The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You

1 August 2010 | No Comments »

Image by nickgregan via Flickr

The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You
As many of my regular readers will know one of the most important principles of a great actors headshot photograph is that it must look like you.

Many time I have come across headshots that look nothing ike the person standing in front of me. I have on several occasions spoken to casting directors
and agents about this ridiculous phenomenon. The one thing they all state categorically is that unless the actors looks like their headshot they are wasting
every ones time.
And here’s a dramatic fact; no one likes to have their time wasted especially when they’re busy.
I found this great in depth article on the Backstage blog and thought it would be worth a read
for many people.

Here’s an excerpt that’ll wet your taste buds……

It’s a variation on the classic actor’s nightmare: You step into a room for an audition. The casting director is perusing your headshot. You exchange polite hellos, and a quizzical expression passes over her face. Her eyes move up and down between you and the frozen image in her hand. Her mouth tightens. You know it’s coming. You try to predict which line she will speak:
“So, are you here to read for the niece or the aunt?”

“When did you last have your headshots done?”

“Excuse me, do I even have the right person here?”

All because the person in the photo is younger, thinner, sexier, better looking, and/or more glamorous than you. You can rationalize: “Geez, everybody exaggerates. Casting directors expect that. Anyway, she should be more interested in my acting chops than my headshot.”

Related Articles The Actors Headshot – Capturing The Real You

• Roles Based On Past Projects (actorgrowth.com)
• Quick Tips and Tricks for Auditioning (teachstreet.com)
• Finding A Headshot Photographer (actorgrowth.com)
• Beautiful Photographs ( ambiguousmisdirection.com )

Shakespeare’s Third Top Tip

Shakespeare’s Third Top Tip


‘A walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets this hour upon the stage and is then heard no more’ – Macbeth…..

…..In other words show some personality.




A great actors headshot needs to show loads of personality – your personality.

Remember there are thousands of actors out there and there may be quite a few with a very similar look to you. You need to make your shot stand out from the crowd and when a casting director looks at it we want them to think ‘yes’ this is exactly what I’m looking for.

Casting Directors see so many shots all the time and they can spot a good one straight away, equally so they can spot a poor one a million miles away and they usually end up straight in the bin. When your shot lands on their desk it only has a second or two to make its impression and we want that to be the right impression as first impressions do count.

This is the time to show your depth of personality, your vivaciousness, your vibrancy or your professionalism. It’s the time to show what makes you special and makes you stand out from the crowd.

So remember the words of the Great Bard don’t be………A walking shadow…..



Look out for more inspirational words from the Great Bard himself coming soon!

Where Are The Eyes In That Actors Headshot

I was searching a well know casting site today and came across a headshot of a guy that was taken outside. I noticed it in particular because it was a similar style of shot to one that I do for some of my clients that works really well. A shot that most of my clients really love.

When I looked at this shot one thing jumped out at me - THERE WERE NO EYES - what I mean is that the poor actors eyes could not be seen. They were simply large black holes in the face of the actor. ( Great for a Zombie movie )

As you know I have posted many times on how important the eyes are in an actors headshot. They are critical to making your headshot stand out.

Why hadn't this photographer not seen that there was not enough light on the subjects face, why hadn't they used some kind of reflector, was it they couldn't be bothered or didn't understand the concept of lighting.

Which leads me to another point. Maybe the photographer was part time or cheap or a friend, either way they should have known that they weren't doing justice to the subject or themselves. But more on this in another post.

Back to the main point. Why didn't the photographer do something about this, AND more importantly why didn't the actor realise that his eyes couldn't be seen and say something to his photographer AND just as important why would he use this headshot to promote himself?

Didn't he realise that his eyes were the most important part of the shot? didn't he understand that he was selling himself short in this ultra competitive market where you only have seconds to impress?

I also wondered if he knew about this stuff and if his photographer had ever mentioned or knew themselves how important the eyes are in an actors headshot?

I am saddened when I see this kind of poor photography, partly because it brings my profession into disrepute but mainly for the actor who has wasted their money and is unknowingly promoting himself with a headshot that is doing him no favours at all. He should be on the phone asking for his money back - not a reshoot in this case as the photographer clearly does not understand on of the most fundamental rules of photography.

Needless to say I would never in a million years shoot a shot like that.

Well that's my rant over for the day.

Click Here for my free guide to the 7 Secrets Of A Great Headshot

Should You Twitter at an Audition?

Should You Twitter at an Audition?

By Dave Itzkoff

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/should-you-twitter-at-an-audition/
This is the complete post by Dave Itzkoff without comments by me. I hope you enjoy and that it could be a lesson to us all.

