The most common headshot mistakes and how to fix them
Small mistakes that read amateur, and how to fix them.
6 min read
The mistakes nobody tells you about
Most actors know the obvious headshot rules: no selfies, no cropped vacation photos, no distracting backgrounds. But there's a tier of subtler mistakes that separate working actors from everyone else.
These mistakes don't scream "amateur." They whisper it. And casting directors hear every whisper.
Mistake #1: The over-retouched photo
Retouching should be invisible. The goal is to look like yourself on your best day, not like a wax figure.
What goes wrong: skin smoothed to the point of looking plastic, every line and pore erased, eyes whitened and teeth bleached beyond reality. The overall effect lands in uncanny valley territory.
Why it costs you auditions: Casting directors meet you in person (or see you on self-tape). If you look 40 in the room and 28 in your headshot, trust is broken. They wonder what else you're misrepresenting.
The fix: Work with a retoucher who understands actor headshots. Some smoothing is fine. Removing a temporary blemish is fine. But your skin should have texture. Your smile lines should exist if you have them.
Mistake #2: The wrong expression
Your expression is doing more work than you realize. And many actors get it wrong.
What goes wrong: the forced smile (mouth smiles, eyes don't), the "trying to look intense" face (comes across as constipated), the blank stare (no inner life, no engagement), the "model pose" (too polished, reads as fake).
Why it costs you auditions: Casting is looking for real people they can imagine in roles. A wrong expression makes you look like you're playing a character called "actor with headshot" instead of an actual person.
The fix: Work with a photographer who can direct you. The best expressions usually come from a thought or memory, not from trying to pose. Think about something real. Let your face respond naturally. The camera captures thought, so think something specific.
Mistake #3: Wardrobe that fights for attention
Your face should be the star. But many actors let their clothing upstage them.
What goes wrong: busy patterns (stripes, plaids, complex prints), logos or text visible, trendy pieces that date the photo quickly, necklines that don't flatter or distract from the face, jewelry that catches light or draws the eye.
Why it costs you auditions: When casting glances at your thumbnail, they should see your face first. Distracting clothing creates visual noise. It makes your photo harder to "read" quickly, and quick reads are all you get.
The fix: Solid colors, simple necklines, minimal accessories. Your wardrobe should support your face, not compete with it. When in doubt, go simpler.
Mistake #4: Wrong lighting for the type
Lighting is part of your casting message.
What goes wrong: dramatic theatrical lighting on a commercial shot (feels too moody), flat commercial lighting on a theatrical shot (feels too bland), harsh shadows in the wrong places, overly dark or overly bright exposure.
Why it costs you auditions: Lighting creates mood. If your lighting doesn't match the world of roles you're pursuing, your photo sends mixed signals. Casting doesn't consciously think "the lighting is wrong." They just feel that something's off.
The fix: Know what you're shooting for before the session. Discuss lighting with your photographer. Look at examples of headshots that book the kinds of roles you want. Match that energy.
Mistake #5: Not looking like yourself
This encompasses many smaller mistakes: hair styled differently than you'd wear it to an audition, makeup heavier (or more editorial) than everyday, a "photoshoot version" of yourself that doesn't match reality.
What goes wrong: hair perfectly styled when you normally wear it casual, makeup that's more "glam" than you'd wear to a callback, styling that represents who you want to be rather than who you are, any element that makes you look noticeably different in person.
Why it costs you auditions: When you walk into the room, casting compares you to your headshot instantly. Any mismatch creates a speed bump. Enough speed bumps and you're out before you've read a line.
The fix: Style yourself for headshots the way you'd style yourself for an audition. If you wouldn't walk into the room with full stage makeup, don't wear it for your photo. The headshot makes a promise. Keep it.
Mistake #6: The outdated photo
We covered this in detail elsewhere, but it bears repeating: your headshot should look like you today.
What goes wrong: using shots from five-plus years ago, ignoring weight changes or hair changes or aging, holding onto a "great photo" that no longer represents you.
Why it costs you auditions: Casting remembers. Agents remember. If you show up looking different from your photo, you've already lost credibility. The conversation shifts from your talent to your judgment.
The fix: Update when you need to update. Be honest with yourself. Ask people who will tell you the truth.
Mistake #7: Wrong framing and cropping
Headshots have standard framing expectations. Deviating too far creates problems.
What goes wrong: too tight (just face, feels claustrophobic), too wide (too much body, loses intimacy), awkward crops (cutting at strange points), or being off-center without intention.
Casting expects a certain format, messing this up will cost you auditions! When your photo breaks that format without reason, it reads as unprofessional. It's like showing up to an audition in costume when they asked for casual.
Standard headshot framing is roughly from mid-chest to slightly above the head, with some space around you. The focus should clearly be on your face. Your photographer should know this, but if they don't, find one who does.
Mistake #8: Choosing based on flattery, not casting
The headshot you think is most flattering might not be the one that books work.
What goes wrong: picking the photo where you look "prettiest" or "most handsome," choosing based on what friends and family like, ignoring the shots that feel more specific or character-forward, optimizing for Instagram likes rather than casting calls.
Why it costs you auditions: Casting is looking for the right person for a specific role, and a headshot with more character, more specificity, more "you-ness" often outperforms the generically flattering one.
The fix: Get feedback from people in the industry. Agents, managers, casting directors, working actors. Show your selects to people who understand what books, not just what looks nice.
The pattern behind all mistakes
Every mistake on this list comes from the same root cause: prioritizing the wrong thing.
Headshots are about looking like the best version of you, the version that books roles.
That requires honesty, specificity, and an understanding of what casting actually needs from your photo. Get those right, and the technical details follow.
The takeaway
Review your current headshot against this list. Be ruthless. If you're making any of these mistakes, fix them before you send another submission. The auditions you're not getting might be the ones these mistakes are costing you.