Headshots: You know you need them to get anywhere in Hollywood, but deciding how to present yourself in photos is often one of the most challenging parts of building your portfolio. Do you go full-on cop to land a role in the next big crime show, or do you go subtler? Should you slather on the makeup to cover up any “flaws,” or do you go au naturale? It’s confusing, especially if you’re relatively new to the industry. Make the most of your upcoming photo shoot with our headshot tips for actors.

Why Headshots Are Important

Headshots are more than just photos. They become your most powerful marketing tool. Your business card. The one tool that can get you a shot at an audition with a casting director. With so much riding on a photo, you don’t want to skimp on the thought you put into it.

Your headshots are your first chance to “speak” to a casting director or prospective agent. Headshots are about way more than your looks. When done properly, they communicate your personality and even your acting ability. Headshots are an essential tool in advancing your career, whether you’re looking to land an agent or a new role.

Getting professional headshots is the only way to go if you’re serious about your acting career. Investing the money in quality headshots from an experienced photographer is worth it. Because you’re investing so much money into the photo shoot, you want to plan your approach very carefully to get the most out of it. If you show up without preparation wearing clothes that don’t really work, or you don’t know what goes into a good headshot, you’re likely wasting your money. Take time to plan every aspect of the shoot — at least, the elements you can control — to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

Define Your Target Role

What role do you want to play? What types of roles fit your look? How do other people perceive you? As a character actor, you need a solid idea of the role you want or, even better, the roles you’re good at playing. Sometimes what you think you should play and what you’re naturally gifted at playing are at odds. Instead of fighting it, do your research to determine the type of roles others perceive as well-suited for you.

Your headshots need to express your ability to play that particular role. If you want to get cast as a professor, your photos shouldn’t portray you as an auto mechanic or the class clown. If you’re aiming for the sexy leading role, but dress like a nun, you’re sending the wrong message. Having a clear definition of the headshot character types you want helps you make decisions on things such as clothing, poses and facial expressions. All those elements go into creating a final image that does its job of selling you for the part you want.

Capture the Essence of That Role

With a specific role in mind, it’s time to assume that character for the photos. The key is balance. You don’t want to be too specific in your look. Rather, you want to embody the spirit of that role. In other words, don’t show up in a police uniform if you’re aiming for a part as a cop. Instead, show up looking confident and in command. You’ll convey the image without being cheesy, and you can use that same headshot for similar roles. If you’re aiming for the nerdy hero who lands the hot leading lady, don’t show up in thick, taped glasses. Instead, show your nerdy side through your expression.

Figuring out your best role options often involves some research and soul-searching. Your physical characteristics have a heavy influence in those roles. If you look 18, it doesn’t make sense for the director to cast you as the mother of a 16-year-old. Some things to consider include how old you look and the potential age range for roles you could realistically play, your body type and shape, your voice range and your general vibe, energy and personality.

If you’re not sure how to define yourself, ask those around you. Stick to people who will be honest with you, rather than telling you what they think you want them to say. In many cases, it’s better to ask people who don’t know you well. They can give you an impartial opinion from someone who doesn’t know your little quirks and personality traits. After all, you won’t know the casting director on a personal level, so it’s important to get that outsider opinion in advance.

How do you achieve this balance of capturing the essence without going overboard with a specific look? Think about preparing for an audition for the role. Get yourself in the mindset of playing that character. You can even come up with a little dialogue to help get yourself in the right frame of mind. Choose clothes that fit the overall essence without being overly specific. At the photo shoot, keep that role in mind. Run through the dialogue in your head. Getting into character for the shoot helps you convey the image through your overall look, rather than with a cheesy costume that looks distracting.

Look the Way You Look

Before we get too far into headshot tips for middle-aged actors and character actors, let’s clarify one point. Headshots aren’t about making yourself into something you’re not. Sure, you want to express your ability to play a particular character. You want to look great. But the headshot must look like you. That means avoiding overly artsy effects, keeping makeup to a minimum and not relying on camera tricks to make you look completely different.

Imagine what might happen if your headshot looks completely different from your natural look. It might get you in the door for an audition, but then what? You show up looking nothing like the photo, and the casting director is confused. Instantly, you’ve created a sense of mistrust with the casting director, and your chances of landing the role go down significantly.

Why does it matter? Because in the acting world, looks are everything, but that doesn’t mean the most beautiful actor wins the role. It’s not about being flawless. It’s about having the right look for that particular role. The director has specific qualities in mind, and only actors who fit that image will work.

Whether or not you fit a particular role relies heavily on how you look. The casting director likely already has a role in mind for you based on your appearance in your headshot. When you walk in the door looking completely different, those casting plans are no longer relevant.

So are you supposed to assume the role you want, or portray the real you? The answer is both. Your natural look should shine through while still showing your potential to play a particular character. What you shouldn’t do is airbrush away your wrinkles, use excessive lighting tricks, overload on makeup you wouldn’t normally wear or ask for an overly artsy style that detracts from your real look.

