How to Take Headshots at Home: Audition Photos on a Budget

Which photos should you include?

The four basic shots are the close-up headshot, the full-length shot, the profile, and the three-quarter shot (from the knees up). Always add a photo of you smiling naturally.

Before taking the first photo, be clear about which images you need. These are the shots that casting calls and agencies most often ask for.

1. Close-up headshot

This is the most important photo and the one people look at first. The frame runs from your shoulders to just above the top of your head, and it has to show your face, your eyes, and your natural expression clearly. Look for a clean, well-lit image that looks as much like you as possible. Leave a little space around your head and shoulders, because phone photos are a different shape than an 8×10 and you’ll need to crop.

2. Full-length

It shows your whole look: height, build, and proportions. Use a plain background so the attention stays on you, and a natural, relaxed posture. Avoid trendy poses: what matters is showing yourself as you are.

3. Profile

It shows your face and body from the side. That lets people see the structure of your face, the shape of your nose, and the line of your jaw and neck, and decide whether you fit the look of a character.

4. Three-quarter shot

It frames you from the knees up. It’s widely used in film and television, so it helps people picture you on screen. It shows your torso, your arms, and your body language well.

Always add a smiling photo. Besides the four framings, include at least one with a natural, spontaneous smile to the camera: it conveys charisma and confidence. Many US actors keep two looks: a commercial headshot (smiling and approachable) and a theatrical headshot (more serious and intense, for film, TV, and theater).

How to take headshots at home, step by step

To take headshots at home you need a plain background, a phone with a good camera, someone to take the photos or a tripod, good light (natural or from a ring light), plain clothes, and a relaxed attitude in front of the camera.

Step 1. Choose a plain background

The background has to be neutral, so all the attention stays on you. You have three simple options:

• A plain wall of a single color: white, gray, black, or beige, with no textures, pictures, windows, or decorations.
• A plain fabric or sheet: hung against the wall and free of wrinkles. It’s one of the most common tricks for taking photos at home.
• A clean outdoor wall: if you have a yard or balcony with a plain wall in a good color, it can work very well, especially when the natural light is good.

Avoid having pictures, plants, furniture, windows with a view, heavily textured walls, or anything else that distracts from you in the frame.

Step 2. Use your phone’s rear camera

A phone is enough for good headshots: current cameras take very good photos if you use them well.

• Rear camera: it usually takes better photos than the front one. Ask someone to help you or use a tripod.
• Tripod and timer: if you have nobody to take the photos, an inexpensive phone tripod and the timer (or a Bluetooth remote) solve the problem.
• Highest resolution: make sure the camera is set to its highest resolution.
• Clean lens: it sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most common mistakes. Wipe it before you start to avoid blurry or smudged photos.

Step 3. Get good light

Light is what most separates a homemade photo from a professional-looking one. Good light makes up for modest equipment; bad light ruins even the best pose.

• Natural light is the best option: stand near a large window with indirect light and no direct sun, which creates harsh shadows. If you have a yard or terrace, take advantage of a cloudy day or the soft-light hours: early morning or afternoon, before the sun goes down.
• Ring light: if little natural light comes into your home, it’s the best investment. It’s inexpensive, easy to use, and gives an even light that softens the shadows on your face.
• Even artificial light: if you don’t have a ring light, look for uniform lighting in the room, with no strong shadows on your face. Two identical light sources, one on each side, work well.

Avoid harsh shadows on your face, light from below (the horror-movie effect), backlight (when the light comes from behind and darkens your face), and mixing cool and warm light in the same photo.

Step 4. Dress simply

Your clothes should show your body clearly without taking attention away from your face and your attitude. The rule is easy: the simpler, the better.

What to wear:

• Black, dark blue, or gray jeans, with no rips or loud prints.
• A plain tee: white, black, gray, or navy.
• Simple sneakers or neutral shoes.
• Clothes that fit close to the body without being tight, so your silhouette shows.

What to avoid:

• Clothes with prints, logos, or lettering.
• Very baggy clothes that hide your figure.
• Big or flashy accessories: necklaces, earrings, or bracelets.
• Sunglasses and hats.
• Heavy makeup or bold lipstick colors.

If you have long hair, take some photos with it down and others with it tied back. That gives people more options for picturing you in different situations.