Daryl Eisenberg Casting on Twitter

Updated | 5:29 p.m.
On Friday afternoon the casting director Daryl Eisenberg met with representatives from Actors’ Equity. After the meeting Ms. Eisenberg and Actors’ Equity each released statements about the use of Twitter during auditions, which are reprinted in full at the end of this article.

As Twitter becomes increasingly popular, the online social network has infiltrated nearly all the cracks and crevices of the arts world. But does it belong in an audition room?

That question isn’t academic for several New York actors and a casting director. A series of messages was posted Wednesday on the Twitter feed of Daryl Eisenberg, a casting director whose company, Daryl Eisenberg Casting, has handled shows including “Altar Boyz” and has cast for “Gossip Girl” among other television shows.

On Wednesday, while Ms. Eisenberg was conducting a casting session for “Gay Bride of Frankenstein,” a show that will be performed in late September as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival, she was also tweeting about the performers who were auditioning for her. Without mentioning actors by name, Ms. Eisenberg appeared to be commenting on their performances with messages like, “If we wanted to hear it a different way, don’t worry, we’ll ask,” or “if you are going to sing about getting on your knees, might as well do it and crawl towards us…right?”

In later messages on Ms. Eisenberg’s feed (which now has more than 1,800 followers), she also fired a preemptive strike at any potential critics, writing: “There is NO rule/guideline against Twitter/Facebook/MySpace/Friendster. Freedom of speech. Ever heard of it?”

Within hours, actors who had read Ms. Eisenberg’s tweets began debating the appropriateness of her actions on message boards at theater Web sites including BroadwayWorld.com. As one commenter who uses the screen name CapnHook wrote there: “I don’t care that she twittered anonymous audition feedback. As long as she didn’t name names, I think it is perfectly fine. It’s even interesting to read. Some of her tweets provided legit tips to actors.” The commenter added: “I think it is rude to be on your phone and/or on your laptop in the audition room.”

A BroadwayWorld.com commenter called SporkGoddess wrote that Ms. Eisenberg’s tweets “aren’t necessarily helpful hints. It’s all her opinions and caprices.”

In a later posting, BroadwayWorld.com reported that Ms. Eisenberg had written similar messages at earlier auditions. For example, at a casting session on July 22, she tweeted, “Seeing #70 right now. I’m tired. My ears are bleeding,” and “Holding your foot above your head IN YOUR HEADSHOT is a BAD IDEA!”

Actors’ Equity Association, the union that represents actors and stage managers, said that it was displeased with Ms. Eisenberg’s actions.

In an interview, Maria Somma, a spokeswoman for Actors’ Equity, said that “the auditions are job interviews. It’s a very long road for an actor to get from seeing the casting notice to getting that audition. To have it mocked is unfair to the actors and to the other people who are working on the particular project. It’s very simply that there is an expected level of respect and professionalism, and these values were violated.”

In an e-mail message Friday, Ms. Eisenberg offered apologies to “those hurt by this” and wrote that she would be “definitely considering the appropriateness and professionalism of the timing and tone of my communication in the future.” (BroadwayWorld.com also posted this Q&A with Ms. Eisenberg)

She added that she would be meeting with Actors’ Equity on Friday “so that we can discuss Twitter’s place in this industry and how I can help put this behind us amicably.”

In an interview, Gary Zuckerbrod, the president of the Casting Society of America, said that he believed Ms. Eisenberg’s actions were wrong. Actors, he said, “are exposing themselves in the audition process. They are emoting in a way that is not normal in any other kind of interview.” What happens in an audition room, he said, “should not be publicized, especially in a derogatory manner.”

Mr. Zuckerbrod said that the society would not take any formal action against Ms. Eisenberg. “We’re hoping that Actors’ Equity solves this,” he said.

The composer Marc Shaiman posted a comment on ArtsBeat saying that he contacted Ms. Eisenberg directly to tell her that he was “appalled” by her behavior. “To undercut the confidence of actors at this most vulnerable moment is not just mean, but for a casting director, rather insane,” he wrote. “A casting director should nurture and build confidence. She did her employer no favors.”

Billy Butler, the producer, composer and co-writer of “Gay Bride of Frankenstein,” said in an interview that he had scheduled a new round of auditions for the show on Monday, and would allow actors who attended the earlier Wednesday audition to attend this session. Ms. Eisenberg, he said, would also be present.

“She is under contract,” Mr. Butler said, “and though I don’t condone what she did, she is doing her job for me. We just have some great talent that she’s found.”

Mr. Butler, who is a member of Actors’ Equity, said that the newness of social networks like Twitter means that their users may not be aware of potential consequences of using them.

“It’s a fine line with this whole Twittering thing,” he said. “It’s a whole new world and nobody expected this. I didn’t expect certain things to be said and done, and honestly when it comes down to it, I have a show to cast.”

