Are professional headshots worth it?

Are Professional Headshots Worth It?

Asking a professional headshot photographer this question is probably only going to yield one answer... and that's a resounding HELL YEAH. These days, almost everyone needs a headshot. I work primarily with actors, and for them, it's essential. Could you just use your iPhone? Find a nice blank wall at home or some interesting bushes and craft your own spotlight photo? Sure, you CAN, but that doesn't mean you should.

Casting directors are strongly interested in what you've done, the theatres you've graced, and who might have captured you on film. Directors will definitely want to know where you trained, etc., but the first thing they see before they do any kind of deep dive is your headshot. Now, this doesn't mean it's going to make or break your career, but it does mean that you need to take some care with the image you're putting out there to sell your talents. Your headshot is your chance to show the industry exactly what you're like, and ideally, it should represent you as truthfully as possible.

There are countless stories of actors coming into rooms, and the panel looking down at the headshot on their desk and thinking, "This is an entirely different person. This is WILD." A good friend of mine was casting a show the other day in a group workshop situation, and looking around the room, she couldn't match over half the actors to their photos... so this just isn't helpful. One of the big reasons you want to get a professional headshot from a photographer who knows the genre is that they will help you get a good image of what you actually look like. They will have a few hours to get to know your face and the vibe you're putting out, and then they will wrestle with their camera, canvas, and strobes until they have done their best to capture it.

So yes, you could do it yourself, but since it's such an important tool these days, it's worth the investment to get someone who does it every day to help you put your most excellent foot forward.