What are Casting Directors Looking for in Headshots?

“A good headshot is when there’s a photo and it looks like you,” casting director Benton Whitley (Stewart/Whitley Casting) says at the top of this video about everyone’s favorite topic. But there’s so much more to creating a photo that both looks like you and gets you called in than just representing yourself clearly on an 8 x 10-and stop thinking that your headshot should be the same as the photo you use on Tinder.
Breakdown
0:09 - The photo needs look like you
0:27 - Glamour photos do not make good headshots
1:15 - Why casting directors hate when you don't look like your photo
1:36 - Could your headshot cost you a job?
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[@Sam-du7cm]

Basically: -don’t do a glamour shot -don’t be someone you’re not (don’t have a menacing headshot if you’re live and friendly?) -have a headshot that looks like you on a regular basis

[@DillonJohnCollins]

"We're hiring vivid individuals." So well said! and real haha

[@dallasdandigitalproduction393]

VIVID, oh i thought he said LIVID, lol

[@isabellescott8682]

Thank you!!! I'm just starting acting and these vids are really helping me!

Very clear and also funny. Love this!

[@doreinpaulemmanuel3614]

wow I didn't know that, thank you so much for that valuable piece of advice.

[@MrTimstaaa]

Excellent info. Thank's guys

[@jasongordon5246]

Thx for the tips. I got thru the audition and taken on as a client. It was my first audition ever.

[@pamelaoualline8454]

Thank you, from Texas

[@laurapragucci]

this is a great explanation

[@proudfoot.proudfoot]

Vivid individuals! I love that

[@sirijostad7753]

much appreciated

[@kennythompson9646]

Where can I submit my headshots for an audition?

[@BZMANAGEMENT1980]

How can I get my headshots to casting directors like yourself without going to a third party company thank you your information was very valuable

[@shaneguilbeau7342]

your agent would be the one getting that headshot to the casting directors. You could also try to self submit on Backstage or actors access

[@Itsrainingcatsyall]

This is hilarious 😂

[@thedarkbaby]

Cool ty

[@jkrishans]

What should we wear for a headshot or Full body shot

[@frequency9339]

casual but classy/professional

[@kelleycustomartistry5542]

Also, what about tattoos? My husband is completely sleeved HOWEVER he works in a big business corporation and is always in beautiful button down shirts sometimes jacket. I’m assuming if the role is “sexy bad guy” or “tatted boyfriend “ then the head/shoulders and a bit of upper arm where you see a hint of tats would be more interesting but what if he’s trying out for “detective “? I know a lot of law enforcement...especially undercover officers...may have tattoos. Idk? I’ve got two pro headshots of him and I can crop tats out if necessary. What do you think???

[@AlexZelaMusic]

Tattoos dont matter at all. If you look right for the part and the character needs tattoss, theyll put them on in makeup. If they need removing theyll cover them up

[@jamilgotcher5456]

@@AlexZelaMusic I would think, neck tattoos and full sleeve tattoos are going to get you eleminated out of the keep pile of headshots for some castings. They are paying that makeup artist by the hour or day. With so many people to choose from these days, I would cast the person that doesn't take an extra half hour of the makeup artist's chair when she or he needs to makeup other talent. With budgets becoming smaller and smaller, time is money.

[@jodiewild1282]

Jamil Gotcher depends on talent and how much they like you

[@Dakkadot09]

HE HIT IT ON THE MONEY!!!!!!!!

[@sav_raee]

I’m going in for head shots for stranger things season tree😁🤭🤭

[@MrDarshD]

All the best!! I hope you get the role.

[@babychimchim7013]

Good luck

[@felixidadex]

did you got at least an extra's role?

[@user-ir8mf7km6w]

This guy only has 5 credits? I've never heard of him and I've been in the industry 20 years. Just my opinion.

[@tierneysleight997]

Anybody else say “awh shit”

[@sandyy.dabadyy_4143]

TIP>>> IF They want more headshots get the same background wear the same clothes and don’t put up ur fingers like Peace signs or nun

[@misterbunny3]

Basically: be yourself and show who you are and don't be fake. ok im done!

