What are good casting photos and what are the differences internationally?
In General
A good casting photo (headshot) should:
Accurately represent you: No heavy makeup or jewelry, and definitely no filters or Photoshop. The photo should look like you do in real life.
Eyes in focus: Your eyes are the most important feature. They should be sharp and expressive.
Neutral background: Avoid any distracting elements.
Good lighting: Natural or professional lighting, without shadows on your face.
High resolution: Do not use blurry photos or selfies.
Neutral clothing: Avoid patterns, bright colors, or logos.
Often, you will need multiple types of photos:
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Portrait (headshot): From shoulders to the top of the head, with a neutral expression or a slight open smile.
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Midshot: From the head down to roughly the waist.
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Full body: The entire body is visible.
🇳🇱 The Netherlands
Casual, natural: The Dutch style is down-to-earth. No glamorous photos, so keep clothing and makeup simple and jewelry minimal.
Neutral expression or with a slight open smile.
Variations: Portrait, midshot, full body. Update regularly (every year).
A plain T-shirt or shirt on a gray or white background works well.
🇧🇪 Belgium
Two variants: Flanders and Wallonia.
In Flanders, the style is closer to the Dutch style.
In Wallonia, it leans more toward the French style: more artistic, but still natural.
Casting directors value personality in your eyes.
🇩🇪 Germany
Tighter and more technical: Headshots are often very sharp and well-lit.
Many actors have a set of multiple photos: neutral, businesslike, expressive.
Lighting can be slightly more dramatic than in the Netherlands.
Format and composition sometimes follow stricter guidelines (e.g., 3:4 ratio).
🇬🇧 England
Highly professional: Often taken by specialized headshot photographers.
On the main platform Spotlight, they primarily want portrait photos with subtle variations.
For theatre, often black-and-white headshots; for film/TV, in color.
Theatrical background: Strong focus on the eyes, dramatic yet realistic.
🇺🇸 United States
Industry-focused: Much more specific per type (comedy, drama, commercials).
Full color, always sharp.
Styling is more important, but you still need to remain recognizable.
They often expect more variety (outfits, settings); photos can be more cinematic and in character.
Two standard types:
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Theatrical headshot (for film/TV): Serious, neutral background.
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Commercial headshot: Friendly, often with a smile.
What they say on Spotlight (UK):
What they say on Backstage (US):
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