Actor Headshots — Studio & Outdoor Looks for Working Performers

Casting directors look at hundreds of headshots a day. Yours has about a half-second to register before the next photo loads. The headshot has one job: convey a clear, specific character type immediately, and look enough like you that you don’t walk into the audition and get the disappointed “oh” reaction.

The good news is that almost no one is doing this well in the Baltimore-DC market. There’s a real opportunity for working actors here to stand out with a headshot that actually reads on a casting submission.

What makes a working actor headshot

Three things matter, in this order:

1. Connection. The eyes have to do the work. The expression should feel inhabited, not performed. A trained actor knows how to be in a moment on camera — my job is to give you something specific to be in, then capture the half-second when it lands.

2. Type. Casting directors think in types: best friend, lawyer, mom, antagonist, romantic lead. Your headshot should clearly say which type you are. Different wardrobe, different lighting, different facial energy — these things matter and they’re different per character.

3. Honest representation. If your photo is from five years ago, or pre-haircut, or with twenty fewer pounds, or the lighting flatters you in ways the audition room won’t, you’ll burn auditions. Better to show up looking exactly like your photo and book what you’re right for.

What we’ll shoot

A typical actor session runs 90 minutes. We’ll cover at least two distinct looks — usually one studio (clean, classic, neutral background) and one with environmental texture (outdoor, urban, or a more lifestyle setting). Some clients want three or four looks if they’re submitting for varied character types; we adjust the session length accordingly.

I’ll direct expressions actively. “Look at me like I just told you something terrible.” “Look at me like you’re listening to your best friend tell a story.” “Look at me like you’re a lawyer about to win.” Direction like that, paired with real lighting, gets you photos that work in a casting room.

Sessions and booking

Actor headshot sessions run 90 minutes, cover multiple looks, and include retouched final images. For current pricing, see the Sessions section on the homepage.

Hair and makeup add-on available — typically recommended for film/TV submission shoots, optional for theater.

If you have a specific request — submitting for varied character types and need three or four looks, an unusual location, child actor headshots, or anything not standard — please email [email protected] to discuss. I’ll work up a custom quote that fits exactly what you need.

My background with actors

I’ve shot actors in studio for years — student actors, working actors, performers across theater and TV — plus dancers, musicians, opera singers, and other performers who needed serious portrait work. A few examples on the blog: Bryan, a student actor, Kelli, and a fun shoot with Sydney experimenting with non-traditional looks. I also have a strong background in editorial portraiture which gives me the lighting toolkit to do dramatic, character-driven work when the role calls for it.

Booking

Sessions available throughout Baltimore and DC. Annapolis and DC-area sessions carry a $150 travel fee. Book online or contact me with questions about your specific submission needs.