What kind of headshots do I need?

In the 90s, you needed three head shots: commercial, legit, and soap.

Oh, how times have changed.

Before the digital revolution and actorsaccess.com / breakdownservices.com you needed to have hard copies of all of your looks if you wanted to have pictures that properly represented you and your type.  Not anymore.  (It may be the one area of an actor's life that got less expensive.)  Most of your professional needs will be covered with digital headshots now.  You still need to have a photographer take all types of pictures, but you only need to print one.

Let me explain what I mean.

You should have a profile up on actorsaccess.com.  It's free!  There you can upload up to a dozen pictures that you can use depending on the role you're submitting for.  Your agent, if you have one will use those same pictures.  Even if you don't live in NYC, there are castings all over the country - just start a profile!

You still need hard copies of your headshots for two main reasons:

•Theatre auditions - and luckily you'll be handing it over, so they will understand your type by your audition!
•Student film auditions - same deal.

•Self-submissions - when you mail in a picture from an ad, like in Backstage or ActorsEquity.org, if there isn't a virtual submission option.

But the question still remains: What do you need to get when you see a photographer?

The essentials:

•A commercial shot - a warm picture of you, with a smile, that looks like you! But you on a great day.  Not your best day, but a great day.

•A legit / dramatic shot - a shot that is appropriate for a serious production-for Ibsen, or Law & Order.  Again, it looks like you, but it's professional, and shows some emotion.

After that, there are a few other shots you may like to have:

•A full-length shot - especially if you've got a great body.

•A character shot - maybe you have a hipster side, or a dorky side, or an outfit that immediately points out your ethnicity.

A couple of other things to think about:

•If you wear glasses in real life, you should probably have your glasses in your headshot.  But make sure you have some without too.

•If you are over 30, consider a business outfit.  You may be a casual person in real life, but there are tons of lawyers roles, and doctor roles.

•If you have a blue-collar attitude, make sure that is represented in your pictures too.  Every tv show and movie has cops.

Now, when it comes to printing headshots, I suggest to my clients that they only print ONE look.  Generally, it's the warmer, commercial shot.  It give the best first impression.

Don't forget to print the same image on 4x6 postcards that you can use to follow-up after auditions and to maintain your contacts.

Entire books are written about this topic, but that is my basic advice.  I hope it helps!!!