What are Casting Directors Looking For in Headshots? Headshot Photography Vancouver

by | Mar 17, 2020

Good headshot photography Vancouver is equally as important as the effort you put into making the photo a truly great one. As actors, you have the advantage of knowing your angles, how to communicate with facial expressions, your eyes, and telling a story through a 2d image. If you don’t, now is the perfect opportunity to learn, so you can impress o your next audition. Let’s take a look at 5 things casting directors are looking for from your headshot.

It Must Look Like You

There is a certain disconnect created between the casting director and actor when the headshot doesn’t look like you. Your headshot needs to look like what you look like, on a daily basis. Avoiding glamour shots (which are more appropriate for Facebook, Tinder and Instagram) and having a simple, natural, light-makeup image is ideal. Casting directors want to see the same person walk into the room, as the person they have been looking at in the photo. No surprises.

They Have to Look Good Regardless of Size

Back in the day, casting directors were looking at big printed out headshots, nowadays, they’re most likely scrolling through thumbnail-sized photographs, making it that much more important to make a good impression. This is where we come in with professional headshot photography Vancouver. Photos must be crisp, beautifully-lit, and pop out and catch their eye, even when being looked at small.

Know Your Face

Get to know your face and how it looks at certain angles. This will come in handy when communicating stories with just a facial expression, and what translates well (or poorly) on camera. Take every opportunity you can to tape yourself and learn what’s too much and what’s too little, which angel helps your jawline pop, and how your eyes sparkle.

Take Time to Reset

Anytime your photographer steps away to change lighting or camera settings, take the opportunity to roll your shoulders back, fix your posture, and move your facial muscles, lips and cheeks. When shooting for a long time, it’s easy to fall into a posture or facial expression and have that entire series of photographs looking the same.

Know Where to Look

It can be hard to know where to look, especially for headshots. The answer here is a simple one: look directly into the lens, and through to the back of the camera. On the photograph, this will translate as if you are looking deeply and directly at the viewer. Humans intuitively sense when someone’s eyes not making eye contact and are looking even slightly off. Communicate with your eyes for maximum impact.

If you need professional headshot photography Vancouver, get in touch with our team. Whether it’s your first time in front of the camera or you are looking to upgrade your outdated headshot, our team would be happy to guide you into the perfect shot!