[@bernardmishra]

He is struggling to get projects himself (imdb him) , advise should be given by masters of a craft/trade , not bootleg Edward nortan .

[@JDRBNFB]

This is so ridiculous. What if - photographs are incapable of being accurate 100% of the time? You want me to look like I look in my headshot? Okay - lets see if I can find that exact same shirt, and put on that exact same jacket, and make sure every hair is in exactly the same spot - boom - there - now I look like that photograph just walked in the room. I did that all for you. Okay - 30 second cold read and we're done.... Give me a break. A photograph is a true representation of that moment in time. That's all it can be. It's idiotic to expect an actor to be a live version of that headshot every waking second of the day. Get over yourself and do your job.

[@reelmanagement7709]

..it's more about changing your hairstyle and not having headshots that are current and represent you right now.. If you have nose rings and tattoos and that is the brief for the role, then you show up without the added accoutrements then you will look different to the image the casting directors have. Their job is under a lot of pressure - namely a very fast turnaround due to confidentiality. If an actor can't deliver, they move on to the next actor. Time is money and there will be 100 other people who will have submitted the image that fits the brief and is exactly how they will turn up to the casting/audition. It's a process of elimination. Actors who understand this will at least get their foot in the door to audition or get a call back. I am an agent in Australia and I can tell you that as soon as you update your look with a haircut (like a drastic change) it requires you to get new headshots. If you come in with dyed purple hair but your hair was natural in the submission, you are wasting your time and the directors too. It's just the harsh reality of this industry. You absolutely need to be able to live your life, but you need to know that if this is your chosen path, then you want to invest every cent back into your own branding (photos, reels, CV and classes) etc and have a positive relationship with your agent and/or manager. And really think long and hard about changing hairstyles, tattoos and facial changes. One of my best actors shaved all his hair off. It looked awesome but we had to get him new photos. It has since grown back and he now looks like a sweet country cop where before he looked like a street thug.

[@JDRBNFB]

@@reelmanagement7709 Agreed about drastic changes. But what if for example you have a normal everyday "natural" look, and you have to change a certain aspect about your style for a role? Or you did so for an audition to be more in line with the character, than necessarily your headshot? I normally have a beard, and let my hair grow out to various lengths before cutting it. But since I was in the military I often get auditions for military roles or police officers - in some of those cases I will completely shave and cut my hair to have the appearance of military standards. It instantly doesn't match my headshot. I get that CD's are under a time crunch and pressure. But that doesn't mean you can't be flexible and get all angsty about what someones headshot looks like. That's really all my point is. It's not that I don't understand and empathize with the CD's duties - it's that a lot of the "advice" from CD's is first of all not consistent, and is often subjectively judgemental.

[@reelmanagement7709]

Josh Russell is there any way you could get a headshot or two with your beard at different lengths..? I understand your frustration and getting sent for military roles (my young actors dream of those) but say you already have a headshot with your army buzz cut and you haven’t changed much with lines and wrinkles, then adding a headshot with your natural beard would be welcome for different roles. If you’re on IMDb and other industry sites with a few of your different headshots, they know what you look like with both. A beard does alter a mans appearance greatly. It can also be changed for different styles/roles - one actor I have looks like a garden gnome with his beard, another looks like a member of ZZ Top.. but they have the different headshots to match the role so it won’t be a shock to a CD. If you’re growing your beard for a specific role, the CD is empathetic and may be able to inform the director.. but it is a complete shock if they have no idea prior to your audition and you turn up looking like a hipster with groomed beard and a pointy moustache. If you have a good rapport with the CD, you could have the shortest conversation ever about their expectations and adapt..? I’m wondering about the reason you don’t shave..? Maybe if you are sick of going for military roles, you stop the stereotype and get a new headshot of you right now and market yourself that way.. what is your character type now..? How do you identify.? What is your genre..? Getting frustrated with the business really only hurts you and gets you off track. The power of knowing the small details can shift momentum greatly. I wish you much success and joy. I also really appreciate our KZbin conversation. Chookas!