Choosing the right wardrobe for your actor headshots is important as it can impact how casting directors perceive you and the roles for which you might be suitable.

Here are some tips to help your decide on the options you bring:

Simple and Solid Colours

I recommend you bring a range of different tops with simple and solid colours that complement your skin tone and/or eye colour. Solid colours tend to photograph well and draw attention to your face.

Avoid Busy Patterns

Avoid clothing with busy patterns, or large logos, unless there’s a very specific look you’re going for, or if you are choosing a longer headshot session where we’ll be doing portraits as well. Patterns and logos can divert attention away from your face, which is the main focus of the headshot.

Wear What Reflects Your Casting Type

Select outfits that align with the types of roles you are interested in. If you often audition for professional roles, consider business-casual attire. For more casual or character roles, choose appropriate clothing.

Bring Variety

Consider bringing a few wardrobe options to the session to capture different looks. This can include variations in colour, neckline, and formality. Layers, such as a cardigan, blazer, or jacket can also add visual interest to your photos.

Be Comfortable and Confident

Wear clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Your body language and expression in the photos should reflect a sense of ease and authenticity.

Consider Your Headshot's Purpose

Think about the roles you typically go for and choose clothing that fits those roles. For example, if you often audition for period dramas, classic and timeless clothing may be more appropriate.

Grooming

Ensure your clothing is clean, well-fitted, and in good condition. Try to avoid creases and if you have a sticky roller, bring it along to remove any fluff or pet hairs.

Remember that the main goal is to present yourself authentically and professionally. Your headshots should reflect the essence of who you are as an actor and the diverse roles you can portray. Bring as many tops as you are happy to carry and we can select the best options together.

Whether or not to wear makeup for your actor headshots is a personal choice. I advise that if you do, apply a minimal amount and bring some along to add if necessary.

If you decide to wear makeup, aim for a natural and subtle look. The goal is to enhance your features without appearing overly made up.

Remember that actor headshots should show off the natural you, showing off your character range, rather than showing off your makeup artist skills.

I’d also recommend that if you regularly wear makeup, try to avoid using it for a few days to a week before your shoot. This will give your skin a nice rest.

I am happy for you to bring a friend/parent/sibling along to cheer you on. However, please keep in mind that having someone else present can sometimes be distracting and may affect your focus and confidence in front of the camera.

If you would like to do this, please notify me beforehand.

No worries. Many actors feel the same. My photoshoots are very relaxed and we'll have a chat along the way. I'm always happy to offer direction and do it in a chilled way. 🙂

If you are camera shy, I recommend booking a longer session, such as the Performance package as it gives you more time to relax and forget there is a camera between us.

Don’t stress, with years of experience editing actor headshots, I can confidently say that I can remove a spot. You don’t even need to worry about putting concealer on it. In fact I’d prefer it if you didn’t as this can limit the usable skin texture around the spot that I can clone to cover it up.

Yes. If you’d like me to provide the edited images in black and white, just ask during the shoot. 🙂

It’s worth updating your actor headshots any time you make a significant change to your appearance, such as changing your hair colour.

Another time you might consider updating your headshots is if you are going for a specific casting. If you are only in need of one shot for this, my Top-Up package would be a great option.

As an added bonus, if you are a returning customer, you can get a 20% discount on any of my packages.

There is no strict rule about the exact quantity of headshots you should have, however, it’s good to have a variety that showcase your versatility and suitability for different roles.

A guideline to consider would be three or more that show a serious side, smiling, contemplative etc. Showcasing diversity in your expressions can demonstrate your acting range.

Within your range of headshots, alongside different clothing and background changes, you can show versatility in looks by changing your hair, or other elements of your appearance, such as with and without facial hair.

Editing time is usually 7-10 business days from when you let me know your choices and I send them either as an email attachment or upload to dropbox.

Editing time is the same for all packages, as I edit each clients images in the order that they are received.

Sometimes, with a strong wind behind me, I’ll complete the edits and get them back to you sooner.

If you would like your edits faster, 48h express editing is available to purchase as an add-on.

Whilst your headshots should reflect your versatility, it's also beneficial to have shots that highlight specific character types you can convincingly portray. This helps casting directors envision you in roles relevant to their projects.

I do. 🙂

My evening and weekend photoshoots include an additional surcharge to accommodate out-of-hours scheduling: £50 for evenings and £100 for weekends.

The Standard Package evening session is available to book via the website, for Monday or Thursday evenings.

If you would like to book another package for an evening session, or to enquire about a weekend photoshoot, please contact me.

During the winter months evening shoots are only conducted in-studio, while summer provides the flexibility for both studio and outdoor settings.

Despite these surcharges, my packages still remain competitively priced, offering greater value than many London-based photographers for comparable actor headshot packages.

I’ve been asked about including a makeup artist in sessions only twice. Previously, when I offered this option, it was only booked once. This is why I no longer feature a makeup artist.

For actor headshots, having a makeup artist is generally not necessary as makeup should be kept to a minimum, for a natural look. However, if you like to arrange one for yourself, please book a longer session, such as the Performance or Showcase package. This allows time for the makeup application, unless you'll be spending time with them prior to the shoot.

If you are going to bring a makeup artist, please notify me in advance.

I'm in Herne Hill, which is near to Brixton, Camberwell, and Dulwich. There are great transport connections, and it's possible to travel here in under an hour from most parts of London.

I've moved away from where I used to do my outdoor shoots, which is why they are no longer bookable via the website. However, the bridge I used to shoot under is only a 20-minute walk away from my new location, so I can still do shoots there.

This would be for the Standard package only, and since I would have to walk there, the shoot would be 40 minutes rather than an hour.

If you would like to book an outside session, please contact me.