What is Headshot about?

A Headshot is a photograph of someone’s face. Many headshots are promotional pictures of Actors or Models.

A head shot is a specific type of portrait that realistically demonstrates a person’s appearance.

To portray a person how they really are.

Actors often have a printed head shot with an attached resume for auditions or an online presence in a casting workbook. In theater, film, and television, actors, models, singers, and other entertainers are often required to include a head shot, along with their resume, when applying for a casting.

A performer will often have head shots expressing different poses and expressions to give a potential employer an idea of the subject’s range of appearances or expressions.Those types of head shots are called “looks”.

It is common for an actor to have different head shots for their sitcom audition, as opposed to their film audition, but for the most part these would represent a change in attire. Actors’ head shots are printed in an 8″×10″ format and mostly taken in color.The main purpose of an actor’s head shot is identification.

The most important feature of an actor’s head shot is that it represents the subject. Actors’ head shots should be clear; theatrical head shots are usually very “neutral” looking shots of the actor clearly showing their facial features. Head shots are intended to show a person as they currently are (age, look, style, etc.) and reflect their best qualities.

Therefore, if an actor’s hair is recently cut or colored, they would need a new head shot to reflect their new image. Additionally, if an actor has a scar or facial blemish, it should be visible on the head shot and not digitally removed from the image. Pimples or spots are temporary and, therefore, are usually digitally retouched.

HEADSHOT