What to Wear in Acting Headshots
Actor headshots © Hancock Headshots
What you wear in your headshot is so important that, unlike most photographers, I don’t limit the number of looks in any of my headshot packages. We often don’t know what’s going to work best until we try it. (In fact, I’m often surprised!) For this reason, I urge you to bring lots of choices of things to wear so we can play around and see what works best for you. For a one-hour session, bring at least five different tops. For longer sessions, bring even more.
Every headshot package includes a free FaceTime consultation with me to talk about your casting and what colors and styles might work best for you. We literally go through your closet together and pull pieces that can be layered or worn separately so you look the part in your headshot. If needed, we come up with a list of items you might want to purchase before your shoot too.
Headshot trends have changed in the past year or two. It used to be an actor headshot should be a “blank slate.” You wore a solid color T-shirt, no patterns, and no jewelry. Nowadays casting directors want to see you dressed for the part. So, anything goes! Wear patterns, stripes, layers, earrings — as long as it’s appropriate to your casting.
For instance, if your type is a high school student, you should wear a t-shirt or peter pan collar layered under a cardigan or snug jean jacket. If you’re type is a blue collar worker, you should wear a well-worn T-shirt under a hoodie or beaten up jacket. You get the idea. I’ve done a lot of research on the various types and what clothes usually work best for them, and I’m happy to share what I know with you.
Bottom line is: do yourself a favor and really take the time to plan and prepare your clothes. Take a look in your closet. Do you already own the right clothes? Do you need to go shopping? (If you need to buy a few things, you can always leave the tags on and return them later.) Make sure everything is clean and pressed. Bring some wrinkle release spray with you! (Wrinkles can be really tough to remove in retouching and very distracting in the final image.) The better prepared your clothes are in advance, the more you’ll be able to relax and focus during your shoot.
Some Tips for Clothing in Headshots
Bring variety — lots of different colors, necklines, and styles.
Think in terms of types and casting, not just how you like to dress personally. We want to capture the “real you” but with online casting profiles you have an opportunity to show a variety of types. Getting headshots is a great opportunity to put some thought into which roles you are most suited to and to work on your casting.
If you have an agent or manager, ask them for guidance on what they want to see in your headshot. They know best what is going to sell you. Ask them what you should wear, what types we should strive to capture, and what kinds of backdrops they prefer. They usually have pretty strong opinions about it and they know what they’re doing, so don’t be shy about asking them.
Limit white. Okay, so you’ll see some people wearing white on my website but it’s usually too bright and pulls attention away from the face. It works best layered under a jacket or sweater.
Don’t bring only black or neutral options. Again, sometimes this is okay and you will find people on my website wearing neutral colors but they can also be the kiss of death in a color headshot. B-O-R-I-N-G. If you have to bring black and grey tops, be sure to bring plenty of color options too. (I will admit that redheads and blondes can get away with wearing black. It’s because they already have so much color in their hair and it balances out.)
Dark colors work best for legit headshots. Think navy blue, forest green, and Burgundy.
Cheerful colors are best for commercial headshots. Think pink, baby blue, orange.
Bring textured fabrics like knits, sheer fabrics, wooly sweaters, tweed…. They add dimension and interest in photographs.
Buy a cheap pair of glasses at the pharmacy and pop the lenses out! It’s a great idea to get some shots with glasses but we don’t want to see any reflections on the lenses, so just go to the pharmacy and buy a cheap pair of throwaway glasses and pop the lenses out! It’s fun to capture a few shots with glasses for some commercial looks and also for certain types, like the bookish nerd, the smart tech person, or the lawyer/business professional.
Make sure your clothes are free of stains and wrinkles. Take the time to iron your clothes, if needed, and pack them neatly so they don't get wrinkled on the way to your shoot. (For instance, don’t cram them all into a backpack!) Bring some wrinkle remover or wrinkle releasing spray with you. It works wonders! I also have a steamer but you’ll need to get here a half hour early so you have time to use it.
Ladies, be sure to bring a smooth nude bra that won't show underneath. Be mindful of the type of bra you’ll need for each shirt.
Make sure to wear pants with pockets so you have somewhere to put your hands when posing. It really makes a difference! When you have somewhere to anchor your hands, you feel more comfortable — and it shows.
Bring at least one pair of pants that will go with everything and that fit you well. That way we can take some 3/4 shots (a body shot from the knees or thighs up). 3/4 shots are a nice addition to your website or casting profile.
Corporate headshots © Hancock Headshots
If you’re still not sure what to bring, look at what other people are wearing in their headshots. Look on my website for inspiration. And don’t forget: when you book a session with me, we can schedule a FaceTime meeting to talk about your casting and put together some looks.
What About Accessories?
For actor headshots, the industry standard used to be no jewelry. But things have really changed! Feel free to bring a variety of earrings and necklaces to go with your different looks.
For corporate and business headshots, feel free to bring a variety of necklaces and earrings too. Nothing does the trick quite like a chunky necklace to complete the picture. If you're in finance, a string of pearls is even better. The key is to wear necklaces that are large enough to read on camera. Delicate chains can sometimes be too small to make an impact.
Men, I encourage you to bring a few different ties in a variety of colors. It may seem like a small detail but the color of your tie can make a big difference in your photo.