Step 5. Relax and play with the camera

This is the most important step and the hardest to explain. A good audition photo is technique, but it’s also attitude, presence, and personality: whoever looks at it wants to see a real person, not someone posing in a forced way.

• Loosen up before you start: take a deep breath, move your body, laugh a little. A tense session gives tense photos.
• Vary your expressions: serious, smiling, thoughtful, intense. The more range you show, the more useful the material.
• Look at the camera with intention: your eyes are the first thing that grabs attention in a photo. Try different looks: direct, soft, intense, cheerful.
• Don’t overact: exaggerated expressions rarely work in a still photo. Put truth before drama.
• Take lots of photos: in a home session you can take 50, 100, or more. The more you have, the more options you’ll have to choose from.

One extra tip: make small changes of look between rounds. Switch your tee, let your hair down, or change your shoes. That makes the material look more varied and complete.

Step 6. Pick the best photos

Go through them all calmly and keep the ones that show you best: with 8 to 15 photos covering the four framings and a few different expressions, you have a complete set. Avoid filters that change your features, because casting needs to see you as you are today.

Save your selection in a folder next to your resume and reel, so you can respond fast when a casting call comes out. In our guide to preparing your audition materials you’ll find what to attach, how to name your files, and how to write the email. You can also create your actor profile on Casting and Acting, which is free, and upload your best photos there.

Checklist for your home photo session

Before you start, make sure you have everything:

1. Plain background ready: a wall, fabric, or sheet.
2. Phone with a clean lens, set to the highest resolution.
3. A tripod or a trusted person to take the photos.
4. Good light: a large window, a yard, or a ring light.
5. One or two plain outfits, with no prints.
6. Clean, tidy hair; if it’s long, shoot it both down and tied back.
7. Natural makeup or none.
8. Big accessories and sunglasses set aside.
9. A willingness to relax and have fun.

Homemade or professional headshots: when to invest

Well-done homemade headshots are enough to get started. A professional photographer makes sense once you have experience, are looking for representation, or are aiming at bigger productions.

Homemade headshots: they’re ideal if you’re starting out, looking for your first opportunities, and don’t have the budget for a photographer. Done with the steps in this guide, they work for most entry-level castings.

Professional headshots: they make sense when you already have experience and start aiming at bigger productions, when you want a talent agent to represent you, or when you want to take your career to a more competitive level. In those cases it’s worth hiring a photographer who specializes in actor headshots.

Whether homemade or professional, the essentials are the same: the four framings, a neutral background, good light, simple clothes, and above all, looking natural in front of the camera. With your headshots ready, look at the open castings and apply to the ones that fit your profile.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take headshots at home without a photographer?

Yes. With a phone that takes good photos, a plain background, good light (natural or from a ring light), and someone to take the pictures or a tripod with a timer, you can make headshots of good enough quality to start applying. What makes the difference is the light, the clothes, and looking natural.

What size should an actor headshot be?

The standard size is 8×10 inches. Phone photos have a different shape, so leave some space around your head and shoulders when you shoot, and crop to 8×10 afterward.

How many headshots should I have?

A basic set has between 8 and 15 good-quality photos. It needs the four framings (close-up, full-length, profile, and three-quarter shot) and at least one photo of you smiling naturally. A variety of expressions matters more than the number of photos.

What should I wear for audition photos?

As simply as possible: dark jeans, a plain tee (white, black, or gray), and simple sneakers. Avoid prints, logos, big accessories, baggy clothes, and heavy makeup. The idea is for the attention to be on you and not on your clothes.

What background should I use for my headshots?

A plain background of a single neutral color: white, gray, black, or beige. It can be a wall in your home or a wrinkle-free fabric or sheet hung against the wall. What matters is that nothing behind you distracts from your figure.

What light do I need to take headshots at home?

The best is natural light from a large window, indirect and without direct sun. If little light comes into your home, a ring light gives an even, flattering light. Avoid harsh shadows on your face, backlight, and mixing lights of different colors.

When are professional headshots worth it?

When you already have experience and are aiming at bigger productions, when you want a talent agent to represent you, or when you want to compete in higher-level castings. To get started, and for most entry-level castings, well-done homemade headshots are enough.