HOW MANY HEADSHOTS DOES AN ACTOR NEED?
Actors headshots are the most important tool you have in your arsenal - they will get you seen, and secure you that sought after role. Neglecting to have a range of headshots on your casting profile may limit what you can achieve. But how many headshots do actors need?
As a simple guide, casting directors and agents suggest that about five to six headshots of you should be included on your Spotlight (or other casting page) profile - including your main profile headshot. These headshots shouldn’t all look the same - five almost identical images of you with slight variations in outfit or background isn’t enough to set you apart. Showing a range of images here is as important as the quality of that first stand out profile picture. That’s why I offer a variety of images - not just standard headshots. Casting directors want to see how you hold yourself, and imagine you in a role. Gone are the days of one black and white 10x8inch headshot - you are competing against a huge cohort of new actors every year and having a range of high quality images is vital.
So, do you need only five headshots of yourself as an actor? Well, no, if you aim to have new headshots every two years, you don’t want your profile to remain stagnant during that whole time. So, being able to swap out those images on a regular basis - maybe once every three to six months - allows you to remain looking fresh. So, at the very least, you should have a portfolio of ten to twelve images that can be swapped in and out of your Spotlight profile.
That’s why I don’t offer simple “five headshots” packages nor do I set time limits on my shoots - many other photographers have shorter shoots that mean their clients can really only get through a small handful of looks. I much prefer working with you for an afternoon and making sure you come away with a portfolio of images that you can use over the next two years. Often that means my clients take home between ten and twenty images. It’s an investment in their future, they know only too well how important their image is, and keeping eyes on their profile is vital.