Should I wear this for my headshots?

 

Call me out for being a Meisner-trained actor - but I never feel fully in character until I’m quite literally in my character’s shoes. The weight of the fabric, the scuff of the heel. Glasses? No glasses? Hat? Suspenders? Props? Each element is a piece of the puzzle that helps me convey a story with honesty to myself and to a playwright’s text.

I feel no differently when it comes to headshots. As I always say, the best headshots are truthful to the subject. The most effective and interesting portraits should cater to the client’s branding - the story they wish to be telling.

Along with preparing looks, I often get questions about accessories.

“Should I wear my glasses/jewelry/a hat/a watch?”

You name it, I’ve been asked about it. The answer is usually “Bring it! We can try it and decide from there!” But there are a few key ideologies behind the decision to run with accessories or leave them on the cutting room floor. Ultimately, it ties into storytelling. Who are we? What is the story? Who is the audience? Everything I do can be drawn back to these three questions. Let’s talk about some outside elements we can incorporate into our headshots and break down why and how we might use them.


I wear/use this accessory every day.

Let’s start with glasses as an example. Do you need glasses to see? If I see you walking down the street, will I see you rocking a Marciano frame? Or do you hide behind your backup glasses that you only wear in the steps between removing your contacts and climbing into bed? If you’re auditioning in glasses, it doesn’t hurt to have a headshot featuring them - it communicates a level of authenticity that is outside of the circumstances of any given script. Especially if they are your own glasses! Ownership of glasses (and any accessory in this way) that is a part of your daily life and experience adds to your uniqueness and authenticity. I also know photographers who’ve procured a collection of lensless glasses to add to looks (we’ll address this later).

An important thing to note here, however, is to make sure they’re really working for you. I’ve worked two and a half years as an optician - cutting lenses and styling glasses for a range of patients. I know glasses. I know when they work… and when they don’t. Like any accessory, if it doesn’t fit, it draws attention. If we’re making an artistic choice to incorporate something into our headshot that will draw attention, it must be with intention and serve the story we wish to tell.

Another great example of this is any device that greatly informs the way you navigate or experience the world around you. If you have a disability and rely on a hearing aid, wheelchair, or walker, it’s common to be unsure how or if to incorporate it into a headshot. Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to incorporate it is yours to make, but I suggest having a conversation with the photographer. Address your concerns and see if you can collaborate on some creative solutions.

 

That is exactly what my client, Autumn, did when preparing for our session together. She wanted her walker to be featured, but was unsure of how much attention it should draw. Ultimately, we came to the decision to treat her walker as an extension of herself. We were able to think about her branding goals and the story we’re telling and used that to propel our time together. The walker added specificity and informed the story of these headshots. Through an extremely fun shoot with music blasting and open communication, we were both thrilled with the shots we got.

 

I like this accessory but I’m not sure if I should use it.

This category includes things we may wear as a part of our daily lives but has traditionally been thought as extraneous and unnecessary in a “formal headshot.” Things such as hats, watches, gloves, glasses (those blue blockers you got for Zoom), etc. Of course we may not want to be wearing a beanie for our Christine Daae submission headshot (although that is a production I would pay to see) - but having these options available will add great specificity to your looks if it informs your branding goals.

For example, hands are often a tricky element to incorporate into a headshot. If they don’t insinuate an action, they draw attention in a negative way. By slapping on a watch, not only is it a nice way to complete a look for a procedural type shot, it gives new ways to imply action in our headshots.

 
 

In this shot , Kevin has looked up from his watch. Maybe he’s late for a meeting. Maybe he’s a spy with a small time window for a successful mission! What drew his attention? What’s the story here? These are the shots that will make a casting director think,

Hm. Something is happening here…

And then click to find out more.

 

Sometimes, especially if it is your first time getting professional headshots done, it can help you to bring a comfort accessory - something from your everyday life that feels familiar - even though you may not think it has its place in your branding. I was once doing headshots for a senior showcase group and early into one session with a student I asked them if they wear beanies. Their face lit up they said, “Yes! Every day!” I asked them to run and grab some and the energy of our shoot changed. They seemed at home with such a minor change, their looks felt more cohesive and more truthful to the actor. Even taking the beanie off for the last few shots, the energy still remained comfortable and familiar - a huge change from the start of the shoot.

So… what should I bring?

I always suggest leaning on the side of over-preparation. If you like it, bring it! I talk this way about outfit options, layers, and accessories are no different. There is obviously no need to pack your entire wardrobe into a trunk to accompany you to your headshots. But if you think to yourself this might be interesting… bring it along and we can have a conversation about it. When you approach headshot preparation from the perspective of storytelling (Who am I? What’s the story?) and away from a perspective of expectation (Who am I expected to be?) these decisions become much easier and the process becomes much less stressful.

 
Kyle Watkins