What does that even mean? Headshots are not supposed to pop. They are photos. Of your face.
All joking aside, we hear this… a lot. Sometime’s it’s another version, like, “what stands out to you in a headshot?”
First, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves the purpose of a headshot. Its sole purpose is to show us what you physically look like. Sometimes you fit into what we’re looking for, sometimes you don’t.
Your headshot is not a billboard.
What we are looking for (and what your headshot SHOULD be) is:
📸 A current and accurate representation of what you look like
📸 A photo of your face
📸 SIMPLE
It should NOT be
📸 You in a bikini (or on a motorcycle, or with your pet, or with sunglasses on, etc.) You think we’re joking here, don’t you?
📸 With overdone/heavy makeup
📸 Shot with anything distracting in the background
📸 Showing an overly specific facial expression.
“I dyed my hair/grew out a beard, I need new headshots!!”
Not necessarily. Before you start posting in your acting class’ FB group asking for headshot photographer recs, consider this: we know facial hair/hair color is changeable. Do we sometimes need a specific hair color or grooming style? Of course! Can your agent/manager let us know in the submission notes that you have the ability to trim your beard or dye your hair back to blonde? YUP! Spoiler alert: that’s what the submission notes are for. And if your agent/manager wants extra credit, they will let us know if/when you are unable to change your appearance due to another commitment. Communication rocks.
If you think for a minute we are going to let Actor Joe (who is P-E-R-F-E-C-T for the role) not come in because he’s got a grade-A goatee in his headshots and we need someone clean-shaven? FORGETTABOUTIT. We trust that Actor Joe knows how to use a razer (or at least we hope).
Friendly remember: Our main focus is and always will be on the best actor for the job. Do we sound like a broken record with that statement? Good! You’re catching on… 🙃