It also stands a chance of making a first impression for you. Many casting directors, agents and managers will find your headshot online before they meet you in person. Think of the image as a giant business card for auditions and meetings.
Not sure what purpose a headshot serves?
A headshot is used to help actors book work. They are 8x10 photos designed to showcase "your look" to casting directors, etc. The headshot always includes your name on the bottom of the handout. Your resume is attached to the back of the headshot. Some people staple the resume but that always looks messy and cheap to me. It's a much cleaner look if you tape the resume to the back of the headshot.
The resume includes such items of interest as:
*Vital stats (height, weight, eye color, etc.)
*A rundown of your acting experience (movies, TV shows, plays, commercials, etc.)
*The logos and contact info of your agent(s) and manager (if you have agent(s) and a manager!)
*Special skills (dialects, physical skills, etc.)
*Training (acting coaches, improv classes and such)
*Contact info
Many actors have more than one headshot ready at any any given time. Sometimes actors like to have a "theatrical headshot" and a "commercial headshot" in order to fit the audition. Also, some actors like to have different headshots to fit the mood of the audition:
*A serious photo for a dramatic role (but don't look like a serial killer!)
*A photo with a smile for comedy (smile but don't look like a maniac)
*A headshot with a "straight on" angle to highlight "the look" of the actor
Headshots are also important since actors love to use them as their social media profile photos. It's a fact of life that employers check out the social media pages of potential new hires. The entertainment industry is no different. Social media plays a big part as managers and agents like to have clients that know how to promote themselves online. A good headshot helps get your message across and creates a connection with people viewing your tweets, blogs and status updates.
It might seem impossible to get all of the necessary info listed above in a headshot. Thankfully, it's not impossible with the right photographer. A skilled photographer can include all of your needs in a photo that "screams you"!
It's also important to update your headshots every few years. Kid actors change a lot as they grow and become teenagers and young adults. Hairstyles change and you don't want to be perceived as being out of style. Casting directors aren't big fans of headshots that make adult actors appear in their 30s and then they arrive looking their true (older) age.
Zach had a new headshot session about two weeks ago. His look has changed as he continues to grow and mature through his teenage years. It's the not the first time we've had to get new headshots for the kid. Here's a quick rundown of his headshot history:
The Artist in his early acting days. Still a baby face in this photo.
Barely in his teens in this shot. Looking more confident in front of the camera.
I've always liked this photo. As in the other photos, blue is a good color for him.
The soon to be retired headshot. Fare thee well old photo friend.
The new headshot is still TBD. We have the proofs and are going through them with his manager. I hope to debut the new headshot in the next couple of weeks.
One final thought...Hire a professional photographer to handle your headshots. Selfies do not translate well in the professional world!
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