Headshots are more important than you’d ever think!
Most dancers think that headshots are the way that the casting directors or choreographers remember them after seeing they dance or audition.
Turns out, it’s the opposite. According to most Agents and Casting Directors in the industry, the headshot is, unbeknownst to the dancer, the first part of the audition. Once you are in the room for the first time, it’s basically your call back. They are expecting you, the person they saw in the headshot to walk in the door.
This is Especially true for smaller castings. (which are usually bigger jobs)
Direct bookings for an ensemble cast for a tv show or movie can be just off of your headshot alone and not ever your dancing.
- Even if you know the Choreographer personally, they still have to have something tangible to convince their higher ups to book you. How can they do that if you aren’t prepared with all of the content backing up your skills.
*Cattle call auditions work a tiny bit different, but your photo is just as important because in this scenario your headshot is what the Artist or Directors are seeing before the final call back. And it may determine their expectations of you.
Also it may be the thing that saves an audition that you botched. Your photo has the power to act as a safety net. Allowing you to have the confidence that even though you messed up the choreo, your photo stands out, it speaks for you, and can give all the people deciding on your fate outside of your control a reason to push for you.
You need the best representation of yourself to help casting, choreographers, and artists to get excited about you!
THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY:
If you were on a dating app. Does this scenario sound like it would be a successful game plan?
“ I don’t need to upload any photos to my dating profile, I’ll just show them in person how great my personality is and when I leave the date, then I’ll give a photo of me so they remember how amazing I am”
You’re not going to get that date without a photo on your dating profile. By not having this photo, you’re holding yourself back more than you can imagine. But a good photo helps a stranger see you, paint an idea of who you are, and help you land a job.
Mentally, it can also help you with the confidence you need going into that date. And if the person on that date isn’t the one, you are confident you will have many more.
COMMERCIAL
- The word Commercial means TV Commercial. Don’t confuse this with Commercial Artist. This is a common mistake. Think about who you see in ads that are served to you, TV shows you watch, and Movies you like. It’s your “Relatable Human in a Relatable City, anywhere USA” shot.
- A Commercial headshot is you at your base. The version of you that throws on clothes to go run errands or meet up with friends. (Maybe more put together than “everyday” but it’s you at your everyday bare minimum.)
- This shot is also super vague. It doesn’t sell a story of you. You can fit in a lot of boxes. You can be a wide age range. You can fit in with different groups of people. You are relatable to masses.
A casting that would use this shot may look like this:
“Looking for all gender and non gender identifying people anywhere from age 3 - 79. They need to be trained dancers. Everyone will be shopping in the store when an announcement is heard on the loudspeaker causing the whole store (workers, bosses, and shoppers) to start dancing with merchandise”
- This shot should stand the test of time. And never feel like its has an element of style you won’t like in a year.
PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL
- This is similar to the “Commercial look” except it does sell a story of you. You are telling casting who you are.
- This is still a watered down version of you. But this is you at your base, and also in your comfort zone with your style.
- This is a shot where you should consider yourself first, you aren’t trying to be anyone, you are trying to be a version of YOU that can be relatable anywhere in the country. So although you want to show style, always think when prepping your looks: “would Nancy in Ohio find me warm and inviting?” If it doesn’t seem “friendly” enough for Nancy, tone it down a little bit.
