Looking For the Great Actor Headshots in NYC?
Headshot photographers in New York City are like actors – there’s a lot of them. Some are great, some are middle of the road and some are absolutely terrible.
But, we here at Daily Actor are here to help! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best professional headshot photographers in NYC and when we could, feature a brief statement about their work .
Here are some quick tips to remember when choosing a photographer:
- Find someone you’re comfortable with. If you aren’t able to meet the photographer in person, at the very least, have some kind of phone conversation with them. Don’t meet or talk with them for the first time the day of your shoot. To get the best headshot, you’ve absolutely got be comfortable with your photographer.
- Look carefully at their website and portfolio. You can get a lot from the look and feel of someone’s website. If the website looks thrown together and not well-made, that’s a tell. Also, if you see actor headshots in their portfolio that you don’t like, that’s also a tell. FYI, we’ve made sure not to include any photographers like that in our list. We just want to help you out in case you find someone not listed here.
- Pricing. Always look at the pricing options. “It costs how much for 2 prints and re-touching??” I’ve had friends that have had that happen to. Don’t be that friend!
And don’t forget to always ask questions like:
- How many changes of clothes do I bring?
- How much for hair and make-up? And guys, if you’re asked if you want hair and make-up, the answer is always ‘Yes.’ Trust me on this.
- How many shots will they take? And how many shots do I get to process?
- How much is retouching?
These NYC Headshot Photographers are the Best Kept Secret of Successful Actors
Not only do you want your headshot to represent YOU, but you also want your headshot to represent the type of CHARACTER you play.
- Years ago I was in an audition holding room with five people. The guy sitting across from me was huge, had a scruffy beard and dressed in dirty jeans and a ragged shirt. His presence actually frightened me. Of course, he caught me staring at him (ugh!) so I said, “You are one scary looking dude. If I saw you on the sidewalk, I’d cross the street!”
- When he laughed, he dropped his headshot, which landed on the floor face up. He looked exactly like his picture. I actually felt uncomfortable looking at him, then his headshot, then him again… Not even able to speak, I nodded toward his headshot.
- He said, “I used to have a clean-shaven headshot of me in a suit and I couldn’t book any work. One of my friends told me to change my headshot to represent the type of character I play, which is usually the bad guy, so I did, and I started booking jobs left and right.”
- So just how do you get a headshot to look like you as the person that you are and the character you portray? That, my friend, is the million dollar question.
The answer is: you get multiple headshots!
- [Flashback Fun Fact: Back in the day, actors would actually get ONE 8×10 and split it into halves or quarters, with each section having a photo with a different look. The headshots were also in black and white!]
- Which brings me to this next point: do not under any circumstance get a black and white headshot. Just don’t. Not in today’s world.
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Pro-Tips How to Take a Headshot
– It may be a budget breaker, but your headshot is your calling card. Don’t skimp out – get professional shots
– Interview more than one photographer and see who makes you feel the most comfortable
– You’ll need to have “sparkly” eyes, not “dead” eyes. Right before the shoot, look down at the floor. On the count of three (1-2-3), look up at the camera and smile with your energized eyes
– Wear simple, one color clothes without logos. Do not overdue it with accessories. You don’t want to distract the CD.
– Ask the photographer their opinion on an outdoor shoot, which uses natural light, vs. an indoor shoot with electric lighting.
– Relax and be yourself. The camera will pick up on any tension or nerves, so take a few deep breaths and try to relax.
– Less is more when it comes to makeup. You want your headshot to look natural and reflect your true appearance, so don’t go overboard with the makeup. A light foundation or powder, some mascara and lip balm is all you need.
– Practice your poses in advance. Take a few test shots with a friend before your actual headshot session so you can get a feel for what looks good on camera.
– Children should have new headshots every six months, adults every year. If you have a drastic change in look, such as a haircut or weight gain/loss, you should immediately get updated headshots.