A good headshot is more than just smiling at the camera. It shows who you are and makes people remember you. But a bad headshot can make you look boring or even scary! That is why knowing good headshots vs bad headshots matters so much.
First thing is lighting. Good headshots use soft light that makes your face glow, not shadows that hide your eyes. Background matters too; simple colors are better than messy stuff behind you. And clothes should be nice but not too flashy, so people look at your face first.
Posing is a big difference between good and bad headshots. Standing stiff like a robot is no good. Lean a little bit, relax your shoulders, and your eyes should look friendly. A real smile (not forced!) makes the best headshot.
Table of Contents
Detailed Tips to Follow:
| Aspect | Key Guidance |
|---|---|
Location |
Indoor or outdoor is fine; blur the outdoor backgrounds. |
Expression |
Include both smiling (commercial) & serious (legit). |
Specificity |
Shoot specific “Type” headshots; match to role. |
Framing |
Chest-up is ideal; closer shots are better. |
Orientation |
Vertical is generally preferred. |
Lighting |
Use any light that shows your face clearly; avoid altering shape. |
Background |
Keep it non-distracting; blur real-life settings. |
Props/Hands |
Avoid props & hands in chest-up shots (glasses ok). |
Color |
Use color, not black & white. |
Purpose |
Must capture your casting “Type”. |
Specs |
Shoot high-res for 8×10 prints. |
Remember, this picture might go on LinkedIn, website, or business card. You want a good headshot that makes people trust you, not a bad headshot that makes them scroll away fast!
Jaw-Dropping Good Headshot Examples You’ll Want to Copy ASAP
Want a headshot that makes people go WOW? Look at these amazing examples, you gotta copy! First thing – stay away from BAD HEADSHOTS where the lighting is all wrong or your face looks angry. Good headshot photographers know how to make you look your best.
A professional headshot, not just a regular photo. It shows your best side for jobs or acting. Commercial headshots need to be more serious, while Digital headshots can be fun for social media. Background is super important too – headshot backgrounds should be simple, not distracting.
Watch out for awful headshots where clothes don’t match or hair is messy. The best professional headshot photographer helps pick the right clothes and pose. Try black-and-white headshots too – they look classic and cool!
This headshot works well as a commercial shot because the actor has a genuinely natural and inviting smile. The background is bright and colorful, but it’s blurred just enough so that it doesn’t distract from him. This choice of background helps to emphasize the friendly and approachable character he’s portraying.
This headshot is effective as a commercial shot due to her excellent, genuine smile. Her clothing, the lighting, and the perfectly flat white background all strongly convey a “commercial” style. While there are some minor flyaway hairs, they work here because over-retouching them could make the photo look less natural and more artificial.
This headshot is excellent for portraying a character actor, specifically suggesting roles like a friendly grandfather or professor. His warm expression and choice of outfit perfectly match this character type. The lighting is good, and the background doesn’t distract. The scarf, although potentially noticeable, works because its subtle colors support his character Type instead of taking focus away from him.
This headshot is a great example of a strong “legit” (dramatic) shot. Her expression is natural and relaxed, and everything else, like her clothing and hair, is neat and doesn’t distract. She also projects a strong sense of self-confidence in the image.
Good headshots make people trust you right away. Bad ones make them click away fast. So choose smart!
What Is a Bad Headshot? These Mistakes Are Costing You Roles!
Want to know why you’re not getting jobs? Maybe your bad headshot scares people away! Let me show you what makes bad shots and how to fix them.
First – lighting. Too dark or too bright makes a bad headshot. The face should be clear, not hiding in the shadows. And no weird body shots where only half of you are showing!
For female professional headshots, hair and makeup matter a lot. Messy hair or too much makeup looks unprofessional. Good female professional headshots look natural but polished.
Try black-and-white shots for a classic look, or commercial shops for business jobs. But always use Photo Retouching Service to fix little things – not too much, just clean skin and bright eyes.
What Makes a Bad Headshot
| Distracting or unprofessional background. | The expression looks confused or "trying too hard". |
|---|---|
Poor lighting with harsh shadows or spots. |
Smile appears fake, not genuine. |
Distracting clothing (patterns, logos). |
Headshot doesn’t look like you in real life. |
Unnatural or odd “posed” posture. |
Looking away from the camera. |
Not taken by a professional photographer. |
Extremely neutral or generic look (no “Type”). |
Headshot Photo Retouching can save bad shots, but best to get it right the first time! No one will hire you if your photo looks scary or lazy.
Cringe-Worthy Bad Headshots (And What We Can Learn From Them)
Some bad headshots got so many shadows that they look like horror movies! Let’s learn from these cringeworthy pics.
Biggest problem? Harsh shadows cut the face in half. Or excessive shadow under your nose, making you look tired. Good lighting doesn’t have unflattering shadows everywhere.
Some people try to fix it with makeup, but oops – heavy makeup in photos looks cakey. Better get a makeup artist who knows how to do basic foundation makeup for a camera. Not just slap a bunch of makeup on your face!
Watch out for dramatic shadows that are too intense. And brutal shadows under the chin make the double chin worse. Natural light is best for no weird shadow problems.
This headshot isn’t effective because the person looks uncomfortable and has an awkward posture, with their head tilted strangely. The background is also distracting due to the harsh lines behind his head. The biggest issue, however, is his expression, which unfortunately makes him appear confused and inexperienced as an actor.
This headshot’s pose is overly dramatic for a typical actor’s headshot. Generally, it’s better to face mostly straight towards the camera and avoid putting hands on your hips, as this can be distracting (though hands in pockets are often fine). A closer shot might have worked by hiding the hand. Also, the background isn’t a consistent flat white lower down, which should have been corrected in retouching.
