Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

So you got yourself some professional headshots?

That’s a great move since if you’re an actor you know there is nothing more important for putting yourself out there: and if you’re in the business world then these days there is no excuse for not having a quality headshot on your website and social media.

Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

The good news is that hopefully you’ve already seen professional advances thanks to your killer headshot but here’s the bad news. If that headshot is more than a couple of years old then you more than likely need to update it in order to keep seeing those advances.

There’s little point in having an out of date business headshot. If your client has seen your picture online you want them to see the face they are expecting when you meet with them.

You don’t think you need to update yours – you haven’t changed that much… have you? You are the wrong person to make that judgement because you have been watching your face change little by little everyday without noticing. But does that mean if you bump into someone from college or your last job that they won’t think you’ve changed pretty dramatically?

Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

Let’s consider what’s happened to you in the last couple of years that could affect the way you look now. Have you been touring a two-hander around northern Germany? That can add some lines for sure!

Have you got married? Broken up? Moved house? Had a baby? Wow! Those things will absolutely have given you some worry wrinkles or shadows under the eyes.

Of course there are the obvious changes you may need to consider such as hairstyle/colour, make up style and your choice of clothing. Fashion can date a picture more quickly than anything so anytime you have headshots taken it’s sensible to wear neutral clothing which isn’t massively “trendy”.

Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

See what we’re getting at?

If you’re updating your actors’ headshot, then it’s vital that these changes to your face are represented. You and your agent will be reassessing your casting bracket as you age and change anyway so you definitely need to be represented properly by your headshot as it’s the first thing any casting director is going to consider.

If you don’t feel you’ve seen the results you were hoping for from your first headshots then don’t let that put you off. Perhaps you need to choose a different photographer this time around who has no preconceived idea of how you look. You may interact differently with a new person and that will be reflected in your shots; how relaxed and how you hold yourself is very important to projecting the best and most up to date version of you.

Changing Faces – Why You Need To Refresh Your Headshots

Of course if you love your original pictures then stick with a photographer with whom you feel a connection. Don’t forget to consider that your photographer may be the one dating your images. If they stick to a particular trend or style of photography, rather than clean, modern shots which represent you, they may not be the best choice for you.

Whoever you choose, just remember to put your best face forward!