How to Make Headshots

Headshots are often a requirement for auditioning actors and models. Even if that's not you, you may find that you need a headshot for a photo directory, ID, or for promotional materials. Any photo that concentrates on the head area and clearly shows the face could be called a headshot.

Things You'll Need

• camera
• light
• assistant

Instructions

1. Prepare yourself for the headshot. Wear clothes and accessories that are flattering but not too attention-drawing, particularly around the head and neck areas. Make sure that your hair is neat and that you use makeup to cover any skin irregularities if you want.

2. Decide on a location and background. A plain background is usually best, so look for an empty wall, or hang a sheet behind the area. Also, make sure that the area is well lit. You can stand or sit for the picture.

3. Take test photos, making sure to get a good view of the face, either looking straight ahead or slightly to one side. Leaving too much empty space, is of value, since you can always crop your photos later. Also, make sure that the pictures are sharply focused. Experiment with different shots and different facial expressions.

4. Get the pictures developed, or download them onto a computer if you are using a digital camera. Choose the ones that you like the best.

5. Crop your images if they have too much extra space, or if they are not the shape you need. Standard acting headshots should be cropped in a ratio of 4:5 width to height so that they can be printed in an 8" x 10" format in black and white.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're comfortable with the cropping and resizing process, you might want to have your photographer shoot a pretty large area around you. That will leave you with the most creative control to crop the images.

• Shooting outside can make for a nice picture, but using the sky as a backdrop can create very dark headshots.