I recently had the honor of going back to the university that I graduated from for a fun weekend of headshots. There, I got to work with the talented senior class as they prepared for their NYC college showcase. Working with actors at this point in their education is super exciting, because it’s often their first exposure to a specifically brand-focused shoot - with their goals and characteristics at the center of our work.

Before our day of shooting, I had the opportunity to sit with them, answer questions, talk about my experience working in the industry, and relay some of the things I picked up during my own college senior showcase. (A lot of the knowledge I retained during my own showcase inspired me to approach my work the way I do today.)

When it was my turn to ask them questions about their goals and specific brand, I was surprised to find that a lot of them seemed to shy away from the specific. Of course, the older we get and the longer we’re independent, the more fleshed out our values and personalities become. But what I was often hearing were requests for a more “generic” headshot, or, “one that will work for a bunch of things.” Economically, it makes sense! If I have the resources for one picture, or a “one look package,” I should try to cast a wide net with my branding so I can submit for a wider range of projects. This certainly is a viable strategy - and many make it work. On the contrary, I like to challenge my clients to embrace the specific - and here’s why.

In preparation for my on-campus shoot, I designed the package for these seniors with intention. The package consisted of one look and two retouches. A core value in all of my work is accessibility, so I try my hardest to capture the widest range of usable and specific headshots that a look can offer. As I’ve written before, I’m a huge fan of layering - not just because of the added personality it can provide. Layers are also a great way to stretch a look and get two specific and different headshots out of one session without changing outfits. This is where I try to stress the value of specificity in preparing for actor headshots.

When an actor does the work to prepare themselves mentally for headshots, they know who they are as an individual, as well as their goals for the headshot session. That’s why I interview every client before we shoot! Knowing which character traits you want to embrace and which types of media you want your headshots to be submitted for will help us both develop a strategic plan for our time together. 

The initial hesitancy to be too specific in your headshots is common and, frankly, makes sense. Older headshots shied away from elements that might be considered loud or distracting. If you lean too heavily to one direction, you might be limiting yourself from submitting for other types of work. That’s where the skill of layering your looks come in handy. Take Bianca, here. In just 30 minutes, we were able to capture both of these headshots. By throwing a flannel she had brought over her dress, we were able to get two completely different headshots - submittable for vastly different genres of work. 

This was a product of great preparation. And because of how specific each shot is, the likeliness that her headshots will be selected in a preliminary casting breakdown for either genre increases greatly.

Another way of getting the most out of a session is to go for a multiple look session! I understand the temptation of playing it safe and opting for the most inexpensive package of an otherwise already affordable photographer. However, I definitely encourage considering my Rising Star package (even as a beginner!)

With more looks and more time, the odds are that the number of usable looks will compound and you’ll end up with much more than you initially went for. The value here isn’t just in more looks and more retouches. Having more time is also extremely valuable towards our goal of truthful and specific shots. I always find that my favorite headshots happen in the end half of a session. Once we have time to get used to the lights on our face and really begin to vibe to the music that we’ve been jamming to, we relax and open ourselves up to producing fun, active, and interesting work. Having more time to relax and warm up means we get to spend more time in the sweet spot of creativity and collaboration! 

At the end of the day, my goal is always to capture work that is truthful, active, and interesting. Your headshots should work for you. And I mean work. When a shot is specific to your personality and auditioning goals, it will actively lay the groundwork for every casting because a casting director will already have a story in their mind linked to your likeness. And if that story meshes with the one they have been hired to cast … well, the audition just has to confirm the work we already got to start together in my studio. Aiming for a safe, generic headshot session will give a headshot that shows what you look like, but may not delve as deep into who you are. Embracing the specific may narrow the project range for a particular headshot, but it will immensely increase the chance that your headshot will get you an audition.