand out have to pop off the page. Casting directors are looking through hundreds - often thousands - of thumbnail-sized headshots, looking for just the right fit for their role.
Your look, expression, pose, personality, styling, appeal, and outfit choices all have a major role to play.
Let’s talk about the 4 things you need to do to have a successful headshot session.
Choosing the correct outfits is the most important aspect of how to prepare for your acting headshot session. Keep these rules in mind when selecting your wardrobe:
Your outfit should be 1 or 2 layers.
If you are shooting only 1 look, keep your outfit at 1 layer
If you are in the New York market or theater, choose a dark, simple top for one of your looks
If you are doing more than one look, add a hint of what commercials / roles you go for.
A jacket for a lawyer / doctor
A cardigan for a teacher / nurse
Denim or plaid for a parent
Try to avoid “on-the-nose” outfits, as they can be too limiting, unless otherwise directed by your agency.
For instance, if you would like to audition for the role of doctor, avoid scrubs and doctor jackets until directed otherwise.
Are you a theater actor or are you preparing for college? Keep it simple.
You are just selling you!
Keep your top plain, no patterns
Nothing too bright
Choose a darker tone
Neutral in color
Florida Market for Parks and Film.
Nothing too heavy.
Light patterns and stripes are cute, but avoid using them in all of your looks.
For a commercial actor under 18, prepare a theme park / Disney look for your second look - bright and friendly.
Are you under 18?
Prepare a theme park / Disney look
Bright and friendly
A plaid shirt, especially when paired with a
t-shirt underneath is a nice wild card for teens
Opt for colors that are bright - avoid pale colors
Denim jackets work well for teens over 14
Denim overalls look great on young actors
Little to NO makeup on if under 14
No lip gloss or blush - keep it very natural and young
A few other things to keep in mind:
No necklaces or earrings for males.
Females’ jewelry - only studs if you must, but don’t wear them for all of your looks.
Choose different color pallets for each look. Think how the shots will look next to each other on Actors Access.
DO NOT bring wrinkled clothing, or tops with lint/pet hair
Make sure your undergarments will not be seen with your tops, and are nude in color
Always reach out to your agent / coach to discuss the looks they want for your shoot. They know your market.
In order to have success at your headshot session, we need a clear idea of what you’re going for, and what your goals are for your headshots.
Film actors’ headshots do not translate well to the theater market. New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Florida have very different headshot requirements in order to stand out.
We also need a good understanding of what your types are (for adults. With children and teens, it’s safe to keep things young and friendly!).
Physical attributes, as well as acting styles and abilities, will have an impact on your headshots and roles.
Are you not quite sure what your type is, or need ideas on what you might be cast as? Visit Backstage’s Types article so we can see how we should orient your session, and what clothing you should bring to best reflect your point of view as an actor.
Make sure to mention these types in your pre-session survey! This will help me know what style of lighting, backdrops, and even the time of day to photograph you.
You are always welcome to send inspiration photos - just make sure you have run them past your agency first!
Feeling overwhelmed?
We get it! It’s a lot to think about. Here is a “quick start” guide for a 3-look session.
1st look: Simple, plain darker color (olive green, burgundy, brown, black, deep blue…)
2nd look: Bright colors, bold commercial appeal. Stripes, overalls, flowers, plaid.
3rd look: Choose either:
All-American look. (Plaid, blouse with cardigan or pullover, white with navy or gray, etc).
Character look. A hint of whatever character best matches your type.
On looks 2 or 3, feel free to add a layer if it adds to the outfit. A hoodie or jacket for boys, coat jacket for men, cardigan for ladies, overalls or a jacket for girls are all good examples of strong choices.
Physically preparing yourself for your actor headshots is very important.
For men, preparing for your acting headshot is relatively simple
Have a haircut about a week ahead of your headshot session.
Start moisturizing your skin leading up to your headshot session and stay hydrated.
Take care of basic grooming by trimming your beard or shaving if you want to.
Don’t forget to take care of the small details such as ear/nose hair, eyebrows etc...
For women, there is a little more preparation involved.
Stay hydrated and moisturize before your headshot session.
It is recommended that you have your hair and makeup done by a professional stylist.
Not only will this help you look your best but also will serve as a nice confidence booster before your actor headshots.If you upgraded to a professional stylist, come with NO makeup on, and your hair clean and dry.
If you opted for no stylist:
Do your makeup a just a bit “richer” than normal for the camera.
Keep eye liner thin and shadow colors natural. No sparkly eye shadows.
Your makeup should be relatively natural and appropriate for your type.
Your foundation should perfectly match your skin tone - unless your skin is flawless, foundation is a must to help even out your tone.
No false lashes, unless they are very minor.
Bring your lip gloss / lip color to reapply during the session (or for a change in looks).
If you are doing more than one look, feel free to bring supplies to adjust your makeup if needed.
If you opted for no stylist, for your hair:
Style your hair naturally and simply
Be diligent about taming flyaways. Get your hair as smooth and frizz-free as possible and spray to hold. Flyaway hairs are often impossible to edit out naturally.
Bring options to adjust the hairstyle if you have booked more than one look and a different style of hair would be appropriate (ponytail, braid, etc).
Make sure your eyebrows are trimmed and shaped how you like them. Do you need to pluck any? Do so the day before the session to avoid redness
Do you need to get a haircut? Do you need to color your roots? Are your bangs too long? One week prior to the session, have your hair cut and roots colored if needed. Roots cannot be photoshopped!
If you have deep pores, I recommend clearing them out a day in advance around your nose. Anything you can do to help us get that naturally perfect look in camera, without having to photoshop excessively, is always best. Casting directors bristle against over-edited photos.
Make sure that nails are neat and fairly neutral unless you are wanting to portray a bold character.
The hands are usually not featured however, it is always nice for to get a ¾ shot occasionally.