How To Take Kids Acting Headshots
Kids Headshot Guide
Here's the kids acting headshot guide to go over with your child actor.
Today I'm taking head shots of my nephew Jace who is 9 years old. Acting headshots for kids are not much different than they are for adults, but there are some things you should know before bringing your kid to their next headshot session. Whether it's a boy or girl, you want to make sure to get them a fresh and clean haircut to prepare for their session.
How To Prepare For Kids Headshots
So I took Jace to get a nice cut that leaves him some length so that his hair has texture and movement. Then we went to H and M to buy clothes he can wear.
Kids Headshots Clothing
You want to find simple plain clothing that is vibrant and has a lot of color with no designs, unnecessary patterns or distractions.
In kids headshots, you'll always find more color than dark colors even for theatrical. So the more color options, the better. I opted for two layered shirts with an undershirt and a sweater because I like the colors.
2. How To Prepare For Childrens Headshots
You want to ensure to prep your kids beforehand by teaching them the following:
1. to stare directly into the lens and to not look anywhere else.
2. Teach them what different emotions and facial expressions mean so they understand the different looks to give like sad, happy, candid laugh, mean, arrogant, intellect and pure or puppy dog eyes.
3. tell them that they're going to be sitting or standing in one place the entire time. So make sure they don't squirm around a lot and can sit up straight with their head tilted slightly down.
4. Personality is everything. You want to make sure that your kid actor shows as much personality as they possibly can and that it translates well in their photos. Other than that headshot session, at least with me, it's supposed to be fun for kids. If you as their parent prep them before the shoot then we can knock out their images fast.
Updating Kids Headshots
One thing to know about child actors is that they frequently need to update their headshots every single year and sometimes even twice a year since they're constantly changing. Here are Jace’s headshots from when he was five years old and here are his new updated headshots at nine years old. He does a great job giving different facial expressions which shows the different kinds of characters he can play.
And this is exactly what you want out of your childrens headshots. So if you follow this guide then your kids next acting headshots will be quick and painless.
How To Get Childrens Headshots
If you want to make your child a star and get them high quality kids headshots, you can book a session on my Kids Headshots Page. You can also call me directly using the button below.