Originally published 8 May 2014. Updated September 2026 with additional information and photographs from my actor headshot archive.

Actor Headshots: Creating the Right Look for the Role

An actor’s headshots aren’t simply about creating a photograph they like. They need to do a job, and sometimes that means working to a very specific brief.

When Amy returned to the studio to update her actor headshots, her agent had given her a clear idea of the look they needed. We started by talking through that brief before creating a range of portraits, adjusting expression and approach until we had photographs that felt like Amy while also giving her agent what they were looking for.

That’s one of the things I enjoy most about photographing actors. The aim isn’t to turn everyone into the same polished version of a “professional headshot”. Your portraits need to represent you, while giving you photographs that can work for the opportunities you’re pursuing.

Choosing the Final Headshots

Once we’d created the portraits, Amy and I went through them together to decide which best met the original brief.

For this collection I supplied her chosen headshots in both colour and black and white. You’ll see examples of both here, including the same portrait shown in each format. It’s a lovely illustration of how differently an photograph can feel simply by removing the colour.

Different Actors Need Different Headshots

Amy isn’t the only actor I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. I’ve also created headshots for Jake Morton-Miles and Sunny Andrea, and I’ve added some of their portraits here too.

Each brings something completely different to the camera, which is exactly why an actor headshot experience shouldn’t follow a formula. The expression, styling and range we create need to make sense for the individual actor and where they are in their career.

At the time this article was originally written, Jake had just been offered one of only 32 places at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Manhattan, after auditioning alongside more than a thousand candidates. It was a huge achievement and an exciting next step in his acting career.

Looking back at these portraits now is also a rather lovely reminder that I’ve been creating professional headshots for actors and performers for many years. The photographs may change as careers and faces change, but the purpose remains remarkably similar: to create headshots that look like the person who will actually walk into the room.

Need to Update Your Actor Headshots?

If your current headshots no longer look like you, your agent has asked for something different, or you simply need more variety for casting profiles and auditions, you can find out more about my Actor Headshot Experience here.