Headshots

Copyright Notice

Recommended Headshot Photographers

Please check each website for their style and current rates

Mark Atteberry – https://idyllicphotography.com/
Brad Buckman – https://www.bradbuckman.com/
Laura Burke – https://www.lauraburkephotography.com/
Marc Cartwright – https://www.marccartwrightheadshots.com/
Jeremy David –https://www.jeremydavidcreative.com/
Jackson Davis –https://www.jacksondavisphotography.com/
Joanna DeGeneres – https://www.joannadegeneres.com/
Cathryn Farnsworth –https://www.cathrynfarnsworthheadshots.com/
Stephanie Girard –https://www.stephgirardheadshots.com/
Don Hannah –https://www.donhannah.com/
Huebner Headshots –https://www.huebnerheadshots.com/
Michael Hiller –http://www.michaelhiller.com/site/
Photos by Jamaal –https://www.photosbyjamaal.com/
Chris Jon –https://www.chrisjonphotography.com/
Matt Kallish – https://www.mattkallish.com/
Robert Kazandjian –https://www.kazphoto.com/
Sage Kirkpatrick –https://fresh-look-headshots.webnode.page/
Peter Konerko –http://www.peterkonerko.com/
Holly Lynch –http://www.hollylynchphoto.com/
Jonny Marlow –https://www.marlowphotography.com/
David Muller –https://www.davidmullerphotography.com/
Molly Pan –https://www.mollypanphoto.com/
Brian Parillo –https://www.brianparillophotography.com/
Vaine Poyey –https://poyeyphotos.com/
James Pratt –https://www.actorschoicephotography.com/
Cameron Radice –https://www.radicephotography.com/
James Reese –https://www.jamesreesephotography.com/
Elaine Reid –https://www.elainereid.com/
Michael Roud –https://michaelroud.com/
Emily Sandifer –https://sandifer56268.cmdwebsites.com/
Brandin Shaeffer –https://www.brandinphotography.com/
Jessica Sherman –http://www.jessicashermanphotography.com/
Paul Smith –https://www.paulsmithphotography.com/
Matt Stasi –https://www.stasiphotography.com/
Jade-Lorna Sullivan –https://www.snapsbysullivan.com/
Tandem Photo – https://photosbytandem.com/
Maria Tornberg –https://www.tornbergheadshots.com/
Bob Turton –http://www.bobturtonphotography.com/
Chris Violette –https://www.chrisviolettephoto.com/index
Shandon Youngclaus –https://www.shandonphotography.com/002
Jeff Xander –https://www.xanderphotography.com/index

Find a Great Photographer! 

This doesn’t necessarily mean find a photographer who lights and composes beautiful shots, it means find someone who knows how to capture the actors personality! It means find someone you completely gel with who is talented in the art of headshots (see the list above for ideas). You need to be comfortable being yourself and so you need a photographer who encourages that, not discourages it! You need someone that will have FUN with you and visa versa. Go to their studio, check out their work, ask them questions about how they see you and how will they shoot you. See if it feels right and if they address who you are. If you do a consultation here at Be A Working Actor Studios with Mark Atteberry, bring your writeup to the photographer and talk about what you are going for. Ask them how they will capture your essences, your personality and your unique qualities. Please, if possible, make sure you meet with them before you shoot or leave a deposit. It can be a huge mistake if actors don’t meet with a photographer first.

Preparing for the Shoot

Headshots are all about casting. That means you need to get shots that address three things: 1) what’s your look 2) what’s your personality and 3) can you act. “What’s your look” means how you physically cast? Rule #1 in headshots is you have to look the same way you do in your shots as you do in person. “What’s your look” is primarily the responsibility of the photographer but you do need to make sure you dress appropriately. “What’s your personality” and “can you act” is primarily your responsibility. You need to be relaxed and have fun! That is the key to being “you” and showing us who you really are. The best shots are usually the ones we shoot with friends when we are “messing around.” That is the feeling you should try to capture in your headshot session. So come prepared to have fun!

“Can you act” means can you have something going on in your head, behind your eyes, and let the camera capture that moment in a shot. They key is to come prepared to act. Come with appropriate dialogue, a monologue or even some personal stories. Think about your types and bring thoughts and ideas that address those types. For great ideas on dialogue see the writeup below this.

Finally, avoid drinking alcohol, weed and other drugs at least two days before. The dehydration will definitely noticeable through the lens, believe me! Make sure you get plenty of rest and, as stated above, come prepared to have FUN!! Nothing sells a headshot better than a person who is relaxed and having a blast!!! It makes you, what casting directors call, “like-able!”

What Should You Wear?

The top agents in LA usually define “looks” (wardrobe changes) in these three basic ways: 1) Professional, 2) Casual and 3) Casual Nice. Professional is usually a nice suit or professional looking button down shirt, whichever is more appropriate for you. Think of an outfit that makes you look confident and successful but not out of your age range. Casual is just that, casual. It is anything from a tee-shirt to a hoodie to a jeans jacket to a leather jacket to a casual layered look, etc. Again, think what most expresses “you.” Casual Nice is best described as every Olive Garden commercial you’ve seen. It is not overdressed or under-dressed, but what you’d wear if you went out with friends or family to a decent, but not fancy, restaurant. It usually entails a nice layered look, a sweater, a button down over a nice tee or camisole, etc. Bring to your session a couple of options for each of those three looks. When you shoot the plan is to get both theatrical and commercial shots for each of those three looks, as well as all of your types in each.

Stick with simple clothing. Texture is great on camera but stay away from big patterns or stripes or florescent colors. And avoid whites if you can. although a white button-down under a suit, cardigan, etc. is fine. Remember, you want the attention to go to your eyes, not to the logo on your shirt, the brightness of your fabric, etc. The same is true for jewelry. Little and subtle is fine but anything distracting will ruin it for you. Online casting is the norm so casting directors look mostly at 1 1/4” tall thumbnails in order to cast, so the standard shot is chest up. As a result, clothing is not nearly as important as it used to be. The neckline is what matters most.

Remember, great shots are all about your eyes. Pick a color that helps bring them out. A wonderful little secret to finding the best color for your eyes is to look at the iris in your eyeball. The color that is on the outside ring of your iris is almost always the best color to wear for your eyes.

Jewel tones are always best on camera, especially if they match the outside color of your eyes. A jewel tone is the rich, deep color of jewels (emerald, jade, garnet, sapphire, etc.). Basically it is the darker shades of red, blue, green, purple, brown and even black. Pick the colors that work best with your eyes, skin tone and hair.

Hair and Makeup

Because most photographers shoot naturally your makeup should look mostly like it does in person. It is okay to go slightly heavy with it but for the most part do your makeup as you would if you were going on an audition. Remember, Rule #1 in headshots is you have to look the same way you do in your shots as you do in person. If you have any concern about doing your own makeup for camera please get a professional makeup artist.

If you choose to do your own, be careful of shiny mineral makeup. It doesn’t;t look good digital. They are fine in person but on camera they enhance your flaws thanks to the sparkly minerals they contain. If you shine heavily get a good blot powder to lighten it up for the camera. Mac makes a very nice, camera friendly, affordable line of blot powders. Go to any Mac counter and ask for one that matches your skin tone. Or if you want to upscale it, Bobbi Brown makes fantastic blot powders.