And at the next casting session, he added, things will be done a little differently.

“I’ll be running the audition,” Mr. Butler said. “All cellphones, and computers and digital watches will be left in our bags.”

Later on Friday, Ms. Eisenberg and representatives from Actors’ Equity met, and afterward released these statements:

Ms. Eisenberg’s statement:

After a productive meeting with AEA this afternoon, I’m happy to report that we have agreed to both put this behind us.

By mutual agreement, future tweets will not be coming from the audition room regarding the actors auditioning.

I apologize to the actors and professionals who put themselves on the line every time they audition, and will continually strive to make the audition room an inspiring, nurturing place for creativity and talent.

I look forward to working with AEA and its members on future projects, and hope to see you all in the audition room soon.– Daryl Eisenberg

The statement from Actors’ Equity:

Earlier today representatives of AEA had a productive meeting with Ms. Eisenberg to discuss her use of twitter in auditions. AEA firmly blieves that twitter is a valuable promotional tool for producers to reach a wide potential audience but that tweeting has absolutely no place in the audition room, which is a safe haven for actors who are seeking employment in this competitive market. We believe this incident is now closed.

Is a Professional Actors Headshot Important – Only If You Want To Be Taken Seriously?

Is a Professional Actors Headshot Important – Only If You Want To Be Taken Seriously?


This is a discussion I’m having with actors more and more these days and I believe it is critical that actors don’t loose sight of the fact that they are, and always need to be taken as a professional in their chosen career.

Often I hear performers say ‘but why can't my boyfriend/girlfriend do it - they have a nice camera?’

• If you have tooth ache does your friend try to fix it for you, or do you see a professional – a dentist!
• If you need your haircut do you let your dad or your friend cut your hair – no you go to a professional salon!
• And if you have an electrical fault in your house do you try to repair it yourself - no you call in a professional electrician?

The crux of the matter is; if you don’t use a professional actors headshot photographer you are probably not giving yourself the best opportunity to be taken seriously. If you approach an actors agent or casting director with a snapshot taken in the garden or against the living-room wall – what does that say about you?

It says I’m not really serious about acting, it gives the impression that you’re only playing at being an actor and nobody takes people like that seriously, time is too valuable to waste on unprofessional people. A lack of professionalism in one area may well and probably will spill down into other areas, perhaps being late or unprepared for an audition.

There are so many good actors out there doing things right desperate to get their break, why should agents and casting directors waste their time with those people who can’t be bothered to do it right?

Just about everybody has a good quality digital camera nowadays. Cameras with 4, 6 and 8 mega pixels or more are not uncommon these days and everyone thinks that they can take a good picture. To be honest a lot of people can take a good picture, but a good actors headshot has to be a 'special kind of photograph'. There are hundreds of free tutorials on the Internet and many courses available in just about every medium you can think of from home study to part or full time education. But simply because you’ve completed some form of study course, does that make you a photographer? I’m afraid the answer is no it does not.

There are many, many elements to a good actors headshot, composition, background, lighting, the pose, what the actor is wearing and most importantly what’s in the eyes.
An experienced actors headshot photographer will control all of these elements making sure that they all work together well to give an actor a really stunning shot. But most importantly they will give you tips and techniques to get the very best out of you. An actors headshot photographer in London or any major city should be aware of current trends and styles. They will encourage you to express yourself and they won’t be afraid to tell you when something is not working. As your primary piece of marketing you should have your headshot on everything you send out, make sure it’s a great headshot that gives you every chance of being remembered for all the good reasons.

Discover the truth about getting great actors headshots from one of London's finest headshot photographers where he reveals 7 Secrets Of A Great Headshot at www.nickgregan.com

‘This above all else: to thine own self be true’ – Hamlet…...in other words Shakespeare says 'look like your actors headshot'.

This is perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of your actors headshot. It has to be a true representation of you. There is no point in sending out a shot that no longer looks like you for instance; if your hair was blonde and long but is now black and short. Equally so for the guys, if for some strange reason you had your shot taken with a beard and then decided you’d shave it off – well you really need a new headshot.

The first thing a casting director or agent wants in a headshot is a true likeness. Imagine traveling for a couple of hours for a big audition waiting in line and getting yourself all psyched-up for big moment and when you walk in you see the look of confusion on the casting directors face, the last thing you want to hear from them is ‘ where’s the person in the picture’?

So let’s make it clear you have to look like your picture, it’s no good guys if you’re going a bit thin on top ( like me ) and you ask the photographerto retouch the hair line a bit, just as it’s no good ladies getting your lines of life ( wrinkles ) retouched out because they may just say to you “ where’s you’re younger sister, we wanted the one in the photo’?

