Everything You Need to Know Before Your Session
Most actors spend more time worrying about their headshot session than preparing for it. That changes here. This guide covers everything that actually matters before you walk into the studio — wardrobe, skin and hair, mindset, what to bring, what to expect, and how to make sure every minute of your session produces images you can actually use. Read this once before your session and you will show up more prepared than most working actors.
This guide is written specifically for actors preparing for sessions at Actor Headshot Studio in St. Louis. If you have questions after reading, call Rez directly at 314-221-2166 — we would rather answer your questions before the session than have you show up unprepared.
Wardrobe — The Biggest Variable You Control
Your wardrobe is the single biggest variable in your session that you have complete control over before you arrive. Get it right and everything else becomes easier. Get it wrong and even perfect lighting and expression coaching cannot fully rescue the image. Here are the rules that matter.
The Universal Rules for Every Headshot Look
Solid colors almost always win. Patterns, stripes, checks, and prints draw the eye away from your face — which is the subject of a headshot, not your shirt. Solid colors keep the focus where it belongs. The only exception is a subtle texture like a fine knit or a textured jacket, which can add visual depth without competing with your expression.
Fit matters more than style. A well-fitting plain t-shirt in the right color will outperform an expensive trendy top that doesn’t sit correctly on your body. Clothes should be comfortable enough that you forget you’re wearing them — if you’re tugging, adjusting, or self-conscious about how something fits, the camera catches it.
Avoid logos, graphics, and text completely. Anything with writing or a brand mark on it dates your image instantly and signals amateur to a casting director. Even subtle logos are distracting at close crop.
Bring more than you think you need. We recommend 4 to 6 complete looks — more than your package requires. Having options in the studio means we can make real-time decisions based on what reads best on camera for your specific coloring and casting type. You can always not use something you brought. You cannot use something you left in the car.
Steam or iron everything before you arrive. Wrinkles are one of the most common retouching requests and one of the easiest things to prevent. A travel steamer costs $25 and is worth every dollar on session day.
Wardrobe for Commercial Looks
Commercial headshots are built on warmth, openness, and immediate likability. Your wardrobe should support that energy — not fight it.
Colors that work well for commercial: Bright jewel tones — teal, cobalt blue, coral, warm red, emerald green. Medium blues and warm grays. Anything that photographs as clean and current without being aggressive or cold.
Colors to avoid for commercial: All black (reads flat and serious in commercial contexts), very pale neutrals that blend into common backgrounds, highly saturated neons.
Styles that work: For men — a solid fitted crew neck, a casual button-down open at the collar, a clean polo, a light sweater. For women — a fitted scoop or V-neck top, a clean blouse with a simple neckline, a structured but approachable top. Nothing overly formal or costume-like.
Wardrobe for Theatrical Looks
Theatrical headshots convey depth, seriousness, and emotional range. Your wardrobe should match that energy — it should feel like the person who plays complex, interesting roles.
Colors that work well for theatrical: Deep navy, charcoal, burgundy, forest green, warm brown, muted olive. Dark tones with some depth and texture read dramatically without being costume-like.
Layers and texture add value here. A jacket over a henley, a textured blazer, a cardigan with some visual weight — these add dimension to a theatrical image in a way that a plain t-shirt does not. You are not trying to suggest a specific character, but you want the image to have some visual complexity.
Styles that work: For men — a fitted dark henley or long-sleeve shirt, a structured jacket or blazer, layered textures. For women — a dark fitted top or blouse, a jacket or structured cardigan, something with a neckline that frames the face rather than covering it entirely.
What to Bring — The Packing Checklist
- 4 to 6 complete outfit looks — more than your package requires
- A full-length mirror check before you leave the house
- Steamed and pressed clothing — no wrinkles
- Backup versions of your top choices in case of travel wrinkles
- Any jewelry or accessories you want to consider — bring them and we will decide together
- Hair products you might need for touch-ups between looks
- Any makeup you want available for touch-ups
- A bottle of water — sessions are active and you want to be hydrated
- Lip balm — not for shine, just so your lips don’t feel dry and distract you
Skin, Hair & Grooming — What to Do in the Days Before Your Session
Most skin and hair preparation happens in the days before your session, not the morning of. Here is what actually makes a difference.
