Striking Headshots For Commercial Actors

Striking Commercial Headshots

Your headshot is everything to getting your foot in the door to the entertainment industry! Every audition you get starts with your headshot. You need a headshot that pops off the page and stands out from all the rest. Getting headshots is an investment in your career. You can expect to pay between $300-$800 for a headshot session. Do your homework and realize that price isn't always associated with the best photographer. If you're making this investment, make sure to get it right the first time, every time!

Booking commercials is highly related to your look and vibe. Most commercials are using "real" looking people doing everyday tasks. In many commercials, actors don't have lines. So your look is very important in commercials. 

National SAG commercials can pay a year's worth of salary from one day's work. So when you're considering how important headshots are, the question is, do you want to work? If the answer is yes, keep reading (watching).

What is the #1 mistake actors make in their headshot session?

Actors haven't addressed their age range or the roles for which they audition. This causes the actor to come unprepared with their wardrobe. Doing the work to prepare for the session is crucial to getting effective headshots that help you book the job. 

If your age range is 35-50 years old, but you're dressing like a college student in their early 20s, it gives the actor headshots that aren't useable. 

If you're in your teens, but you've brought a suit for a "detective" look, you'll find little use of that headshot.

The work of understanding what and who you look like is a huge step in becoming a working actor. It can be overwhelming as a newer actor without a team to assist in the vision. 

Selecting the right wardrobe, hair & makeup, and facial expressions will give you winning headshots.

Alyssa's headshot session prep questionnaire really helps her clients to think through this process.

You should be at ease and comfortable at your headshot session.

It's totally natural to be a little uncomfortable at the headshot session. We're actors used to moving around. Taking photos is a different wheelhouse. When you've done the work to prepare for the session and you have your wardrobe in order and you've planned out your hair and makeup order, you'll find the session a lot easier.

What is the difference between theatrical shots versus commercial shots?

Most commercials are set by the time they start casting actors. They know exactly the age ranges and vibes of their cast.

Commercials are selling a product or service and usually cast friendly looking people. Smiles and happy vibes are characteristic of commercial headshots. Commercial actors usually have a trustworthy, knowledgeable feel. After all, they're selling a product, they need to look like someone you'd trust.

Commercial headshots also can play with more colorful wardrobe and background. A fun headshot can really stand out to casting directors for commercials.

Theatrical headshots can range from happy to serious. These shots have a larger range and need to convey the characters the actor will play. Most shots will range from a small smile to the brooding, darker themed characters. 

Theatrical headshots usually lean toward the more serious wardrobe choices. The dark jacket with white collared shirt and tie starring sternly into the camera lens would easily scream theatrical. This is where you see the sexy, dramatic, or comical facial expressions.

Standing our amongst the sea of headshots

When you or your agent has submitted you for an audition, the casting director sees a computer screen full of headshot thumbnails. It's a bunch of little squares with faces in them. 

Here's why it's so hard to stand out. The "breakdown" or description of the character might be a 35 - 45 year old, Asian, businesswoman. So every submission is going to be a women of similar characteristics. 

In this scenario, are you just another thumbnail that blends in with all the other Asian businesswomen? Or doesn't your headshot pop? What is happening in your photo that stands out amongst all the other headshots? 

Is it a pop of color? Is it your facial expression? Is it your lighting? There's many ways of creating a striking headshot. In a world of dedicated, professional film and television actors, all taking their job seriously, you're going to need a talented headshot photographer who understands the casting director perspective. 

Commercial headshots gives you a bit more room to be creative and play with your headshot. These are the shots to have a laughing smile, or quirky, silly expression. Wearing polka-dots, stripes or patterns in these shots is totally acceptable.

Get specific in a general way..

When preparing for your headshot session, it's important to know your roles. Go through your audition log...I hope you're using my audition log that is free on my website! Look at the "Role" column and see what roles you usually audition for. 

Professional roles of: doctor, lawyer, businessman, politician, etc. Those can all use the same headshot of you in your business suit.

