Posing for Actor Headshots:

Actor headshots are one of those necessary, important things. But they aren’t always everyone’s favorite thing to do. One of the things that gets some people stuck is the posing – that feeling of not knowing what to do in front of a camera. Feeling awkward. Overthinking and stressing.

Of course your headshot photographer should be able to direct you and give you some cues that will help with the posing. I also believe it helps a LOT if you feel comfortable and get to know your photographer beforehand.

Whilst it is up to your photographer to help on the day, there is nothing wrong with being prepared.

Body Position:

My subjects often here me say ‘lean forward at the torso a little bit’. In my experience, this helps a little with perspective, and makes the shot warmer. Even though it can feel strange, leaning forward often makes your headshot more balanced and approachable.

Chin Position:

The next technique is the chin forward/down technique. This is discussed a lot, and you can view on youtube Peter Hurley discuss and demonstrate this at length. There is a subtle art to this, and of course it is going to work better on some people than others. The idea is to subtly extend the neck forwards, towards the camera, and slightly down. It helps accentuate the jawline.

Head position: little tilts.

A little change in head position can help bring a headshot to life.

Body Position: angles

Next up is angling the body. In your shoot you should explore and review a range of angles, and decide what you think is working. Switching up from front on, to various sides can help you figure out what you like best, and get a range of images.

If you have a preferred side of the face/body, make sure you tell your photographer. If you don’t mind – perhaps try both and see if you have a preference

The eyes: Warming up that expression.

Now we’re starting to get into more of the expression. They eyes are really the key to a powerful actor headshot. They need to be sharp, and they need to say something. There should be communication happening here. Amazing catchlights can really enhance the feeling (this is all to do with the lighting though). But there are some things you can do to get that amazing stare.

I find a lot of actors already have amazing ability to control their eyes to portray emotion. It is all in your craft after all. They key is to think of the eyes as a tool to express. Avoid blank, dead eyes, and consider what you want to say in the shot. You’re going to have different looks for an image that is intended to be moody and dramatic, than to a headshot that is intended to be happy and carefree.

Creating a softer look is all about controlling the lower eyelids. Bringing them up slightly helps warm them up. If you look in the mirror and cover your mouth, you can see a similarity between not smiling, and then smiling. When you’re smiling those lower lids raise. You can practice this in the mirror before you headshot session to get a feel for it, and see the results.

Mixing up everything:

During your headshot session it is best to mix everything up with your pose. Discuss it with your photographer, but don’t be afraid to move slightly between images. I review all the images as we go during my sessions – so you can immediately see what you’re liking and not liking. If you’re working with a photographer, don’t be afraid to ask to review the shots to see how you’re going with pose and expression.

Everything should come together with your pose and expression: the photographer should take care of the lighting, composition and the background. A discussion on outfit and mood should be ongoing, so you can both stay on track.

If you’re ready to get some fresh actor headshots, you can book your session online.

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