How to Choose the Right Actor Headshot Photographer: Advice from a Casting Director.
There is a lot of conflicting advice about Actors’ Headshot Photography available online, much of it from photographers who might have less knowledge than you do about what casting directors like and what makes good actors’ headshots, etc. When it comes to actor headshots, good photos can be a career game-changer. As a casting director, I’ve seen countless headshots and know exactly what makes them work-or not.
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To ensure you’re making the right choice when selecting a headshot photographer, here are some key tips to keep in mind.
1. Don’t just choose on Google Rankings
A lot of actors start their search for a photographer by Googling terms like “Actors Headshots London” or “Best Headshot Photographers. etc.” Google ranking is often determined by how much effort a photographer has put into getting on to page 1, so the higher a photographer ranks, isn’t necessarily to do with how good or how in demand they are. A number of the busier headshot photographers don’t rank high, simply because they don’t need to, so haven’t bothered trying.
Instagram is becoming the starting point for a lot of younger actors when looking for a photographer.
Websites.
If you can find examples of what you think might cover your range on a photographer’s website, you like their work and they tick all the other boxes, maybe they are the one for you. You can sometimes get an impression of a photographers’ personality and how they view their job, from their website. If a photographer imposes time restrictions, strict terms and conditions, insists on a deposit, advance payment, cancellation fees and has rigid price packages with high fees, etc. you could be forgiven for thinking that they might see it all much more as just business and less as also an enjoyable and creative collaboration. If this is a concern with a photographer whose work you like, I would advise having a chat on the phone, before booking.
Popular photographers.
Which photographers are most popular changes frequently. I know of a few agents who had their favourite for a while but then stopped recommending them for one reason or another. The name of your photographer or their individual style isn’t likely to make any difference to your prospects. I think some of the photographers with a particular style give the viewer more of an impression of the photographer than of the person in the photo.
Look for testimonials and recommendations
Look for testimonials on photographers’ websites from actors. If it is apparent that a lot of actors have enjoyed the process and were very happy with the results from a particular photographer, this would be a strong indication that they are worth considering.
Recommendations from an agent or friend.
We are always pleased as photographers, to be recommended to actors by their agents and many agents have a few favourites that they will encourage you to consider. Not many agents insist that you use a specific photographer but there are one or two. I don’t think this is fair, it’s your money, so whilst you might be happy to use one that they recommend, I think it should be your choice ultimately.
A strong recommendation from a friend is worth taking note of. If you have a recommendation from a friend or agent and would prefer not to spend time looking at a number of photographers, I think you should at least look at that photographer’s website before booking and check that they offer everything that you think the process should include as well as a good deal.
Do actors make good headshot photographers?
There are a handful of successful photographers who also work as actors. Well worth considering these photographers if you like their work, as you are likely to relate to them and they might have a good idea of what range of looks you should go for.
Doing a free session with a mate who probably doesn’t have a high-end camera and lens, might be useful as a practice session for both of you, but the results that I have seen over the years, are rarely good enough. Much better to find the money and go with an experienced photographer.
Photography groups / Associations.
I think that associations or groups of headshot photographers exist primarily to encourage you to use one of their members. They are not likely to offer a more professional service, a higher standard or a better package than the many successful headshot photographers who choose not to be a part of any group. So, don’t limit your search for a photographer by only looking at members of one of these groups.
Lists of ‘best photographers’
I would ignore lists of ‘best photographers in London’ etc. that you will find online. I saw one recently titled ‘22 Best Headshot Photographers in London’, which includes hardly any of the most successful headshot photographers but does include Kodak Express. Enough said.
2. Make Sure the price & package Is right for You
Be sure that you know exactly what is included in the package and any additional charges.
Price.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the most expensive photographers are better than the reasonably priced ones. Sometimes they are offering you more for their higher rates, but there are enough photographers who offer good packages for reasonable rates. Some of the photographers that charge the lowest rates will be less experienced, but some are offering you less time or a reduced package for the reduced rate. Plenty of the best and most popular actors’ headshot photographers offer one package, or their full package for around £300. You only need to compare images on websites to see that the standard is no higher from the more expensive photographers.
Payment.
Plenty of good photographers don’t insist on being paid in cash or in advance, but some do. I think you should be able to pay on the day by cash, bank transfer, Revolte etc. whichever works best for you. Some photographers have card machines.
Cancellation fees & deposits.
I don’t think photographers should ask for a deposit or charge you anything if you need to cancel. We know that actors often get calls late in the afternoon about a casting the following morning or that a job might get confirmed at the last minute. If you wake up ill, you probably don’t want to be having your photo taken that morning. Hopefully your chosen photographer will view cancellations as an unavoidable part of the process, and you are likely to be setting another date with them anyway.
Split sessions / half sessions.
Splitting a session (for the price of one) with a friend is often a false economy. A photographer should want to spend as long as it takes with an actor to get plenty of good and varied shots. If you have half the time, you might be getting half the package/half the number of good photos to choose from. If you already have some good photos but just need a couple of different looks to complete the range, you could ask a photographer to do a shorter session. It will be cheaper, and you will hopefully get what you need. Consider this carefully though as a full session might get you some better photos altogether.
Instalments.
If you need new photos but can’t afford them immediately, you could ask a photographer if they will consider taking instalments or being paid later. They might say no, but I think it’s worth asking.