I once had a lady who only wanted to be photographed dead straight on as she didn’t want anyone to see that she had a bigger than normal nose. After a bit of cajoling and persuading from me she eventually agreed to my suggestions and got a great actors headshot. Six weeks later she landed a great character role in London's West End and has since gone on from strength to strength.

The moral of the story, don’t shy away from the fact that some of your facial features may not be perfect – hey none of us are! There may be the perfect role for you just around the corner.

So remember the Great Bards words from Hamlet…
……"to thine own self be true”

Don't Let This Beautiful Weather Ruin Your Actors Headshot

I just thought I'd jot down a few notes on how this beautiful hot weather can affect your actors headshots

• Firstly and most obviously, drink plenty of water – and that’s a general living guide but is extremely important when we think of getting a new actors headshots. The water will help your skin to appear smooth and clear, it helps clear the body of toxins and reduce spots and dryness and above all else prevents dehydration. So remember to drink plenty of water in the week leading up to your headshotsession.

• Secondly, drinking plenty of water in the hot London weather of the moment will help to keep you cool, an important point when you are on your way to the studio for your shoot. Arriving hot and bothered will leave you feeling uncomfortable which may then manifest itself as stress leaving you unprepared to have a headshot done for some time.

• Thirdly, if you arrive overheated and sweaty you’ll have to cool down before the before the headshot photographer can begin to shoot. This is simply because your photographer cannot shoot an actors headshot when you are glistening as this will show up clearly as shiny patches around your face. Worse still if you are perspiring heavily, this will show up clearly as beads of moisture and ruin your actor’s headshot.

• Fourthly, another thing to think about is the photographer’s time. Some headshot photographers run to a very tight schedule and arriving late or not being ready to shoot when you do arrive can lead to rushed or shortened sessions as the next client may be arriving shortly. Fortunately I always allow a minimum of one and a half hours for each appointment as this leaves plenty of time for late arrivals, stress on arrival and in some cases a reluctance to have a headshot done – as I’ve discussed previously on this blog.


I hope these few tips are of use. As an actors headshot photographer in London there is more hot humid weather predicted throughout the summer.

What is a Good Actors Headshot?

What is a Good Actors Headshot?

I'm often asked by clients what is the best type of shot to use, "is a smile better than a straight face"? "is a tightly cropped shot better than a full head shot"?

Obvious things such as wearing a boldly patterned top or something with heavy and strong stripes can seriously affect the whole look of the picture, distracting the eye of the viewer away from your face towards your busy top. Another thing to think about is the effect of jewellery on how the image is perceived and if it distracts the eye away from the most important part of the shot - your face.

I can only give this advice; the actors headshots has to work in a split second, if you think that casting directors and agents view many photographs often in rapid succession, your shot has to stand out, it has to make them stop and think - wow! - and we've all heard of the wow factor

The casting director needs to stop at your picture, and love it. Then they'll be prepared to look at your CV. I like to think that even though there may be several people with a similar look or CV as you, they'll be impressed enough by your picture to look at your CV and then to ask you for audition or interview.

My style of headshot photographer is very relaxed and easy going. I'm here to help you get the best possible shot. I like to have fun and I always try to get a natural shot that is clearly you. I want my pictures to say to people, " Hey this is me, aren't I great "

Most of all I enjoy my work and I like to have fun, hopefully you'll have fun too and actually enjoy having your headshot taken for change. See more of my work and ton more info at www.nickgregan.com

Give your module a title. Titles can only be one line, so keep it short. Give your module a subtitle. Enter your text below. The limit is 10,000 characters. I'm often asked by clients what is the best type of shot to use, "is a smile better than a straight face"? "is a tightly cropped shot better than a full head shot"? Obvious things such as wearing a boldly patterned top or something with heavy and strong stripes can seriously affect the whole look of the picture, distracting the eye of the viewer away from your face towards your busy top. Another thing to think about is the effect of jewellery on how the image is perceived and if it distracts the eye away from the most important part of the shot - your face. I can only give this advice; the actors headshots has to work in a split second, if you think that casting directors and agents view many photographs often in rapid succession, your shot has to stand out, it has to make them stop and think - wow! - and we've all heard of the wow factor The casting director needs to stop at your picture, and love it. Then they'll be prepared to look at your CV. I like to think that even though there may be several people with a similar look or CV as you, they'll be impressed enough by your picture to look at your CV and then to ask you for audition or interview. My style of headshot photography is very relaxed and easy going. I'm here to help you get the best possible shot. I like to have fun and I always try to get a natural shot that is clearly you. I want my pictures to say to people, " Hey this is me, aren't I great " Most of all I enjoy my work and I like to have fun, hopefully you'll have fun too and actually enjoy having your headshot taken for change. See more of my work and ton more info at www.nickgregan.com