This article is not a marketing BS that tries to take your money—quite the opposite. Much of the headshot advice online is garbage. It is marketing talk or simply re-hashing someone else’s outdated advice. I’ve seen many articles copied and pasted from the pre-digital era when both photography and casting practices were different. So, a lot of new actors are ill-advised and confused.
You probably heard this many times:
“You need a professional headshot now!”
… and this may be a part of why you are checking out this website. A business-minded photographer will agree immediately and take your money, but I want you to pause and think a bit.
Every week, a few people contact my studio and tell me that they want to be actors and need a headshot. I ask, “Who told you that?” They say they are told to get a professional headshot to start an acting career by an agent, agency, acting teacher, or knowledgeable friend. Sometimes, the story sounds like what fake agencies tell.
My next question is, “Do you have an acting resume?”
It should be at least 1/3 page full of something legit-looking. If you do, you pass the test. Skip the rest and sign up for your headshot session.
If you don’t have one, Google search “how to make an acting resume” and start drafting your resume now. You’ll also find resume-stuffing materials by Google searching for local stage work, school productions, and local film production community websites. Craigslist gigs section is often useful. Student film, local business sales video on YouTube, tourist guide video for your local municipalities, nonprofits who need to create video content, voice acting work, whatever. At this stage, it is more beneficial to work with patient and helpful people who don’t pay than impatient people who pay.
This is important for you because:
1. If you have a professional headshot but no experience on your resume, you’ll fail the “smell test.”
2. If you don’t have any experience, you probably don’t understand yourself well enough. You will need this knowledge to create great headshots.
3. If you shoot a headshot without experience, you’ll grow out of it quickly and will re-shoot soon.
If you understand that and still have to shoot a headshot now, tell me so, and no further questions will be asked. I understand there are sometimes deadlines, and things do not always happen on an ideal schedule. Or call a headshot photographer who doesn’t ask questions. I’m glad to take your headshot. I suggest you get more value for the same price this way.
Isn’t it a chicken and egg problem?
One good thing about student production and no-name theaters is that they can’t be too picky about everything. Take your headshot at home for now. Those people tend to check out your social media or meet in person if they are interested. They are also usually helpful. It’s always good to know actors who were, in the recent past, where you are and grow together.
When your resume improves somewhat, it’s time to invest in the best quality headshot to get to the next level. The experience and the headshot together make you credible. You’ll get much more value out of your money at this point. Don’t overstretch an amateur photo, no matter how good it is. You’ll need a real headshot before casting for real productions.
Eventually, you will replace those resume stuffing with the real experience in the resume, preferably while getting paid.
A really good advice from a casting director...
Among many actor advice videos from casting directors on youtube, I think this one has the key elements in one package. If you want to watch just one video, this is it. (Note: I don't have any relationship with Amy Jo Berman. I just did some research for you.) She emphasizes the importance of knowing your character so that you can line yourself up with the role being cast for, starting at 2:15. This is absolutely true.