Student discount.
Students will hopefully be given a discount. Most good photographers do, even if they don’t need the work, because they believe that it is appropriate to help newcomers who might not be as well off as already working actors. Some that don’t offer a discount might not be as keen to attract students.
Viewing as you go along
I would suggest that you ask a photographer if there will be time and if they are set up to be able to let you view the photos as you go along on a large monitor, not the back of the camera. Stopping and viewing periodically during the session is extremely useful in my opinion and can hugely increase the likelihood of you going away with good, natural looking photos and the range you need. It will enable you to know when you have got what you need from the session, rather than leaving the photographer to make that judgement.
When booking a session, make sure it includes at least five retouched images that show a range of looks. Also, ask if you will be able to view the photos during the session—this way, you can ensure you’re getting the shots you want.
Length of session
You need a photographer who understands how important the session is to you and cares as much as you do about getting the best out of it. Hopefully most of the good ones do but watch out for any who just see it as business and want to get you in and out as quickly as possible. Always ask how long the session will be. Be sure that you will be given enough time to get plenty of good main shot options, but also several shots for the Spotlight portfolio that show your range and provide an appropriate photo for any submission. A lot of photographers seem to offer around 3 hours, which is plenty of time in most cases, for you to have a relaxed and un-rushed experience and check your hair and make-up at the start and throughout the session. But some photographers offer a 1-1.5 hour cheapest package. I don’t think this is long enough, so you should decide whether a photographers’ longer and more expensive package, still makes them worth considering. Some photographers offer shorter sessions at a reduced rate, so that might be the way to go, if you already have some good photos but need a couple of others to add to your range. In short, I think a BASIC package session should be up to 3 hours.
Number of re-touched photos included (not less than 5)
A lot of photographers offer about five re-touched photos as part of the package. This is often enough. A good photo session with a photographer who understands the importance of range and how to achieve it, will easily be able to provide at least five very different looks that will work well for a wide range of casting briefs. There are a lot of photographers who give enough time to get range but then only include two or three re-touched photos in the package. So as soon as you book that photographer, you put yourself in the position of having to pay more money for additional re-touching, to get photos that cover enough range. I think all photographers should offer no less than five re-touched photos as part of their basic package and at least two crops of each photo. A range of looks is what is useful to casting directors and employers, so photographers should ensure that their basic (cheapest) packages enable you to give us what we need. The main purpose of the folio on Spotlight is to show range, so don’t listen to anyone who suggests that you only need one photo or that casting directors want to be able to put you in one casting bracket. We all have range, and a casting director will enjoy nothing more than successfully casting an actor as a type that they might not have seemed obvious for.
Cost of additional re-touching
Some photos might take a while to re-touch effectively, but in my experience, most can be done quite quickly, so I don’t think you should be charged much if you want more images than are included in the package (£10-20 max) As part of the package, you might also hope to be given more than one crop of each photo, at no extra cost.
Memory stick or download of the whole session
Ask photographers if they will put all photos from the session on a USB memory stick or enable you to download the whole session from an on-line gallery, in a high-resolution format, not just the ones that they have re-touched for you. Personally, I see little point in them withholding a few hundred photos of you on a hard drive, only to be deleted one day. As your photographer will retain ownership of copyright, they might ask that you come back to them for re-touching, if you wish to use any of the photos in the future. It takes a few minutes and costs very little to provide you with a USB or an option to download, so I think it should be a part of the package and not an additional charge. USB, envelope, stamp – about £5, so £40 – £80 is very unfair in my opinion. Download – no cost to anyone. You might expect to be asked to pay the cost price for a memory stick or you could provide one.
Terms & conditions.
Many photographers are relaxed and trusting enough not to feel the need to have terms and conditions on their websites, but some do. Check that they are not too restrictive. Most actors know that it isnt appropriate to alter a photograph significantly, but if, for example, you want to crop a photo yourself, I think you should be allowed to.
Usage.
Unless you are being paid rather than paying for the shoot, I would avoid agreeing to let a photographer sell your photographs or use them for any purpose other than to promote their photography work. Be sure that there are no unreasonable limits as to what you can use them for. You will need a photographer’s permission for an image to be used in a publication, etc. but beyond that, I think you should be able to use your photos as you wish.
Waiting time
Some photographers might not be able to fit you in for several weeks, often because they also work in other fields – theatre production shots, journalism, children’s photography, corporate, presenters, models, singers, dancers, etc. If you need new photos you should try to get them as soon as possible rather than waiting a couple of months or more, so look at your other favourites before agreeing to wait. Many of the better photographers who don’t also work in other fields, should be able to fit you in soon, so you shouldn’t need to wait too long. Some photographers will put you on a waiting list so you might get a session sooner, if they get a cancellation.
3. Choose a Photographer who understands the need for range
Be sure that your photographer understands the need and will give you enough time to get a range of different looks. All actors have range, and many can be as convincingly edgy as they can be friendly and much in between. So, for the Spotlight folio you need a few good headshots that show genuine range. An agent can then choose which photo to attach to a submission. A photo that has nothing of the feel of the character that you are being suggested for might get you overlooked. The same expression in a different top, isn’t range.
My Casting Director actors’ headshot advice is widely shared by actors and agents in the UK, Ireland, US and Europe. Click here.