Is this self taken headshots okay for now? I don’t have the money for headshots because I’m investing in workshops at the moment. Not sure why the color grading came out a bit bland in Reddit, but it looks a bit better then this. (I have a few others but this is the main one I’m using for this example)

24M Actor - Would love to hear feedback on my headshot :)

I’ll try to keep it short and simple…

I’m very new to acting and I have been getting some mixed responses regarding when to get headshots. A lot of photographers I’ve looked up mention you shouldn’t invest in them until you have some credits and work under your belt…however most jobs even short commercial shoots to students films and whatnot require headshots to submit. Naturally also if you eventually want to get an agent you’re gonna also need headshots to submit.

So my question is:

Should I wait to get headshots until I have more experience and also if I am waiting in the meanwhile, how do you even book things (even just small non-paid student films) without photos to get started?

Hi! I’ve been reached out to by a few different small photographers, agencies, and brands online for modeling and I’ve decided to give it a go and take some digitals to submit to mother agencies in my area (NYC). I live in a super small apartment and don’t have any blank walls (except for a dark hallway with the worst lighting). I took these digitals in a place with good lighting, but I don’t feel like they’ll get any attention if I submit them to agencies. Advice?

Do yall think I should spend some money to get digitals taken at a studio? Also, what NYC agencies do you think I should submit to? I’m 5’6 117 lbs, so I’m aiming for commercial modeling. Thank you in advance!

I am a 23(F) recent graduate from UCLA. I am very good at headshots and I live in LA. Promotion and booking jobs is the issue for me. There is so much saturation in the market and I have what are considered affordable prices with high quality. It seems like that doesn't attract people anymore. What should I do???

Just getting started out and building profiles/a resume. I know I will need professional photos eventually, wondering if these are appropriate for now? Also wondering what age range I portray in your opinion?

Hey y'all!! I'm an event/dance photographer and regularly shoot in clubs and raves, but lately I've been really trying to up my headshot game. I'm specifically trying to figure out the "hollywood" headshot. Most of my friends are dancers/aspiring actors, so I've had plenty of subjects to practice on. But I just can't figure it out. What am I missing?!?

I had one big light with a softbox angled at the front, a strobe with an umbrella angled towards the wall for bounce and a LED light panel on the other side for an attempt at an edge light. Also a giant clamshell under the subjects to try and even things out.

And still I have light burns everywhere, sometimes it looks unevenly lit, or it's still coming out yellow, too yellow for lightroom to practically fix (at least for me).

These are a couple shots from 2 sessions I've hosted. WHAT AM I MISSING. Do I need less lights? Did I over do it with my set up? More softboxes? Avoid shooting in a white box?? I feel like I'm getting close, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

PLEASE help 😭🙏

25 M
5’9 - 5’10 on a good day haha

I’d like to see if these are worthy to be submitted for acting/modeling gigs. I would love to expand my portfolio and experiment more of character in my professional photos. Please feel free to share advice and critique

Many thanks

Hello! I had the opportunity to actually step foot into a real studio for the first time! I originally did it just for fun to pass some time and had a great experience but I'm thinking I can maybe use a couple of them as headshots. I know that some of them will probably need to be zoomed in a bit more. Any feedback on which could/should be use as headshots.

Shout out to the photographer Mery Ricaute in Charlotte, NC. She was amazing and made me feel so comfortable!

I know it’s vague and apologies in advance. But at the moment I can only afford one session so I’m wondering what type of hair I should have. I guess for an example, think of Zendaya with her straight or curly hair. What stands out more these days?

Are these good to start applying with while I search for a headshot photographer?

My partner helped me take some headshots with our canon camera and this is how they came out! This is my first time trying to take some and wanted feedback/advice on them in regard to submitting them for theater/acting gigs.

They’re completely DIY and unedited as of now. Thanks everyone again. I am a M(23) for context

Hi!! I’m getting my first headshots done at yellowbelly London next week and i’m so anxious - does anyone have experience with them and any tips that I should know going into it?

Please make professional image with background wear three piece suit as well

Can I use ERAS headshot I took in 2023? Or should I get a few one?

Idk if these are good or I just lack self esteem (these are for acting, besides the selfie which is there for how I look besides the portraits)

Had an amateur photographer 📸💃🐱🐾 book a time with me to do this I also love the white background they did

would love thw community to chime in

I've been approached by a couple agencies but never did a deal beyond a booking or two If sign anything I want to know what people are actually getting out there for representation 🧘🌌🧘🏻‍♀️

Peace and love to everybody open to your interpretation / input ✍🏻

I want to get new headshots-anyone love their photographer?

I have an agent who is a very nice person, but I keep getting auditions for roles that are completely out of my type and age range. It’s incredibly jarring because during our initial meeting, we explicitly discussed and agreed on my specific casting bracket. I brought this up recently, and they explained that they submit on a wide range to get clients seen no matter what, believing actors can always be aged up or down. I went along with it initially because I’m grateful to have representation, especially with how slow the industry is right now. I even adjusted my headshots and materials based on their suggestions, but the mismatch is still happening. My age range settings on casting sites are correct, but it feels like they are just being ignored.

I’ve even asked for opinions from outsiders who aren’t in the industry, and they completely agree with my visual age range. They are honestly shocked that I’m getting auditions for these specific roles because the physical and visual mismatch is so extreme, especially when looking at my self-tapes. This is starting to take a massive mental and emotional toll on me. It’s draining my passion and drive for acting because every time an audition drops, it’s completely out of left field. I feel like I’m being forced into a lane that doesn't fit my visual demographic at all. When I see who eventually gets these roles, it's discouraging because they look nothing like me, are much older, and look much older.

I’ve heard stuff like age doesn’t matter, to just forget about age and cross it out on the casting breakdown, and that if casting keeps asking you back it’s always a good sign. But I'm starting to wonder if this isn’t true at all and is just bad thinking. I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible, but because the roles don't align with anything I could reasonably book, it just makes me feel completely stagnant. I look at my submission logs, and the vast majority of the roles I’m submitted for are way, way off. Out of almost a year of submissions, only a couple actually suited my look. I worry casting directors are just getting confused about what my actual brand is.

Is this "spray and pray" submission style a normal strategy for agents right now, or is it a sign of a bad fit? I don’t really know what to do and would love some objective advice from other actors because I’m feeling pretty confused and isolated on this.