Roles for a mom of toddlers, gardener, creative, can all use the headshot of you in the t-shirt and flannel shirt.

Date night, trophy wife, party girl can all use the shot in the glammed up photo in the green blouse.

Instead of getting a photo for every possible role, you'll use one shot that covers that look and feel.

So, specific, but general.

Arrive prepared.

Have a plan off attack for the session. If you want to get more rugged looks with facial hair for men, or undone hair for women, get those shots first. have that wardrobe on hangers as a set, ready to go.

You can then shave or change your hair or makeup after the first shot and move on to the next look. 

Time is scarce in this session, so the more prepared you are, the more photos you get.

Bring all your clothes on hangers. Have them pre-pressed or ironed, so they aren't a distraction in the photo.

For women, know which accessories you'll wear with which outfit. Put necklaces and earrings in baggies and attach to the hangers with the clothes. You can even label each outfit so you don't get mixed up. Your mind might be spinning when you get there. Do the work ahead of time.

Accessories

In your headshot, the main focus is always your eyes. Anything that distracts from your eyes will hurt you. 

This isn't a pageant shot or a glamour shot. This is an actor headshot. 

Leave the bling, dangly earrings and necklace at home. Keep jewelry simple. 

Hair and makeup

Less is more. This isn't stage makeup and you're not in costume. If you're not great at applying your own makeup and understanding what's appropriate, make sure to hire a hair and makeup artist. Each headshot photographer usually has their own that they recommend. 

For women, having a plan for your hairstyles is important. Figure out which way is easiest to style if you plan on changing hair from curly to straight, or vice versa. Every minute you spend primping yourself is time taken away from actual photos. 

Stay away from trendy makeup application. Fake eyelashes can almost be too much in a photo, depending on the application. The safe route is to stay within the classic application. It will be timeless.

Photoshop can easily correct and add more makeup as needed. Removing makeup is a whole other story and difficulty. Make it easy on the person editing your photos.

Photoshop, filters and editing

In the age of social media filters, some people can be accustomed to seeing themselves in an altered way. Headshots need to look exactly like you do. 

Using a high definition camera will show your skin texture, wrinkles, freckles, scars, skin tone...everything. Own it! Be proud of your face. Being an actor requires you to be comfortable in your own skin. 

Editing your photo should mean only touching the areas that can be covered with makeup. Pimples, discoloration, and temporary facial blemishes can be erased. Your photo should still show through your wrinkles, lines, pores, all the things makeup cannot cover.

Erasing wrinkles and lines is the equivalent of lying. The casting director is expecting the person in that photo to be at the audition. If you've erased 10 years of aging in your headshot, you won't be helping yourself compete when the actual you shows up. 

Go easy on the edits and keep it real!

Personal grooming and care days leading up to the session...

In the days leading up to the session, you'll want to prepare to look your best. Start by getting plenty of rest. Eat clean and drink lots of water. Your skin will thank you for it. Clean eating and staying hydrated will give you a natural glow and prevent puffiness and swelling.

If you want to cut or color your hair, do it at least 3-4 days before your session so you can adjust any issues or allow your hair to settle in place. Coloring can sometimes stain your skin, so give it a few days to wash away.

You don't want to look like you just got a haircut. It's almost too fresh and clean. You'll want your headshot to show you at your finest, which is usually in the middle of a new haircut and needing a haircut. 

Don't get these done the day before. It won't give you any time to correct issues.

Preparation is the key.

You've got between 1-2 hours for your headshot session. Walking into your session with a plan and preparing all of your clothes and looks for the roles you play will help you make the most of your session. When you've done the preparation, you'll arrive relaxed and ready to play. At this point, all you need to do is listen to your photographer and focus on your thoughts for each character. This is how you make the most of your headshot session.

Once you get your photos back, you'll select your favorites, upload them to the casting websites and get ready to audition.

There's more to say about headshots, but this is the stuff you need to know.

Have a great session!

Nancy