Skin Preparation
3 to 5 days before: If you are going to get a facial, do it now — not the day before. Facials can cause temporary redness and minor breakouts that need a few days to settle. Same rule applies to any new skincare products — do not introduce anything new to your skin routine in the week before your session.
The night before: Get a full night of sleep. This is not optional advice — it is the single most visible thing you can do for your skin. Dark circles, puffiness, and a dull complexion are all direct results of poor sleep and they photograph clearly. Drink water, avoid alcohol, and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
The morning of: Moisturize. Even if you never moisturize normally — do it on session day. Dry skin shows texture and unevenness under studio lighting that disappears when the skin is hydrated. Keep it simple — your normal moisturizer works fine.
Makeup for women: Natural and current. The goal is to look like yourself on your best day — not like you’re going to a formal event. Avoid heavy contouring, very dark lips, or dramatic eye makeup unless that is genuinely your everyday look and supports your casting type. Matte or satin finishes photograph better than high-shine products.
Makeup for men: If you don’t normally wear makeup, you don’t need to start for your session. If shine is a concern — and it often is under studio lighting — a light mattifying product or simple powder is completely normal and many male clients use it. We have powder available in the studio if needed.
Hair
Get any haircut or color done 5 to 7 days before your session — not the day before. Fresh cuts and color look different after a few days of natural settling and washing, and you want your hair to look like your hair, not like you just came from the salon.
Style your hair the way you actually wear it. Your headshot needs to look like you on a normal good day — not a special occasion version of you. Casting directors need to recognize you in the audition room from your submission photo. If you straighten your hair every day, straighten it. If you wear it natural, wear it natural. Do not debut a new hairstyle for your headshot session.
Avoid overly stiff or heavy products that make hair look plastic or unnatural under studio lighting. Light hold products work best. If you use hairspray, use it sparingly.
The Part Most Actors Don’t Think About
The actors who get the best images are not the ones with the most experience in front of a camera. They are the ones who arrive settled, focused, and ready to be directed — rather than anxious, self-conscious, and in their own head. Here is how to show up in the right state.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 10 minutes before your session starts. Not rushing through traffic with two minutes to spare. Give yourself enough time to get in the building, take your coat off, and take a few actual breaths before we start. The first five minutes of a session when someone is still mentally in their car are rarely the best five minutes of images.
Eat Beforehand
Do not come to your session hungry. A headshot session is mentally and physically more active than most people expect — you are using your face, your body, and your emotional attention for an extended period. Low blood sugar produces a flatness in the eyes that no amount of direction can fully fix. Eat a real meal at least an hour before you arrive.
Know Your Casting Type Coming In
You do not need to arrive with a complete strategic vision, but you should have a loose sense of the roles you are most consistently pursuing. Commercial? Theatrical? Film and TV? Are you going for the lead or the interesting character? The more specific you can be about your goals, the more efficiently we can build your looks around actual submission opportunities rather than generic variety.
If you are not sure, that is fine — we will figure it out together in the first few minutes of the session. But thinking about it before you arrive is worth the ten minutes.
Give Yourself Permission to Not Be Perfect
The best acting headshots do not come from people trying to look perfect. They come from people who are genuinely present, open to direction, and willing to try things that might feel awkward for a moment. The expression coaching we do in the studio is specifically designed to get you out of your head and into something real. Your job is to stay in the room, follow the direction, and trust the process. Rez has photographed hundreds of actors who walked in saying they hate having their photo taken and walked out with images they genuinely love.
What to Expect When You Arrive
Here is the exact sequence of what happens at your Actor Headshot Studio session so there are no surprises.