Analyze Previous Headshots

Perhaps this is your first headshot. If not, pull out those old versions, as painful as they may be. Looking at your current or past headshots can give you an idea of what to do differently. You can even ask for input from others or bring along the photos to your shoot to get input from your photographer. Consider the elements you like, as well as what stands out. What character type does the image convey? What can you do better this time?

Choose Your Wardrobe Carefully

The clothing you choose obviously needs to fit the type of character you want to play. However, there are some general rules and recommendations for the best results. You want the focus to be on you, not on your clothing or accessories. So while the things you wear should allude to a particular feeling, they shouldn’t distract from your face.

Avoid the following characteristics in your wardrobe selections:

• Busy patterns
• Shiny fabrics
• Logos
• Excessive bare skin
• Distracting necklines
• Ruffles or other distracting details
• Colors that don’t work well with your skin tone
• Large, overpowering accessories
• Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Poorly fitting clothes

It’s always a good idea to bring multiple outfit options. This allows you to try different looks on camera to determine which one looks best and fits your character type best. If you only bring one outfit, you’re out of luck if you decide you don’t like it.

Practice Your Look

If you’re trying a look you don’t regularly do, give yourself plenty of time to practice before your scheduled shoot. If someone else is styling your hair or makeup, schedule a test run to ensure it looks the way you imagined it. This is your chance to make tweaks to the style, so you don’t freak out on picture day if you decide you don’t like it.

If you’re handling your own hair, it’s still important to do a test run to ensure you know exactly how to style it. Time yourself when you practice, so you know how much time to allot to hair when you prep for your headshots. Just like natural makeup is best, a simple hairstyle often translates well in photos. Overstyling your hair makes it seem unnatural and can look distracting in the photos.

You should also go through your full makeup routine ahead of time if you’re doing it yourself. This practice run is especially important if you’re trying something new or you don’t normally wear makeup.

It’s best to schedule any haircuts, color or other beauty processes at least a week before the shoot, so you have time to get used to the new look. Avoid trying any new cosmetics or hair products right before you have your headshots taken, especially if you have sensitive skin. The new products could cause a reaction that forces you to reschedule your shoot.

Show Your Personality

Your looks may get you in the door, but your personality is what sets you apart from all the other actors who also fit the typecasting. What do you offer in terms of personality that makes you uniquely qualified for the role? Have you triumphed over great adversity? Do you have a strong maternal instinct? Are you charismatic? Don’t hide what makes you unique. And definitely don’t hide those components of your personality that fit with the role. If you have an edgy streak and you’re going for a character with a dark, edgy vibe, let that edge show.

To achieve this, you have to let yourself shine through in the photos. Yes, you are “playing” a specific role that may not be your everyday personality, but you have to relax, have fun and let a little of yourself sneak into the photos. If you try too hard, it will show in the photos. Forcing it too much will likely decrease your chances of landing the roles you want.

When you let yourself relax, your eyes show your story. It really is true that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If you’re hiding your real personality or focus too much on being perfect, your eyes will lack the life and energy that gets you noticed.

Don’t Get Caught up in the Poses

If you focus too much on getting your body positioning exactly right, you miss the opportunity to show your true talent. Practicing your poses ahead of time is fine, but don’t lock yourself into something that isn’t natural or seems too forced. Lose yourself in the character, rather than thinking so much about the photo shoot itself, and you’ll naturally hit the poses that express your personality and acting ability. It all comes back to showing who you are and who you can be on screen as naturally as possible.

Look Your Best

What you do leading up to the photo shoot affects how you look in the images. Listen, acting isn’t the easiest career. It often means long days, late nights and hard work. But staying up late and not taking care of yourself shows itself physically. In the days leading up to your photo shoot, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Get plenty of rest to avoid dark circles under your eyes. Taking good care of yourself lets you put your best face forward.

Choose the Right Photographer for Character Actor Headshots

No matter how prepared you are for the photo shoot, if you don’t choose an experienced headshot photographer, the results are likely going to fall short. Look for a photographer with an extensive portfolio of headshots for character and middle-aged actors. What impression do you get from those images? Are they quality images? Do they express a particular role, character or feeling?

If the photographer passes the experience and quality factor, make sure your personalities mesh. If you feel tension when you meet with the photographer, you won’t be able to relax and be yourself during the photo shoot. A good photographer knows how to draw out your true personality. And that’s important, because that’s what will make your headshot stand out in a pile of thousands.

Another benefit of seeking out an experienced headshot photographer is the ability to let a professional handle the details of the photos themselves. Michael Roud Photography handles details such as backgrounds, image cropping and other composition elements that affect the overall look of the photo. That leaves you to focus on getting into character and showcasing your talent.

With these actor headshot tips in mind, you’re ready for your close-up. If it’s time to get into character for the headshots that will land you the roles you want, contact Michael Roud Photography.