Now You Need Headshots - A Guide to Dallas Acting Headshots & Photographers

Dec 9, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Mar 1

Headshots are the first thing that a casting director, director or producer will see about you. This is how they will select you from hundreds of submissions to request an audition or to book you. It is important to get these as soon as you are ready to audition, and you must have a headshot before you begin auditioning. Make sure they're current and look like you.

Do's

Make sure your eyes are clearly visible, not hidden behind bangs, or turned too much so we don't lose part of an eye.
Make sure your face is clearly seen, not obscured in shadow.
Brightly colored clothes, use for commercial shot so lots of smiling teeth and energy.
Darker clothes, grittier clothes: create darker emotional background for your film shots.
Choose colors that complement you and make you pop.
Dont's
Don't wear a hat, sunglasses or have your hair in your face. Jewelry should be minimal, small studs, a necklace that doesn't pull focus. Makeup should enhance you, not upstage you; stay away from eye liner, false lashes. They are looking for real people. Too much makeup makes you look like an amateur.
No logos, avoid small stripes in case they moire` (zebra stripe), and patterns that are loud and may upstage you.
Don't attach your hand to your face.
Don’t airbrush out all your freckles or laugh lines or wrinkles. You want to look like you!!

Know What Look You're Going For

It's a good idea to write down a list of 'types' that you audition for, and then, write down sentences that inspire the feelings that will create that 'character'. For a character that is mischievous, write down a specific secret that invokes that thought and then that feeling from you and will be interpreted as mischievous, etc., such as "I hid behind something and scared my husband Halloween night"
Don't create a costumed character, just the suggestion or hint of someone who could be perceived as that character.
Also make sure to keep these photos up to date getting new headshots every 1 to 2 years, if not sooner.
If you change your look, (new hair cut), then new headshots, so make sure you realllllly want that look because it's a pricey haircut! Keep your acting sites and agent up to date with changes. When you change your 'look' or hair, you've GOT to get new headshots.
I ONLY recommend photographers of EXCELLENT quality, are consistent in their work, actor friendly, and have an affordable price point, with some more expensive than others.
Compressed: Compressed images are usually .jpeg, .jpg, and .png file types. Some casting sites also accept .tiff files.
High-resolution: Resolution is usually expressed as dots-per-inch (dpi). You want your digital headshot to be at least 300dpi, so it looks great as a thumbnail or a larger image.
Without names: Unlike your printed headshots, digital headshots usually don’t include your name.

For casting websites, where your headshot will be posted alongside many others, consider a tighter crop on the face “so that the eyes can be seen easier,” recommends headshot photographer Marc Cartwright. “A three-quarters shot won't stand out as much in an online gallery of actor headshots.”

What makes a good headshot? (Backstage)

A good acting headshot looks like you in real life. It also provides casting directors with an accurate sense of who you are as an actor and the characters you might play, so they can call you in for the right auditions.

Ideally, your acting headshot will convey not just your general look, but your brand, your type, your age range, your possible occupations, your professionalism, your socioeconomic background, your personality traits, and even hints of your inner emotional life. Casting directors have specific ideas about the roles they have to fill.

As headshot photographer Marc Cartwright explains, “You want to get called in for projects that are right for you. This doesn’t happen if you are deceiving the casting director with headshots that don’t look like you.”

Actors should wear simple, non-distracting clothing for their headshot sessions. Simplicity is key. The focus in your headshot should be squarely on you, not your clothes. Solid primary colors and bright jewel tones are great, while busy patterns and large, distracting jewelry are a no-go. But you know what looks best on you—pick colors that bring out your eyes and complement your skin tone. Stay away from white (which can wash you out) and black (which can give the illusion of absorbing light from the rest of the photo).

If you play more buttoned-up characters, wear a jacket. If you play more free-spirited or characters, you can show a bit more skin. But don't over-do it; wearing clothing that is too revealing can take the focus away from your face