How To Take Great Commercial Headshots The First Time

1. Choose a photographer that has a “great working personality.” If you don’t like the photographer it will show up in your photos. Do your homework on the photographers you are considering. Your agent may have a list but you must make the final choice. Be certain that the “style” of commercial headshot the photographer shoots is consistent with what you want.  

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2. Have a “game plan” in mind or even on paper (8 x 10 online samples are great as well) to show the photographer so he/she will have a clear understanding of the photos you want. Otherwise the photographer will take complete control of the shoot and you may not get the photos you desire.  
   

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3. Wear solid, bright colors. Some call these colors “electric” or “brilliant.” Do not wear dull earth tones. Pick colors that attract attention to you, not cause you to blend in. With casting now being done online, the photos that jump out at the viewer are the ones that will more than likely be selected for auditions. Another great tip is to choose fabrics that have a “sateen” or silk type finish to them. These fabrics look awesome in a color photo.  
   

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4. If you are considering hiring a hair and makeup artist, again, you must do your homework. Some makeup artists charge less if they are not required to stay for whole shoot. Make sure your hair is styled with your “everyday” look. In other words, choose a style that is consistent with the style you will be wearing everyday so you will look like the person in the photo submitted when you go to the audition. Take photos that look like you!! Casting Directors don’t like it when actors look different in person than the photo submitted.  
   

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5. You must SMILE in your commercial headshot. Some actors complain that they don’t like to smile or don’t like their teeth. Well, if you just think about the thousands of dollars in residual income you can make doing commercials, this alone should cause you to smile. The residual income will also provide you with the money to fix your teeth!  
   

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6. Make sure your face is forward or straight in the shot. Do not take photos sideways where only half of your face can be seen. Tell the photographer not to stand over you where you are looking up into the lens. Viewers desire to see the full shape and dimension of your face. Face forward is more engaging and holds the viewers attention.  
   

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7. Make sure you take headshots!! Body shots are still requested (¾ shots) sometimes by agent but your main photo on LA Casting or Actors Access will be a thumbnail size photo. Make sure your main focus is on the headshot (from the shoulders up). Any other shots will go in the secondary positions online. Headshots reveal more of the eyes and gives the viewer the best idea of what you really look like.  
   

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8. Make sure the photographer does not put you in the wrong background(s). If your hair is dark and he/she puts you on a dark background, some of your hair will vanish into the background. Do not shoot on backgrounds that take the attention away from you (brick wall backgrounds look terrible by the way). Feel free to point this out to your photographer. Many of them do not consider this when shooting actors.    
   

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9. Often times “color correcting” or “Photoshop” is necessary with digital photos. There’s a guy that is outstanding with Photoshop. His name is Alex Vetangle. His number is 310-570-3323. He’s outstanding with bad makeup, hair, making brighter dull clothes, and more. He does it all for only $25 a photo. He’s great!  
   

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10. If you need your agent to help you decide what photos to use, narrow down the choices to your top 15-20, 4 x 6’s. Your agent is very busy and should not be expected to drop everything they are doing to look at three hundred and fifty photos. We recommend 4 X 6’s not proof sheets (images are too small, your agent may not have a loop). Print your 4 X 6’s for less at Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Walmart, SavOn/CVS.  
    

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11. Do not wear turtlenecks or other clothing articles that cover up the neckline (especially women). Revealing more of the neckline is helps the headshot look more complete and natural. But avoid showing breast cleavage, it’s uncalled for and considered “tacky” in a commercial headshot today.  
    

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12. No matter the age, wear clothing that suggests the Proctor and Gamble look in your photos (The Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew clothing look). Remember, brighter, solid colors are best.  
    

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13. DO NOT WEAR GLASSES IN THE PHOTO. Glasses are considered to be “props” and played out with the dance people used to do in the 70”s called “the bump.” Here’s the problem with glasses: the likeability of them are based on the style the frame. Different people like different types of frame styles. When an actor shoots a commercial and the clients want to see the actor in glasses, the actor usually tries on several pairs of glasses before they make the final choice on the glasses to be worn. And the final decision is based on how the style of glasses frame the actors face. The bottom line is that some glasses make the actors face look silly. Don’t think that just because you like the prop glasses you are wearing in the photo, the casting director/clients will like them also. There are some commercial agents that still request actors to wear glasses in photos, but we strongly recommend that you don’t. It could cost you a casting or a job.  
    

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14. DO NOT WEAR HATS IN YOUR COMMERCIAL HEADSHOT. This is a trick that some men use to try to cover balding areas. Don’t do it. Your complete face and head should be able to be seen in the photo.  
    

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15. Make sure your hair is not in your face or covering up your forehead. At least 2/3 of your face should be seen in the photo. Some women have long bangs and that’s fine, just make sure you part the hair to one side to open up your forehead. Casting Directors don’t like when it’s seem the actor is trying to hide something on their forehead.  
    

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16. Excellent commercial headshots should look distinctively different than theatrical headshots. And we are not just talking about smiles vs. no smiles. Commercial headshots should have an “All American” type of look to them. After all the commercial industry is all about trying to sell some type of product. Make sure your photo has a honest, colorful, attractive, charismatic appeal to it. This look is in demand now that color pictures are the norm in the commercial industry. Make sure your photographer understands the difference in the appeal a commercial headshot should have vs. the dramatically lit “moody” theatrical shot.