A headshot is your calling card. It is attached to your resume and used for mailings, auditions, interviews and casting submissions.

A good headshot accurately reflects how you look, so that industry people know how to type you, and it serves as a proxy for when you cannot be there in person. You are trying to achieve pictures that represent you as a colorful, interesting person and that reflect how you appear in person (for an audition or interview). Very few of you will require pictures to show the one or two specific types of characters that you can play (thug, beautiful model, character comedian, etc.).

Indoor photo shoot or outdoor? As a manager, I have no preference as long as the lighting is good and the environment surrounding your picture is not distracting. Some skin tones look better with indoor lighting, others with outdoor lighting. Your photographer will be key in making this decision.

"Smile", "smirk" and "serious" are key words to think about. These expressions suggest that you have something going on behind your eyes.A smile shot, with teeth showing, is frequently useful for commercials, tv and film. A shot with a smirk can be a versatile headshot; a smirk can suggest sexiness, humor, mischief, or a secret thought, and this can be used and submitted for so many different kinds of roles. A serious shot is good for dramatic stage productions and roles which require someone who is mature, serious, or grounded.

A tip to remember: NO HANDS ON YOUR FACE.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PHOTOGRAPHER

Find advertisements in Backstage, Reproductions and/or recommendations from fellow actors. Please don't go with the cheapest photographer in town. You get what you pay for! Expect to pay between $600 and $1000 for your session. These pictures should last between three and five years. A photographer that costs less may result in getting your pictures retaken more often.

Meet with several photographers and see if you are "date" compatible, meaning you should genuinely like them and want to spend an afternoon with them. You want to feel attractive around them and comfortable being yourself. Ask yourself these questions: How is their studio environment? Is it clean, comfortable? Do they offer a space to change your clothing? Are they attractive either physically or mentally? Are they genuinely interested in you as a person? Ask them about things that would make you feel comfortable during the photo session. Here are some questions: Can I play my favorite music? Can I bring a friend?

Every photographer has their own "headshot" package price, but they all are different. Make sure you understand what is included with your package: how many photos will be taken for what cost? How will they be developed for you to see - on a contact sheet, a disc, or online? Is any retouching included? How much for additional photos or retouching? Do you get to keep all of the photos or does the photographer keep them? PHOTOGRAPHERS

WHAT TO WEAR

Know what looks good on you. If you look great in a collared shirt, now would not be the time to experiment with a crew neck. Don't pack your closet, and please do not wear costumes: don't wear an evening gown, cocktail dress, tuxedo or doctor's uniform, etc. Select four or five changes at the most.

Do not wear black or white. If you are going to wear a solid color, make sure it has texture such as angora, tweed, silk, velvet, pleats, or ruffles - you get the idea. Stay away from stripes, dots or busy patterns; they are too loud. Do not wear advertisements, symbols or numbers. You don't want people to say "what an interesting shirt", because it will take the focus of the photo away from you.

Your pictures should look like you, not like the characters you can play. Think of how you feel in particular clothing. Wear things that are comfortable and make you feel sexy, fun, coy, smart, or devilish. Allow your emotion to match your outfit. For example, a spaghetti-strap top showing cleavage doesn't work with full smile shots; a spaghetti-strap top says mystery and seduction.

HAIR & MAKEUP

Let's start with hair. Your hairstyle in your headshots should be the same style you normally wear, or close to it. So, before you get your headshots taken, you should find a style that flatters your particular face. It is beneficial for everyone to go, at least once, to a professional hairstylist who is highly recommended (not necessarily the most expensive) and have him/her assess what styles would look best for the shape of your face and head. Feel free to bring magazine photos of hairstyles you admire and ask the stylist whether they would suit you. Remember, hairstyles require upkeep; if done by professionals, make sure you can afford it, and don't forget to add this to your budget. Some upkeep you can do yourself, but make sure you stay on top of it.

You can also explore different hairstyles by going to a wig store (see below), and if you have an iPod, you can get an app called "The InStyle Hairstyle Try-On App" that lets you try on all the latest hairstyles to see how you look in them. Before you embark on a major hairstyle change, consult with your representative, if you have one. HAIR & MAKEUP

Wigs are an alternative for women, particularly black women. You'll want to get a wig that is made of natural human hair; these are more expensive but easier to maintain and last longer (and they look real). I used to represent a black actress who had several wigs, each one created a totally different look for her. Consequently, she needed to have headshots in each particular style. It was up to me to decide which headshot I submitted for a particular role, and when she got an audition I needed to make sure she wore the corresponding wig. This is where your audition diarywould come in handy.

As for makeup, start experimenting w/styles and makeup colors, especially now that color photos are the norm. Makeup can help guide your choices in color and style when it comes to your wardrobe.
HAIR & MAKEUP

Men should be clean-shaven unless it is part of your image, which means you spend most of your life unshaven; having facial hair may limit the kinds of roles you are right for. Facial hair is not appropriate for women!

A tip for all: You don't want to look any better than you on your best day! If you are not a model, your shots should not make you look like one!

HOW TO CHOOSE A PHOTO

Show the pictures to your representative, if you have one, and to your acting friends in the business. I would stay away from sharing them with your family or non-industry people. Remember, you are not choosing for the mantle in your Grandma's house. This is a "product" you are selling. It is always in your best interest to get a professional headshot photographer to take your photos.

Choose photos that have something going on in your eyes, something that speaks to you: devilish, coy, sexy, adorable - whatever it is that is appropriate for who you are.

RETOUCHING

Retouching is sometimes necessary, but let's not overdo it. God gave you a nose and I'd like to see it, the WHOLE nose. What you should remember is under-eye baggage. It rears its ugly head because of the direction and intensity of the lights in your session. If you don't have bags in real life, you don't want them in your photos. About those dreaded crow's feet and wrinkles: we all have them, but the gauge I'd like you to use is: how prominent are they in real life when you are sitting across from someone? Get rid of stray hairs, elephant skin in the arm pits and small blemishes. It's helpful to have the whites of your eyes whitened a bit. This might sound like a great deal of retouching but it's all common and necessary. The goal is to look like you without any distractions. PRINTING & RETOUCHING

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED NEW HEADSHOTS?

If your physical type has changed: you have noticeably lost or gained weight, your hair color or style has changed dramatically, or you've matured.

You may even have had your photos for 3 years or more, and though they may still look like you, they have been circulating for so long in the industry that it's time to get a fresh look. This might even mean going back to your contact sheet and just picking another photo.

Finally, remember you grow into your pictures. Each time you get them taken will be at a different time in your life and this will be reflected in your photos. In essence, the more you get your photo taken, the better and more intriguing and powerful the photos will be. You've grown and matured, and your life experience will show through your photos. This is a great thing.