What makes a good headshot? The top three tips for headshot perfection

The vast majority of actors have really bad headshots. This is good news, because if you and I manage to get ourselves some great ones, we already have a huge advantage over the teeming masses of professional actor wannabes.

Don't have any headshots yet? Get yourself some, pronto. You can't see an agent or a casting director without them. And while you're getting them done -- and choosing the shots you want to print afterwards -- keep these headshot basics in mind:

1. You must look like yourself. For the love of God, don't underestimate how important this is. Your headshot photographer might take a few of you at an exposure that completely washes out your enormous nose, and you'll naturally want to pick that one as your final print. But when a casting director calls you in for the part of the fair-haired, button-nosed ingenue on the basis of that headshot, she'll be pissed off that you're wasting her time. And if your photo doesn't look anything like you, the director's unlikely to remember your audition later, when he's looking through a stackful of headshots to narrow down the candidates.

Also, keep your headshots updated. Yup, that means shelling out for new headshots every few years, no matter how little you think you've changed (balding men, take note). Everyone should update frequently -- but if you've cut off all your hair or gained more than a couple of pounds, new headshots are a must.

2. Emphasis on the eyes. You should be looking into the camera in your headshot. Actors occasionally break this rule, but it doesn't usually work to their advantage. Think of your headshot as your first opportunity to make meaningful eye contact with an agent or casting director; it's an introduction to your personality. So make sure to assess carefully what your eyes seem to be saying. Is it, "I'm a deep thinker"? "I'm fun to work with"? "I have to pick up my dry cleaning now"? If there isn't anything going on behind the eyes, no one's going to give your headshot a second look.

3. Get a professional photographer. There are thousands of actors who use pictures of themselves by the Christmas tree as headshots. It doesn't work. Hire a professional. You'll have to pay, of course, but it'll be worth it. A professional headshot tells agents and casting directors that you're serious about your career as an actor, and, more importantly, shows you at your best. You don't have to get the most expensive headshot photographer in the business (I'd actually advise against it), but pick someone whose work you like and who you feel comfortable with.

Upcoming topics in the What makes a good headshot series: Choosing your headshot photographer, What to wear, How to get the most out of your shoot, Commercial vs. legit shots, Picking your final prints, etc.

Photograph by Jordan Matter

Headshot from hell

I'll get into detail about what makes a good headshot very soon, but I couldn't resist handing you this golden little nugget first:


This picture depresses me. I'm sure I don't really need to spell out why, but I'll tell you anyway.

• Please don't look at me that way. Anybody looking to cast an evil gnome? I found him.
  

• The Floater. Unless you want to look like the result of an underground lab experiment, avoid black turtlenecks against dark backgrounds. In fact, just avoid black turtlenecks altogether. They never did anybody any favors.

• I think there's something in your eye. Get that hair out of your face, for Christ's sake.


• I know what you've been doing. See those dark shadows? The ones right next to those gleaming white cheekbones? That's from too much fiddling with your photo editing software. I know you probably have wrinkles and a face full of pockmarks, but your audition won't come with a brightness and contrast button. So you might as well be up front about what you've got -- even if it's not so pretty.