What to Discuss With Your Team Before Getting New Actor Headshots
Actor Headshot Advice by Marc Cartwright
When you decide it’s time for new headshots, your reps, coaches, and collaborators can play a big role in shaping the direction of your shoot. Too often, actors approach their session without looping in their team; or they talk in vague generalities that don’t give their photographer anything concrete to work with.
Conversations with your team can help you get aligned on your type, your goals, and the kinds of roles you want to pursue next. When your entire support system is on the same page, your headshots become far more strategic and effective.
Why Talking With Your Team Matters
Your team sees your career from the outside, which is incredibly valuable.
They know how casting responds to you, which roles you consistently get called in for, and where you realistically fit in the current market. Their insight can help you avoid shooting “wishful thinking” looks and instead create images that move you toward opportunities you’re actually right for.
When actors and reps don’t communicate clearly before a shoot, the results often feel:
Too general
Too manufactured
Not connected to real casting possibilities
Stylish, but not usable
Clear conversations shift the entire session toward purpose and authenticity.
1. Talk About Your Current Casting Trajectory
Before booking your shoot, ask your team:
“What roles am I consistently being called in for right now?”
This gives you a grounded starting point.
If you’re being submitted for warm, approachable characters on network shows, your primary looks should reflect that tone. If you’re being considered for darker, more intense roles, your images should carry that energy.
Understanding your current lane prevents you from shooting looks that misrepresent where you realistically book.
2. Confirm Your Target Projects and Genres
Actors often want to cover “everything,” but your team knows what’s most valuable for you today.
Discuss:
Which genres serve you best right now
Whether you’re pivoting into a new type of role
Whether you need a comedy look, dramatic look, commercial look, or a blend
If your reps are pushing you toward procedural co-stars, you need a different tone than someone pursuing comedic recurring roles.
This clarity shapes wardrobe, expression, lighting, and mood.
3. Clarify the Emotions and Story Each Look Should Convey
This is one of the most important and most often overlooked conversations.
Headshots that book work aren’t about looking polished; they’re about clarity, intention, and emotional truth.
Work with your team to define:
The emotional tone of each look
The “story beat” you want to convey
How you want casting to experience you
The qualities each photo should reveal
Examples might include:
“Grounded and warm”
“Confident, quick-thinking detective energy”
“Offbeat comedic charm”
“Complex and guarded”
This isn’t about limiting yourself. It’s about understanding the emotional lanes you naturally communicate so your headshot session feels focused, connected, and ultimately more effective.
4. Make Sure Everyone Agrees on Wardrobe Direction
Wardrobe should support your story; never distract from it.
Discuss With Your Team:
Which colors bring out the version of you casting responds to?
Should you lean more neutral, earthy, bold, or high-contrast?
Are there character-based clothing choices that enhance your casting?
Consistency across your photographer, reps, and coach ensures your looks feel intentional, not random.
5. Align on How Many Looks You Actually Need
Actors sometimes over-shoot looks “just in case,” but your team may only need 2–4 focused, specific looks at this moment in your career.
Talk about:
Your main working type
A secondary look that expands your range (if relevant)
A commercial look (if needed)
A theatrical look (if applicable)
The strongest sessions are the ones with clear intention, not the ones with the most wardrobe changes.
What These Conversations Look Like in Practice
When you and your team openly discuss your goals, it becomes easier to translate those ideas into creative execution:
Your photographer understands the tone and emotional beats
Your wardrobe choices feel grounded in casting reality
Your expressions are more connected
You feel more confident and supported
Your reps know exactly how they’ll use each image
The result is a set of headshots that represent you authentically and strategically.
Read the Full Article on Backstage
You can read the complete version of my original article here:
“Headshots: Things You Should Talk About With Your Team”
(Opens in a new tab.)Ready to Collaborate on Your Next Session?
I work with actors and their teams to create intentional headshots based on casting needs, story, and performance tone.
Explore my portfolio or contact me to book a session in Los Angeles:
