Headshots

Here is a ton of helpful information regarding the where, what, when and why’s of professional actor’s headshots.

established Headshot Photographers:

Los Angeles

Brad Buckman – https://www.bradbuckman.com/
Laura Burke – https://www.lauraburkephotography.com/
Marc Cartwright – https://www.marccartwrightheadshots.com/
Jeremy David –https://www.jeremydavidcreative.com/
Jackson Davis –https://www.jacksondavisphotography.com/
Joanna DeGeneres – https://www.joannadegeneres.com/
Cathryn Farnsworth –https://www.cathrynfarnsworthheadshots.com/
Stephanie Girard –https://www.stephgirardheadshots.com/
Don Hannah –https://www.donhannah.com/
Headshots by Jeff –https://headshotsbyjeff.com/
Huebner Headshots –https://www.huebnerheadshots.com/
Michael Hiller –http://www.michaelhiller.com/site/
Idyllic Photography – https://idyllicphotography.com/
Photos by Jamaal –https://www.photosbyjamaal.com/
Chris Jon –https://www.chrisjonphotography.com/
Matt Kallish – https://www.mattkallish.com/
Sean Kara – https://www.seankara.com
Robert Kazanjian – https://www.kazphoto.com/
Sage Kirkpatrick –https://fresh-look-headshots.webnode.page/
Holly Lynch –http://www.hollylynchphoto.com/
Jonny Marlow –https://www.marlowphotography.com/
David Muller –https://www.davidmullerphotography.com/
Molly Pan –https://www.mollypanphoto.com/
Brian Parillo –https://www.brianparillophotography.com/
Vaine Poyey –https://poyeyphotos.com/
James Pratt –https://www.actorschoicephotography.com/
Cameron Radice –https://www.radicephotography.com/
James Reese –https://www.jamesreesephotography.com/
Elaine Reid –https://www.elainereid.com/
Michael Roud –https://michaelroud.com/
Emily Sandifer –https://sandifer56268.cmdwebsites.com/
Brandin Shaeffer –https://www.brandinphotography.com/
Paul Smith –https://www.paulsmithphotography.com/
Matt Stasi –https://www.stasiphotography.com/
Jade-Lorna Sullivan –https://www.snapsbysullivan.com/
Tandem Photo – https://photosbytandem.com/
Travis Tanner – https://www.travistannerphotography.com
Maria Tornberg –https://www.tornbergheadshots.com/
Bob Turton –http://www.bobturtonphotography.com/
Todd Tyler –https://www.laphotospot.com/
Shandon Youngclaus –https://www.shandonphotography.com/002
Jeff Xander –https://www.xanderphotography.com/index

New York

Mark Bennington – https://www.thebenningtonheadshot.com
Justin Clynes – http://www.justinclynes.com/
Xanthe Elbrick – https://www.xantheelbrickphotography.com
Ted Ely – https://tedely.com
Ben Esner – https://benesner.com
Douglas Gorenstein – https://www.douglasgorenstein.com
Melissa Hamburg – https://www.melissahamburg.com
Leslie Hassler – https://www.lesliehassler.com
Joe Henson – https://www.joehenson.com
Peter Hurley – https://peterhurley.com
JW Headshots – https://www.jwheadshots.com
Dennis Kwan – https://www.denniskwanheadshots.com
Michael Levy – https://www.michaellevyphoto.com
RJ Lewis – https://www.rjlewisphotos.com
Rex Lott Photography – https://www.rexlott.com
Jordan Matter- https://www.jordanmatter.com
Julianna McGuirl – http://www.justinclynes.com
Barry Morgenstein – https://www.barrymorgenstein.com
Jeff Mosier – https://www.jeffreymosierphotography.com
Matt Murphy – https://www.murphymade.com
David Noles – http://www.davidnoles.com
Justin Patterson – http://justinpatterson.com
Jessica Osber – https://osberphotos.com
Andrew Steinman – https://www.andrewsteinman.com
Sub/Urban Photography – http://www.sub-urbanphotography.com
Chris Violette – https://www.chrisviolettephoto.com/index
Christian Webb – https://www.christianwebbphoto.com

Atlanta

The Actor Headshot – https://www.theactorheadshot.com
Collective Energy Photography – https://www.collectiveenergyphotography.com
Dwayne Boyd Photography – http://dwayneboydphotography.com
C. Dyer Photography – http://www.catdyer.com
Kelsey Edwards – http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com
Fare Game Photography – https://www.faregamephotography.net
Lou Freeman Photography – https://www.loufreeman.com
Aiva Genys – https://agpicture.com
Brian Jones – https://www.brianjonesphoto.com
Daniel Parvis – http://www.danielparvis.com
Anna Ritch – https://annaritsch.com/
Josh Stringer – www.joshstringer.com

Chicago

Aaron Gang – www.aarongang.com
Janna Giacoppo – www.jannagiacoppo.com
Gretchen Kelley – www.gretchenkelley.com
Jeff Kurysz – https://www.jeffkuryszphotography.com
Joe Mazza – https://bravelux.com
Ian McClaren – www.ianmclaren.com
Brian McConkey – www.brianmcconkeyphotography.com
Collin Quinn Rice – www.collinquinnrice.com/photography
Maia Rosenfeld – www.letsdoshots.com
Popio Stumpf Photography – www.popiostumpf.com

Oklahoma

Ryan Tiehen – https://www.rtphotostudio.com

Washington DC

Vancouver, Canada

Shimon Photo – https://www.shimonphoto.com
Brandon Hart Photo – https://brandon-hart.com/actor-headshots/

Find a Great Photographer!

This doesn’t necessarily mean find a photographer who lights and composes beautiful shots, it means find someone who knows how to capture the actors personality! It means find someone you completely gel with who is talented in the art of headshots (see the list above for ideas). You need to be comfortable being yourself and so you need a photographer who encourages that, not discourages it! You need someone that will have FUN with you and visa versa. Go to their studio, check out their work, ask them questions about how they see you and how will they shoot you. See if it feels right and if they address who you are. If you do a consultation here at Be A Working Actor Studios with Mark Atteberry, bring your writeup to the photographer and talk about what you are going for. Ask them how they will capture your essences, your personality and your unique qualities. Please, if possible, make sure you meet with them before you shoot or leave a deposit. It can be a huge mistake if actors don’t meet with a photographer first.

Preparing for the Shoot

Headshots are all about casting. That means you need to get shots that address three things: 1) what’s your look 2) what’s your personality and 3) can you act. “What’s your look” means how you physically cast? Rule #1 in headshots is you have to look the same way you do in your shots as you do in person. “What’s your look” is primarily the responsibility of the photographer but you do need to make sure you dress appropriately. “What’s your personality” and “can you act” is primarily your responsibility. You need to be relaxed and have fun! That is the key to being “you” and showing us who you really are. The best shots are usually the ones we shoot with friends when we are “messing around.” That is the feeling you should try to capture in your headshot session. So come prepared to have fun!

“Can you act” means can you have something going on in your head, behind your eyes, and let the camera capture that moment in a shot. They key is to come prepared to act. Come with appropriate dialogue, a monologue or even some personal stories. Think about your types and bring thoughts and ideas that address those types. For great ideas on dialogue see the writeup below this.

Finally, avoid drinking alcohol, weed and other drugs at least two days before. The dehydration will definitely noticeable through the lens, believe me! Make sure you get plenty of rest and, as stated above, come prepared to have FUN!! Nothing sells a headshot better than a person who is relaxed and having a blast!!! It makes you, what casting directors call, “like-able!”