Actor Headshots in Suffolk: Imogen’s First Studio Shoot

Imogen’s first actor headshot session

Imogen came to my studio at Bentwaters with a bag full of clothes and no real idea what a photo shoot involved. She is a local Suffolk actor at the start of her career, looking to work in film, TV and commercials, and this was the first time she had been photographed for that purpose. She was new to acting and new to studio photography on the same afternoon, which is a lot to take on at once. It turned into a gentle, relaxed session and a genuinely fun one, and it was a pleasure working with her.

  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and dark denim jeans stands against a grey background.
  • A young woman with long black hair and hoop earrings wearing a black long-sleeved top and blue jeans, photographed against a neutral grey background.
  • A woman with long dark hair and brown eyes looks directly at the camera against a neutral grey background. She wears a black top.
  • A woman with long dark hair and gold hoop earrings looks toward the camera against a neutral grey background.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black long-sleeved top and blue jeans stands against a grey background, looking towards the camera.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and blue jeans, posed against a grey background.

What the shoot was for

The brief was simple to say and harder to do well. Imogen needed images she could use to promote herself as a young actor: a proper headshot for casting profiles and agents, plus a set of character images that show what she could bring to a role. Imogen did her own hair and makeup. Her hair is long and completely natural, and it gave us a lot to work with as the looks changed through the session. You can find Imogen on Instagram at @i.a.m.imogen.

  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and dark jeans stands against a grey background, looking at the camera.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and blue jeans stands against a grey background, looking upward.
  • A woman with long dark hair wears a light blue sleeveless top and dark jeans, posing against a neutral grey background.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and dark blue jeans stands against a grey background.
  • A woman with long dark hair wears a white sleeveless top and blue jeans, standing against a grey background.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and dark blue jeans stands against a grey background.

Why actors need more than one headshot

A clean, well-lit headshot is still the first image every actor needs. Casting directors look at it before anything else, and it has to look like you on an ordinary day. One image only tells them one thing, though. A casting director looking for a nurse, a barrister, a girlfriend in a soap or a mum in a supermarket advert is trying to picture you in that part, and a range of images makes that much easier for them. Different clothing, different backgrounds and a change in expression all give them more to work with. For someone starting out with no showreel yet, those images do a lot of the job a showreel will do later on.

  • A woman with long black hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top and dark jeans stands against a grey background, looking off to the side.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a white shirt, looking directly at the camera against a warm brown textured background.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white shirt stands against a brown textured background, looking off to the side.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a white shirt and red nail polish, posed against a brown textured background.
  • A young woman with long black hair wearing a white shirt poses against a brown textured background, touching her hair.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a light blue sleeveless top, positioned against a grey background, looking toward the camera.

Building the range

We started with the straight headshot on a plain grey background, in a simple black top and jeans, because that is the image that matters most and I like to get it done while everyone is fresh. Once that was in the bag we moved on to the character work. Over the session we went through a lot of outfits, including a pale blue vest, a black halter-neck top, a black sequinned top, a white sheer blouse and a white vest with jeans. I changed backgrounds as we went, from grey to a warm painted backdrop, a dark teal and a deep red, and adjusted the lighting to suit each look. Some of the images are open and friendly. Others are more serious and moody. The aim was for each set to suggest a different person Imogen could play.

  • A woman with long black hair wearing a black halter-neck dress stands against a warm brown textured background, looking upward.
  • Woman with long black hair wearing a black sleeveless top, posed against a brown gradient background. She has red nail polish and is looking directly at the camera.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a black halter-neck top gazes to the side against a warm, muted brown backdrop.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black halter-neck dress looks upward against a mottled brown background.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a black halter dress poses against a warm brown textured background, looking upward.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a black sleeveless halter dress gazes upward against a warm brown studio background.

No time pressure in the studio

I always tell people there is no rush once they are in the studio. I would much rather someone turned up with too many outfits than too few, because we have the time to try them, and the extra choice often produces the best images of the day. For a first-timer that matters even more. The first twenty minutes are usually about getting used to the lights and the camera, and Imogen settled quickly once she realised nobody was watching the clock.

  • A woman with long dark hair and striking eyes looks toward the camera against a dark background, wearing dark clothing.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black off-shoulder top, posed against a dark background, looking toward the camera.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequined blazer stands against a dark teal background, looking directly at the camera.
  • A young woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequined outfit stands against a dark teal background, looking to the side.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequined jacket stands against a dark teal background, looking upward.
  • A young woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequined blazer, posed against a dark background, looking upward pensively.

How I price actor headshots, and why choice matters

I charge a session fee and then charge per image. That means it is in my interest to give every client as many good images as I can, with real range, so they have plenty to choose from. I don’t put anyone under pressure to buy everything in one go either. If Imogen picks a few now for her casting profiles and wants more later for a new agent or a particular audition, she can come back and add to her order at any point. My actor headshot prices are on my rates page.

  • A woman with long dark hair wears a black sequined jacket against a dark background, gazing to the side.
  • Portrait of a person with long black hair wearing a black sequined top against a dark background, looking directly at camera.
  • A woman with long black hair and red nails wears a black sequined top against a dark background, gazing to the side.
  • A person with long dark hair and bold eyebrows poses against a dark background, wearing a black sequined top with hands near their neck.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequinned jacket, photographed against a dark background, gazing to the side.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a black sequinned outfit stands against a dark background, gazing to the side.

Feeling safe at your first shoot

Imogen was new to all of this, so it is worth saying plainly for anyone else in the same position. I never touch anyone during a shoot. If a pose needs adjusting, I describe it or show it from where I am standing. I encourage everyone to bring a friend, a family member or someone they trust, and I make that offer before every shoot, whether or not they take it up. Any photographer who refuses a chaperone, or talks you out of bringing one, is showing you a clear warning sign. There is no professional reason for it. Your safety is not something you should have to negotiate, and the right photographer will explain everything clearly and be glad you brought someone along.

  • Woman with long dark hair wearing a white lace wrap, positioned in profile against a deep red background.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white top and sheer white jacket, posed against a red background.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a white patterned shirt poses against a deep red background, looking over her shoulder.
  • Woman in white vest and embroidered jeans posing against a red background, looking over her shoulder.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a white tank top and light blue jeans with coloured stars, posed against a deep red background.
  • A woman with long black hair wearing a white tank top and patterned jeans poses against a deep red background.

Actor headshots at my Suffolk studio

My studio is at Base Business Park in Rendlesham, on the former RAF Bentwaters site near Woodbridge. I photograph actors from Ipswich, Woodbridge and across Suffolk, as well as Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. If you are starting out and need your first set of actor headshots, there is more about how I work on my actor headshots page, and you can contact me to talk through what you need.

  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white tank top and blue jeans poses against a red background, with one arm raised.
  • Woman with long black hair wearing a white sleeveless top and blue jeans, posed against a deep red background, looking upward.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white sleeveless top and blue jeans stands against a deep red background, looking directly at the camera.
  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white sleeveless top and blue jeans stands against a deep red background, looking over her shoulder.
  • Woman with long black hair wearing a white tank top and blue jeans, standing against a deep red background.
  • A woman with long dark hair wears a white sleeveless top and blue jeans, posing against a deep red background.

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