Audition headshots

An audition headshot is simply your most powerful marketing tool. Your objective is to stand out from a pile of competitors, get casting directors’ attentions, and to have your face remembered, exactly like how you look.

Be expressive. Show character.

Your headshot should have expression, emotion, character. That’s what people notice quickly and remember for a long time. Do people actually remember the pretty model’s face they see in clothing catalogs or the stock photo used in magazine articles? No, those faces are selling clothing they wear. You’re selling your talent, nothing else.

Audition vs. Publicity Headshots

Audition headshots are made for the casting directors. They want to see your face, from rather straight angle, and without much styling or heavy posing. Keep things simple and clean-cut. Put bluntly, keep everything boring, besides your face.

For audition headshots, don’t wear fancy dress with shiny trimmings. No shirts with designer logos. Minimize distractions from your face, which should be the center of attention.

On the other hand, publicity headshots are aimed at general audience. You’ve passed the auditions, you’ve gone through the productions, and it is the time to show off your character and style. To learn more, please read publicity photo section.

We’ll do the rest!

Beaupix Studio has worked with many actors of all ages and produced top notch results, fine tuned to the individual look. We know how to adjust lighting for the most interesting and attractive look for your face.

Frequently asked questions

Clothing outfits for actors’ headshots

An actor’s headshot has opposite aims from fashion photography. A fashion model’s job is to look plain and emotionless so that the clothing stands out; an actor should choose plain clothing to look best.

Keep it simple and clean-cut. A simple example (that works) is a solid colored T-shirt or tank top. You can choose casual, informal or business attire, but don’t use too many colors, too many trimmings, prints or other features that may deprive viewer’s attention. In fact, you can try 2-3 different outfits in a standard actor’s headshot package.

When choosing outfits, try to pick colors that are a bit darker than your skin tone, but avoid pure black. You can also try lighter color, but avoid pure white. You probably know what colors look good on you, but if you don’t, ask your friend to help you go through your wardrobe. Also, you’re welcome to bring extra outfits so that we can choose together in the studio.

Theatrical vs. Commercial

A theatrical headshot is usually a straight-looking headshot with a small smile or no smile at all. There are also largely two schools of thought on this: (1) keep the headshot emotionally neutral, so that your casting director can see your baseline; (2) show strong emotion in your headshot so that your casting director remembers you and more easily understands your character. I generally recommend covering (1) and at least trying (2). Expressive headshots are definitely more memorable, and it’s worth keeping some in your back pocket if not using one as your main headshot.

Commercial headshots tend to use bigger smiles and they are more open to engaging posing and creative styling than theatrical headshots.

Where to shoot? At the studio or on location

Many headshots are taken in the studio, because this is easiest and most comfortable.

However, some people may want outdoor headshots, especially for TV or film work. For this type of market, there can be an advantage to demonstrating that you are a good fit for a particular environment. We can shoot on a street or in a park (there is a nice park within a block from the studio), weather permitting. Please ask the photographer for any other possibilities.

What background?

For audition headshots, there are largely two schools of thoughts: (1) keep the background as boring as possible, so that the casting director’s attention is focused on your face; (2) use a natural and somewhat interesting background so that your headshot stands out from the sea of headshots using solid grey backdrops. I’m unbiased about these two ideas.

There are many actors who come back to the studio every year for an updated look. Most of them have tried different styles, backgrounds, and locations in their first few shoots, but most of them come back to the least interesting background: solid grey. Keeping the background unremarkable makes your face the center of attention. This logic does work.

If you think this is too boring, we can use a window, studio wall, or outdoor scene as the backdrop. We’ll blur the backdrop enough to avoid distraction.

Performers’ publicity headshots can use more interesting backdrops.

Some photographers use fancy backdrops for audition headshots. Perhaps, they don’t recognize the particular objective of an audition headshot as being different from a modeling portfolio photo.

Color or black-and-white?

If you are shooting for audition, use color photo. In old days, black-and-white was more common, because b&w prints were less expensive than color. Then, additional information was required to describe skin color, hair, eye, etc. Now the prices are the same. Make it easy for casting directors. In their book, headshot should be want what-you-see-is-what-you-get.

Some actor’s handbooks still print the same text from the old era, and you see b&w headshots mentioned or even described at length. You can safely ignore that part today.

That said, Beaupix Studio can supply headshots in b&w if preferred.

Retouching for casting headshots

Retouching for casting headshots is limited to light, natural retouching, except for removing temporary skin blemishes and eye circles. However, we pay extra attention to the lighting work for most flattering results.

Reproduction (Printing) Options

We work with a local photofinisher to offer a special reproduction price for 50 or more copies of high quality 8×10 inch prints (of the same image), with your name printed in the bottom center or bottom right.

However, you will have a copy of high resolution image files included in packages, so you’re welcome to print 8×10’s at printers of your choice, such as Reproductions in NYC.

Where do I get 8×10 paper to print resume?

Actor Paper sells regular office paper pre-cut to 8×10. As of this writing, their price is $8.69 for 100 sheets, plus shipping. However, if you have a studio headshot session for 2 or more looks at Beaupix Studio, you are welcome to bring 100 sheets of 8.5×11 office paper and use our heavy duty paper trimmer.

External resources

Stagesource headshot and resume advice (PDF)

This is quite detailed and raises many good points and suggestions regarding the headshot photography part alone. It also points out a few options for headshot styles that are more commonly requested these days: horizontal format, full length, and location headshot, as you see in our headshot portfolio.

Boston Casting FAQ

They say 8×10 black-and-white prints. While black-and-white used to be much more common in the past (due to lower prices when printed in bulk), most agencies and casting directors prefer color 8×10 today. The printing prices are the same for b&w and color. Beaupix Studio can provide the same image in both color and black-and-white if requested.