Actor Headshots

Actor Headshots Photographer: Capturing the Perfect Shot

Professional actor headshots are an essential part of an actor’s career. They are used to market an actor’s skills and abilities to casting directors, agents, and other industry professionals. As such, it is important to have a professional actor headshot photographer who can capture the perfect shot. Paul Manoian has personal stage acting experience and knows the importance of having a professional acting headshot.

The Importance of Professional Actor Headshots

Headshots are an actor’s calling card. They are the first impression that casting directors, agents, and other industry professionals have of an actor. As such, it is important to have a professional headshots photographer who can capture the perfect shot. A professional photographer will be able to capture an actor’s best features and create a headshot that will stand out from the rest.

Types of Headshots for Acting

There are several different types of headshots for acting. These include traditional headshots, environmental headshots, and lifestyle headshots. Traditional headshots are the most common type of headshot and feature the actor in a neutral background with minimal props. Environmental headshots feature the actor in a more natural setting, such as a park or beach. Lifestyle headshots feature the actor in a more casual setting, such as a cafe or bar.

Tips for Finding the Right Photographer

When looking for a professional acting headshot photographer, it is important to do your research. Look for a professional headshot photographer that specifically has experience working with actors. It is also important to look at the photographer’s portfolio to get an idea of their style and the types of headshots they produce.

Headshots are an essential part of an actor’s career. It is important to have a professional headshots photographer who can capture the perfect shot. There are several different types of headshots, including traditional, environmental, and lifestyle headshots. When looking for a professional actor headshots photographer, it is important to do your research and look for photographers who specialize in headshots and have experience working with actors.

Acting Headshots Must Represent Your Brand

Professional actor headshots are the single largest factor used when casting agencies decide whom to call and whom to skip over.  Professional headshots for actors help these agencies place their acting talent with film and television producers. With all of the recent legislation in Michigan creating major tax incentives for production companies to film and produce movies and TV shows in Detroit and throughout the state, having high quality actor headshots for Michigan actors is becoming more important by the day.   It doesn’t matter if you’re tying to make the Big Time in Hollywood or as an extra in Detroit 1-8-7; having an acting headshot by a professional headshot photographer is an absolute necessity.

Similarly, it is important to remember your actor headshot represents your professional BRAND. Don’t trust your brand to the cheapest photographer in your area. This really isn’t an area where you want to skimp since your headshots are often the only thing standing between you and a call. After all, presenting a bad actor headshot is worse than not presenting one at all since it will damage your reputation and brand in one fell swoop.

By now, you may be wondering what makes one actor headshot better than the next.  “Better” is quite subjective.  In fact, a lot of time casting agencies may prefer one type (e.g. high key / white background, low key / black background, color, black and white, environmental, etc) over another simply dictated by the role being cast.  That is precisely why having a variety of “looks” and an actor comp card is so important!

What Makes a Good Actor Headshot?

So, what makes an actor headshot good?  Here’s a short list of items to consider based on our personal experience and what our clients have been told by acting and casting agencies in Metro Detroit:

• You need to look like a professional.  There can’t be anything amateurish about your headshot including the styling/wardrobe, hair, makeup and, of course, the actual photo.  It all needs to work together to represent you and your professional brand.
• You need to have a mainstream look that will appeal to the masses.
• You need be properly styled and look hip and fashionable for the current times.  Appearing “outdated” will only make it appear that you have not be able to find work as an actor.
• You need to look natural and not obviously retouched.  Casting agencies want to know what YOU look like and not a Photoshopped rendition of you.  That is, they want to know whom they are hiring before you walk in the door after being called for a casting.

It should be readily apparent at this point that a generic portrait is not good enough.  A professional Actor Headshot must represent the entire package.  One of the most overlooked components of a successful headshot is professional hair and makeup.  Please don’t think that you can simply walk in to meet with a headshot photographer for a shoot and wing it. You’re not going out on a date.  You are creating a professional branding image that Casting Agencies and Art Directors will harshly criticize in a single glance. 

By now, you can see how much effort goes into producing high quality, professional headshots for actors.  That’s why it is so important for the actor or actress to know who they are and how they want to be portrayed.  Once you are able to articulate these two key items, it is time to contact us online or call us at 313-883-9500 for a consultation.  If you are not able to articulate these yet, that is okay, but you may have some work to do before you’re ready to submit your headshot and resume to casting agencies in Metro Detroit or anywhere else.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready to take your actor headshots to the next level? We would love to work with you! Please feel free to contact us online or call 313-883-9500 to discuss session ideas and availability.

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