- This shot can show glimpses of you, tattoos, some piercings, etc. Just don’t show off who you are.
A good way to think about this is:
“Is it too much for grandma?”
If it’s too much for grandma, it’s probably too much for Nancy in Ohio. So however you modify yourself so Grandma doesn’t feel concerned about you, that is the same modification you put on this stylized commercial shot.
- This shot doesn’t need to stand the test of time. It should be updated as your personal style changes. So if you don’t have a vague commercial shot as well, plan on updating this one yearly because your style will change as well, and you don’t want it to look outdated.
FITNESS
- Fitness is your Commercial shot in Athletic Clothing.
- Fitness shots can mean fitness like NIKE, Adidas, Alo, Lululemon, Peloton, etc. But it also just means active or health conscious.
- A LOT of brands lead with health and wellness. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “fit” person. You are active and that is what they want you to show here. The Athletic Version of yourself.
- This is also a good shot if you need a Body Conscious Shot for Dance but don’t subscribe to those “Tour Looks” where it’s a lot of skin. This is just you in form fitting clothes. Something that shows your lines, even if you’re not showing a lot or anything.
- You don’t need to be active in this shot. It’s not about fitness ability. It’s about “health”
PERSONAL STYLE TOUR
- This shot is for DANCE. It’s used more for actual dance auditions.
- The “personal” part of this means that you are dressing for the job you want.
- If this is for a Tour look. What tour do you want to book? Find dancers who are on that tour and see if you can find their headshots and they catered towards that artist.
Here are some ways you can think about it:
- Are you an avant-garde dancer? or the Artist’s Artist? Show that. Show your personality through your clothes. This is great for Concert or Company dancers as well.
- Do you want to be touring with a pop artist? what do they wear on stage. Katy Perry, K-pop groups, Doja Cat, Justin Bieber, Gaga, Black Pink, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift. These are some artists that have a Colorful or specific looks about their tours.
- Do the research on how they dress, how their dancers dress, and find a way to style yourself in a way that feels similar.
- This goes for any artist or any job you want to be booking that is more “on stage” or “live performances”. The Personal Style Tour look is YOU saying, “I am this job. I should be on stage with this Artist” but make it YOU.
Similarly to the Personal Style Commercial Headshot. Prepare to update this one the most, since your style and who you are as a dancer will change yearly. So when in doubt. Be more subtle with your style if you aren’t planning on updating your headshots regularly.
GROWN / TOUR
This look is all about you being your most grown up. But it’s also a little generic like the Commercial shot.
- The objective here is to show your lines. Up your age. Wear dark clothes. etc.
- It could be for any / every Artist or Show.
- You want to keep this one as your timeless “doesn’t go out of style look” So think CLASSIC. It will stand the test of time ( 2-3 years)
You see a lot of Dancers in black leos or black clothing because it stands the test of time. Like your vague commercial shot does. It doesn’t say too much about you and your style. It won’t put you in a box or type cast you. But can be used for wide variety of grown up jobs.
You want to have at least 2 looks of yours that stand the test of time. (a few years) And those 2 looks should be bookends of each other. Your youngest look and your oldest look. (or Commercial and Tour) All the rest can be added and updated in between and more regularly.
VISIT MY FAQ PAGE FOR ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT DEFINING LOOKS AND OTHER QUESTIONS MY CLIENTS HAVE PRIOR TO SHOOTING.
VISIT MY AMAZON SHOP TO HELP GUIDE YOU WITH CLOTHES IF YOU NEED.
VISIT MY EXAMPLES & INSPO PAGE TO SEE ONE PERSON DOING THEIR DIFFERENT LOOKS.
EXAMPLES BY THE LOOK: COMMERCIAL LOOKS / PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL LOOKS / FITNESS LOOKS / PERSONAL STYLE TOUR LOOKS / AND GROWN / TOUR LOOKS

