CT NY NYC Actor Headshot Photography Portrait Tips from a Casting Director

Actors Headshots Tips for Actors from a Casting Director

I recently read an article with some great tips for actor headshot photography in CT from a Casting Director from one of the the South’s largest casting agencies.  Listed below is some of the info I thought you’d find helpful in planning for your headshot session with Cynthia McIntyre Photography. First and foremost, the quality of your headshot can dramatically impact your ability to get work. Casting directors prefer to see beautiful smiles with teeth in the image.  The actor headshot photography should be  a full frontal view of your face and shoulders, in sharp focus and of high quality- iphone photos just won’t work here!

Do:
– Wear solid colors in pastels or jewel tones
– Your image should be shot with the camera at eye level
– You should be looking directly at the camera with a fun, warm, happy expression.  – Get you headshot printed at a professional lab. Costco, Walgreens and other one hour photo labs use a prices that can make the image look “cheap.” But a professional lab offer a variety of different papers (metallic!) or color lustre that will make your image stand out among the others.

Don’t
– If you are under 16, no makeup.
– Keep jewelry to a minimum- no klunky jewelry.  You want the casting Director to look at YOU in your headshot NOT your awesome necklace
– Solid colored clothes- No patterns, logos or glitter.
– Avoid wearing all black and do not wear red
– No 3/4 shots of yourself- just head and shoulders

Actor Headshot prints given to the Casting Director: – Your name should be located in the lower right hand corner of the photograph. Casting directors place headshots in a binder & look for the name in the right bottom corner.
– Place a white border around your headshot.  Casting directors or producers will often write notes in the white margins of the headshot.
– If you have agency representation, the agency logo should be on the left side of your headshot print, opposite the name.

One last tip regarding auditions:
– For TV commercial auditions, dress the part. Be “IT” when you walk in the door.

I have three professional hair and makeup stylists that are experienced in doing hair and makeup for actors and models. Therefore, if you’d like to have your hair and makeup done prior to your photo shoot with me, I can arrange for them to provide this service at my studio. They will also be available during your photo shoot for touchups to ensure you look your best!

 To schedule your session for a GREAT actor headshot photography in Connecticut or Westchester county call 203-364-1592    

I work out of my main studio in Westport, 468 Post Rd East (conveniently location off 95 at exit 18) or one of my 17 headshot studios in CT and NY: Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Shelton, Southbury, CT and White Plains or Rye, NY.