This headshot has a few problems. The background isn’t perfectly white, which looks like a mistake. Also, the lighting on her face is too dim, making the image slightly dark. The biggest issue, though, is her expression – it’s extremely neutral, looking blank or bored, which is something to avoid in a headshot.
This headshot is reasonably good, but it has two main problems. The first is that his expression appears too forced, as if he’s “trying too hard” to look intense, making it feel unnatural and distracting. Secondly, the shine on his forehead should ideally have been minimized through retouching.
Good headshots show the real you, not shadow monsters or makeup clowns! Keep it simple and bright.
Good Headshots vs Bad Headshots – One Gets You Hired, the Other Gets Ignored!
A Good Headshots make people want to hire you right away! Bad Headshots make them scroll past fast. Let me show the difference between Good and Bad Headshots.
For Good vs Bad Headshots, first look at a smile. A real smile with happy eyes is a Good Headshot. Fake smile or no smile is a Bad Headshot. Also, good ones show your face clearly; bad ones are too dark or blurry.
Side by Side Comparison:
| Bad Headshot | Good Headshot |
|---|---|
Tilted posture with a blank expression |
Relaxed, confident expression with good posture |
Hands on hips, distracting pose |
Straight-on, chest-up framing with natural feel |
Harsh lighting, shadows, or low exposure |
Balanced lighting that highlights your features |
Wild background or patterned clothes |
Subtle background and clothing that suit the role |
Fake smile or overly intense look |
Real emotion captured through expression |
Clothes matter too! A nice shirt or blouse makes a Good Headshot. Messy t-shirts or too much jewelry make a Bad Headshot. The background should be simple – a busy background is a bad choice.
Lighting is super important. Soft light makes a Good Headshot, harsh shadows make a Bad Headshot. And look at the camera straight – looking sideways looks weird.
A Good Headshot gets you jobs and friends. Bad Headshots make people think you are not professional. Always pick the best photo!
Lighting Can Make or Break Your Headshot – Here’s How!
Lighting makes a BIG difference between a good headshot and a bad one! Good lighting gets you hired, bad lighting gets ignored fast. Poor lighting makes your face look weird and bumpy. Harsh lighting creates scary shadows under the eyes. But soft lighting makes skin glow nicely! Best use natural lighting near the window or studio lighting done right. Watch out for lopsided lighting where one side is too bright. And Bad Lighting from overhead makes raccoon eyes! Need balanced lighting that shows the face evenly. For a pro look, try a balanced studio lighting setup properly. Good headshot lighting makes you look friendly and smart. Bad ones make you look tired or mean. Lighting magic trick for getting jobs!
Male Actor Headshots That SCREAM "Book Me Now!"
Want male actor headshots that make casting directors go WOW? Your headshot gotta SCREAM “book me now” before you even speak!
First – show your type. Are you a tough guy? Funny guy? Serious actor? Your male actor’s headshots should show that right away. No boring same-face everyone uses!
Clothes matter big time. Dark shirts make you look intense. Bright colors show a fun side. And please – no crazy patterns that distract from YOUR face!
Expressions are super important. Not just smile – show range! Little smirk, serious look, maybe surprised face. Casting folks need to see that you can act with just your face.
Lighting has to be perfect. One side, a little brighter, makes the face look interesting. No weird shadows making my nose look big!
Background simple! Busy background bad – takes attention from YOU. Gray or blue is best for male actor headshots.
Remember – your headshot first thing they see. Make it so good they can’t wait to call you in! That’s how you get BOOKED!
Female Actor Headshots That Casting Directors Can’t Ignore
Want female actor headshots that casting directors MUST notice? Your photo gotta POP off the page and show your special sparkle!
First thing – know your “type”. Are you the girl-next-door? Mysterious villain? Quirky best friend? Your female actor’s headshots should show this as clear as day. No generic smiles – be YOU!
Outfits make a big difference. Soft colors for sweet roles, bold colors for strong characters. And jewelry? Keep simple – nothing too shiny that steals focus from YOUR face!
Expressions gotta tell a story. Try:
- Smile with eyes (not just teeth!)
- Serious “thinking” look
- Playful raised eyebrow
- Powerful confident stare
Lighting magic is important. Soft light makes skin glow, harsh light is bad for female actor headshots. Side lighting creates cool shadows that show bone structure nicely.
The background must be plain! Busy patterns are the worst – they make you disappear. Light gray or blue are the best colors that work for everything.
Hair and makeup are natural but camera-ready. A little more makeup than normal, so my face doesn’t wash out. Hair should look like “best version of you” – not too fancy, not messy.
Casting folks see 100 headshots every day. You need to make them STOP and say, “WOW – we need her!” That’s how you get CALLBACKS!
FAQs
How do good headshots help with specific roles?
They clearly show you as a strong candidate for roles like detective roles or Business CEO roles.
Can one headshot serve all auditions?
No, match your headshot to the specific audition postings for different types of roles to impress the audition panel.
What matters most about the light?
Use flattering light, whether Natural light or studio, that clearly shows your face without harshness or distractions.
Are there color considerations for my clothing?
Yes, choose solid colors that don’t distract; avoid overly bright colors that take focus from your face and suitability for roles.
Final Thoughts
Your acting career needs a good start, and headshots are the first big step! Just like family helps you grow, good headshots help your career grow big.
Getting advice on careers in acting? Start with photos that show the REAL you. Not fake smiles – real expressions that show what roles you can play. Casting directors want to see your true self, just like family loves the real you.
Get flawless, high-impact results with professional Headshot Photo Retouching from Cutout Image Media. Our expert Photo Retouching Service brings out your best look, perfect for portfolios, LinkedIn, casting calls, and more.