HELPFUL LINKS: MY WEBSITE HAS AN AMAZON STORE WITH LINKS TO INSPO FOR EACH LOOK. CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU NEED :)

EXAMPLES OF POSES / LAYERS / CLOTHES / AND WHAT THAT SAYS:

POSING FOR COMMERCIAL SHOTS:

ARM PLACEMENTS:

HANDS ON HIPS = CONFIDENT

HANDS TO THE SIDE NOT DOING ANYTHING = DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING

THINGS TO NOTICE HERE:

MIDDLE PART VS. FLIPPED HAIR -
MIDDLE PART IS MORE EVERYDAY AND TOSSED OVER THE SIDE IS A LITTLE BIT FLIRTIER OR “GIRLIER” OR EVEN SEXIER IN SOME PHOTOS
HAND IN POCKETS AS A “HUMAN POSE” READS VERY “COOL AND EASY”

TRY NOT TO PUT YOUR WHOLE HAND IN YOUR POCKET. IT CUTS OFF LINES. TRY THUMBS IN POCKETS AND FINGERS OUT OR FINGERS IN AND THUMBS OUT FOR A MORE RELAXED VIBE.

CLOSED OF ARMS:

FIRST IMAGE: CLOSED OFF ARMS TEND TO READ YOUNGER OR MORE SHY

SECOND IMAGE: CROSSED ARMS CAN READ THE SAME AS THE FIRST IMAGE, BUT ALSO ADDS CHARACTER. SASSIER, MOODIER, A TAD BIT OLDER, LIKE AN OLDER SISTER

FACIALS / AND HOW IT CHANGES A PHOTO

NOTICING THE LEVELS OF FACE:

IMAGE 1: SMILING, WARM, AND RELATABLE. (WORKS AS A PLAIN COMMERCIAL SHOT.) DEMOGRAPHIC: ANY TOWN USA

IMAGE 2 : A LITTLE MORE “MASC” (BASED ON THE WAY THEY ARE SITTING) EASING US INTO A PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL SHOT. DEMOGRAPHIC: BRANDS THAT PROBABLY BE TARGETED TO HER. NEWER BRANDS, MORE AWARE BRANDS, SUSTAINABLE BRANDS, ETC.

IMAGE 3 : GIVING FACE. THEY ARE PLEASANT. BUT ALMOST SHOWING OFF THE STYLE OF THEIR HAIR. THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED MORE “PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL” DEMOGRAPHIC: BRANDS THAT PROBABLY BE TARGETED TO HER. NEWER BRANDS, MORE AWARE BRANDS, SUSTAINABLE BRANDS, ETC.

IMAGE 4: MOODY. MAYBE ANNOYED. EMBRACING THEIR MASC SIDE MORE AND NOT AS RELATABLE TO EVERY BRAND AND EVERY TOWN USA. DEMOGRAPHIC: BRANDS THAT PROBABLY BE TARGETED TO HER. NEWER BRANDS, MORE AWARE BRANDS, SUSTAINABLE BRANDS, ETC.

IMAGE 5 : MORE THEATRICAL. A BIT MORE SERIOUS. CAN BE USED FOR MORE ACTING GIGS RATHER THAN JUST DANCE ROLES. FEELS MORE VAGUE THAN THE LAST FEW. BACK TO A VAGUE COMMERCIAL LOOK.

HOW LAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

JEN - INDUSTRY / CONCERT

IMAGE 1 : “VAGUE COMMERCIAL” - WE GET AN IDEA OF HER, BUT IN A TONED DOWN WAY. WE STILL CAN’T PUT HER IN A BOX.

IMAGE 2 : GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC. BUT SHE CAN STILL PLAY A RANGE OF HUMAN.

IMAGE 3 : “PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL” - WE UNDERSTAND WHO THIS HUMAN IS AS A PERSON.

NOTE - JEN ARRIVED IN THIS SHIRT. I ENCOURAGED HER TO WEAR IT. SHE SAYS THIS SHIRT HAS BEEN A STAPLE IN HER LIFE FOR YEARS AND SHE WEARS THIS SHIRT WEEKLY. SHE ALSO FEELS LIKE ITS GOOD ON CAMERA SINCE SHE HAS DONE SUCCESSFUL VIDEO CASTINGS WITH THIS SHIRT ON. SO WE DECIDED THAT IT’S THE PERFECT BUTTON UP TO WEAR FOR HER HEADSHOTS AS WELL, BECAUSE IT’S EXACTLY WHAT HER PERSONAL STYLE IS.

JESS - INDUSTRY

GLASSES VS. NO GLASSES

DANIELLE:

STRAIGHT HAIR VS. CURLY HAIR

SHANIE:

WHITE SHIRT VS. TANK TOP

IMAGE 1 : WHITE T-SHIRT / MORE EVERYDAY / LESS INTIMIDATING OR “SEXY” (PERSONAL STYLE COMMERCIAL)

IMAGE 2 : MORE SKIN / BETTER FOR TOURS OR SPECIFIC ROLLS (SPECIFIC DANCE JOBS / THEATRICAL / OR PERSONAL STYLE TOURS )

JOE :

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JACKET VS. NO JACKET

IMAGE 1 : CAN FIT IN ANY BOX

IMAGE 2: FEELS MORE SPECIFIC TO CASTING MAYBE IN THE GAP / LEVIS / COOL GUY BRANDS

ROBERT: CSULB ALUM

SCRUFF VS. NO SCRUFF

IMAGE 1 : YOUNGER

IMAGE 2 : OLDER

EXAMPLES OF FITNESS SHOTS

POSES / LAYERS / CLOTHES / AND WHAT THAT SAYS:

JACKET VS. NO JACKET

HAIR UP VS. HAIR DOWN

STANDING VS. SITTING + JACKET VS. NO JACKET + HAIR HALF UP VS. ALL UP

“POP TOUR” (A SUBCATEGORY OF PERSONAL STYLE TOUR LOOKS)

POSING / HOW TO MAKE THE WHOLE “LOOK” WORK

NOTICE HOW EVERYONE IS REALLY IN THEIR OWN STYLES HERE, EVEN IF THEY ARE TECHNICALLY SIMILAR OR GOING OUT FOR SIMILAR ARTISTS.

