Actor Headshot Styles – What’s Your Type?

If you’re considering to get involved in the acting industry the first thing you’re going to need are some professional headshots. It’s a necessary investment for anyone serious about getting work in the commercial and/or film industry. (Selfies won’t cut it here unless you’re just submitting here & there for some work as an extra on-set). There are a couple different styles of actor headshots and you need to know the difference before scheduling a headshot session to make sure you get the most our of your investment. Commercial headshots are for those looking for work in… you guessed it, commercials & advertising. Theatrical headshots are geared more towards landing roles in TV & film productions. Of course, many actors like to have both on hand while some are just focused on one path or the other. Here’s a short breakdown to give you an understanding of the differences so you  know what you’re going for and the style of headshot you need.

Commercial Headshots

Commercial headshots should be fun and vibrant. They should feature you in a way to show how commercially viable you are to sell products and lifestyles. A commerical headshot is your way in to the high paying advertising industry and require less training than other theatrical markets. The commercial industry is always looking for fresh faces that will leave an impact their viewers and help build their brands.

The look of Commercial headshots should be bright and fun. We’ll generally use lighter backdrops that compliment your skin and eyes and use bright flattering lighting. The general goal is to feature your personality in a way that shows you as someone who feels good and enjoys life. We recommend wearing clothing without writing, logos, or heaving patterning. With headshots you always want the eyes and expression to be the main focus, not the clothing. So keep it simple and wear colors that compliment your skin and eyes.

Theatrical Headshots

Theatrical headshots are the entryway to landing roles in television and film productions. In many ways, they’re the opposite of commercial headshots. They’re characterized by darker backgrounds, more dramatic expressions from the subject and muted clothing. An impactful theatrical headshot should allow your personality to be expressed and you can really explore your range and the different types of characters you’d like to be cast for.  You can be the bad guy, the bitch, the broken hearted, the lunatic, etc. Whatever the casting types you’re going for the most important element is that your personal vibe comes across in this style of headshot.

The look of a theatrical headshot is usually a bit dark and mysterious. Backgrounds are darker and lighting can be more dramatic. You should stick to wearing muted colors so that you pop, not your shirt. Earth tones, blacks, and grays work best. We recommend that you practice different expressions in the mirror before your headshot sessions so you have an idea what you look like when portraying different characters. Imagine yourself in certain scenarios that invoke the particular emotions you want to bring out. Most of all, relax and use the time during your theatrical headshot session to expand your comfort zone in front of the camera!

Character Portraits

Character headshots allow you to create images of specific personas or “type casts” you want to submit imagery of yourself for. If there is a character role you want to nail having some of these on hand could be your ace to landing the part. Most people have a natural look/personality for certain types so you can play these up or show that you can emulate a persona that you normally don’t get casted for. Think about personality types, are you a bad girl, nerd, jock, CEO, mom/dad, hero, slacker, bitch, comic relief, etc… you get the picture. We recommend choosing some character types you relate to and practice emulating those personalities in the mirror at home before your headshot session. Have fun with these and use them to stretch your acting muscles.