Preparing for your headshots:


  1. Take some time to figure out your type. First, embrace what makes you YOU! Do you have brilliant eyes? A long nose? Freckles? Scars? Red hair? Find your type and own it. This will help you discover your personal brand. Think about the roles you audition for and the roles you want to have. Are you the best friend? The villain? The good cop or the bad cop? Are you the class president? Or the introverted computer geek? The jock or the skater? The very first stage of the casting process is when the CD looks at your headshot. You have a few seconds to get their attention. Your headshot needs to scream, “I’m what you’re looking for!” 
  2. Take some time to practice your looks, your angles, your expressions and your smiles. Yes, plural. There is the good girl smile, the bad girl smile, the sarcastic smirk, and the ‘we can still be friends’ smile. Those are just some examples. Use a mirror and spend some time with yourself. Use your imagination - think of some of your favorite characters and recreate their expressions. Even if they aren’t the type of character you’ll ever play, it helps to figure out YOUR look. Then consider your personal brand and work in that direction. Faking it last minute is not going to work. CDs can sniff out fakes in seconds. They want to see believable characters in a photograph.
  3. If you're a parent taking your child for headshots, pretend play and dress up can really help your child pull out different characters and looks. Make playtime purposeful and keep a journal. Remember cues that help your child best. Maybe snorting like pig makes your child's smile real...talking in a sad voice helps make them look serious. Use playtime to create headshot magic in the future.
  4. Think about your style choices. Do they fit your brand? Your character you are portraying? Have options. A great photographer will help you decide through your choices. Make sure you have different colors and necklines and materials. Avoid patterns and logos and even colors that could be distracting (unless your brand is that 90’s high school kid). Sometimes we use patterns and stripes on purpose, layered with solids.
  5. Think about your hair and makeup and plan accordingly. The day before yourheadshots is not the time to try a new cut or hair color. Skin care, hair care, shaving routine, and even lip care all comes into play days before your session. Dry cracked lips show up in photos. HYDRATE for days before your photos to make your skin and lips and eyes beautiful. Let new hair styles settle for a couple days before your headshots. And try different hairstyles - see what helps build your brand. Slicked back hair, ponytails, braids, or long soft curls. It all depends on your brand and character. But I will remind you: MOISTURIZE regularly to keep your skin and lips photo ready.
  6. Try to arrive to your appointment early … 10 mins before your session starts. This helps you relax and settle your face/body. It also helps you mentally prepare to be in character when the photographer starts to shoot. Have a few different characters in your mind to either practice or have your child practice - it helps loosen up the mood, the muscles, and the facial expressions. Bring water to sip on as well.
  7. Get your game face and your great attitude and let’s do this! Be positive! Don’t be shy, but if you are, just ask for help or direction. Great photographers will guide you and pump you up! Great headshots are a collaboration of talent. Stay true to yourself and the results will shine through. You’ll get noticed by CDs in no time!

The Great Makeup Debate!

Casting wants to see the real you! This is ESPECIALLY important for teens and kids. Headshots for teens and kids should include minimal makeup = it's there to enhance the natural look.

Style is Subjective...Even During Headshots?

Casting wants to know you and also who you can potentially become! What character can you play? Some headshot photographers will suggest you dress in character - the girl next door, the jock, the nerd...etc. I like to assist with styling so that you bring out the best in your abilities. Are you a comedic actor? Let's have some playful clothes. Are you 18TPY? Let's dress you in a younger, teen look. Are you non-binary? How would you style yourself? Let's get to see you.