NOTE : FULL BODY SHOTS AREN’T ALWAYS NECESSARY SO A WAY TO CAPTURE THE WHOLE LOOK IS TO SIT ON THE GROUND. THAT WAY YOUR FEET AREN’T TOO FAR FROM YOUR FACE. WHEREAS FULL BODY PUTS YOU AT A SLIGHT DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE YOUR FACE IS VERY FAR FROM THE CAMERA AND ON CASTING SITES, YOU MAY JUST NOT STAND OUT AS MUCH AS SOMEONE WHO HAS THEIR FACE CLOSER TO THE CAMERA.

ADDING LAYERS TO CHANGE UP YOUR TOUR LOOKS:

GRACE - INDUSTRY / LATIN

HAIR DOWN / HAIR UP WITH JACKET / HAIR UP WITHOUT JACKET / ON THE FLOOR

JOSH - INDUSTRY / CONCERT

FULL SUIT / CLOSE UP SUIT / SITTING SUIT / PLAYING WITH JACKET / NO JACKET / NO SHIRT

JACK - INDUSTRY / CONCERT

STANDING WITH JACKET / SITTING ON STOOL WITH JACKET / PLAYING WITH JACKET

POSING / STYLING / TIPS FOR GROWN TOUR LOOKS

THIGH HIGHS AND HOW THEY CAN WORK IN YOUR ADVANTAGE:

2 LOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE:

FULL BODY ADDS THE BOOTS AND LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA. WHILE CLOSE UP GIVES IT A TIMELESS HEELS VIBE

FULL BODY POSING AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT YOUR SHOT

SEATED POSING AND HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR OUTFIT:

EXAMPLES OF ONE PERSON AND THEIR DIFFERENT LOOKS

BRIDGET - INDUSTRY / COMPANY / CONCERT

BRANDON - INDUSTRY / CONCERT

3 LOOK PACKAGE - COMMERCIAL / FITNESS / EDGY / EDGY WITH HEELS

MAKEUP ARTIST: JADE - @JADEMOANIMUA

HUGH - INDUSTRY / MUSICAL THEATER

3 LOOK PACKAGE - COMMERCIAL YOUNG / COMMERCIAL GROWN / PERSONAL STYLE TOUR

MAKEUP ARTIST: JADE - @JADEMOANIMUA

MAX - INDUSTRY / CHOREOGRAPHER

3 LOOK PACKAGE - PERSONAL STYLE / TRENDY / BODY SHOT - TOUR

MALE GROOMING: LO - @STYLELVR

COCO WILLIAMS - CONCERT DANCER

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2 LOOKS PACKAGE - COMMERCIAL / FITNESS *(FITNESS CAN BE USED FOR BODY SHOTS IF NEEDED)

MAKEUP ARTIST: JADE - @JADEMOANIMUA

RUDY - INDUSTRY / CHOREOGRAPHER

3 LOOK PACKAGE - COMMERCIAL / HIP HOP TOUR / EDGY TOUR

MAKEUP ARTIST: JADE - @JADEMOANIMUA

THE EVOLUTION OF MADDIE:

5 LOOK PACKAGE - DISNEY / FITNESS / COMMERCIAL / TRENDY COMMERCIAL / GROWN TOUR

MAKEUP ARTIST: LARKE - @MAKEUPBYLARKE / @ALOTTALARKE

LET’S LOOK AT HOW MADDIE EVOLVED WITH THE INDUSTRY - 3 YEARS LATER -

HONING IN ON WHERE THE INDUSTRY WAS GOING AND WHAT SHE WANTED TO BE BOOKING. * HER OLD PHOTOS ARE STILL BOOKING HER WORK, BUT BECAUSE SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT AUDITIONS SHE WASN’T GETTING SHE FILLED THE GAPS WITH A MORE HUMAN SIDE OF HER, DEFINING WHO SHE ACTUALLY IS AS A PERSON. WHICH IS WHAT THE COMMERCIAL WORLD IS WANTING RIGHT NOW.