Step 1 — Welcome and Goals Conversation (5–10 minutes) You arrive, get settled, and we spend a few minutes talking through your goals, your casting priorities, and the looks you brought. This is where we decide the order of your outfits and make any final wardrobe calls together. If you have questions, this is the time.
Step 2 — First Look Setup (5 minutes) You change into your first outfit and we set up the lighting for your coloring and the casting type of that particular look. If you need a mirror for any last-minute touch-ups, it is available.
Step 3 — Shooting Each Look (15–25 minutes per look) We shoot each look until we have strong options — not a fixed number of frames. Rez will direct you through specific expressions and emotional states for each look. You will hear specific direction, not vague instructions like “look natural.” If something isn’t working, we adjust. If something is working great, we push further into it.
Step 4 — Outfit Change and Repeat Between looks you change outfits, do any touch-ups needed, and we reset for the next casting type. The pacing is comfortable — you are never rushed through a look.
Step 5 — Same-Day Image Review After the final look is shot, you sit at a large monitor and review your images from the full session. You choose your favorites for retouching. This is included in every session. You walk out knowing exactly what you are getting.
Step 6 — Delivery Within 24–48 Hours Your selected images are retouched and delivered in high resolution within 24 to 48 hours — formatted for Actors Access, Casting Networks, Backstage, agency submissions, and print.
More Preparation Resources
This guide covers the essentials. For more detail on specific topics, the following resources go deeper:
Wardrobe guide for acting headshots — full detail: A complete breakdown of colors, fabrics, necklines, and outfit combinations by headshot type, with specific guidance for men and women separately. → Wardrobe Tips for Acting Headshots — Shari Photography
Acting headshots page — what we create and who it’s for: Full detail on commercial, theatrical, film/TV, and teen headshots — including the St. Louis theatre companies and casting platforms we regularly photograph for. → Acting Headshots St. Louis — Actor Headshot Studio
Pricing and session options: The two session packages with full inclusions listed — so you know exactly what you are booking before you arrive. → Acting Headshot Pricing — Actor Headshot Studio
Preparation Questions — Answered
How far in advance should I prepare for my session?
Start thinking about wardrobe at least a week out — not the night before. Wash and steam your clothing a few days ahead. Get any haircuts or color done 5 to 7 days before. The morning of the session should be calm, not a scramble.
How many outfits should I bring?
Bring 4 to 6 complete looks regardless of which session package you booked. Having more options in the studio means better decisions in the moment. You can always leave outfits in your bag — you cannot create a look you did not bring.
Should I get my hair and makeup professionally done before the session?
It is not required and most clients do not. If you choose to get professional hair and makeup done, schedule it 2 to 3 hours before your session — not immediately before — so it has time to settle into something that looks like you rather than like you just sat in a makeup chair. If you are unsure, call us and we can advise based on your specific goals.
Can I bring someone with me to the session?
Yes. You are welcome to bring a support person — a friend, a manager, a parent if you are a young performer. We ask that they stay in the waiting area during the actual shooting portion of the session so the studio energy stays focused. For teen and young performer sessions, a parent or guardian is required to be present for the full session.
What if I am extremely nervous or have never done a professional shoot before?
That is completely normal and we hear it constantly. Our entire approach is built around making the session feel manageable for people who are not comfortable in front of a camera. Rez will walk you through every expression, every look, and every moment of the session. You do not need experience — you just need to show up. The direction handles the rest.
Do I need to do anything specific to prepare my skin the night before?
Moisturize, drink water, avoid alcohol, and get a full night of sleep. Those four things will do more for your skin on session day than any product. If you are prone to redness or breakouts, avoid introducing any new skincare products in the week before your session.
Ready to Book Your St. Louis Acting Headshot Session?
Sessions are available 7 days a week — weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Spring and fall audition seasons book quickly. If you have an upcoming deadline, call us directly and we will do everything we can to get you in on time.
Phone line: Or call Rez directly: 314-221-2166
Email- contact@shariphotography.com
Studio address: 📍 5205 Gravois Ave · Bevo Mill District · St. Louis, MO 63116 · Open 7 Days a Week
