What's the difference between Theatrical and Commercial Headshots
What’s the difference between Theatrical and Commercial Headshots
Theatrical Headshot vs Commercial Headshot
After reading this you’ll easily know the difference between a theatrical and commercial acting headshots.
It's time to get new headshots and your agent ask you get a theatrical shot and a commercial shot. You don't want to appear stupid so you smile, and say thanks. Now it's up to you to figure out what to do.
I'm going to help you understand the difference between a theatrical headshot and a commercial headshot.
The Theatrical Acting Headshot
This is your serious shot. Think of it as the headshot of a serious actor. It can be divided into two areas that make it a theatrical headshot. Wardrobe and Expression.
THEATRICAL ACTING HEADSHOT WARDROBE
What you're wearing is very important. Your clothes and wardrobe should come across as something serious. Go with colors that make a serious statement. That would be blacks, browns, navy blue or other dark colors.
Your choice of clothing must also be serious. You don't want to wear something frivolous or fluffy or cute. I don’t think it would be a good idea to wear suspenders and a pink shirt in your theatrical headshot.
Colors to stay away from are the lighter colors, the pinks and pastel colors, anything that doesn't look too serious.
THEATRICAL ACTING HEADSHOT EXPRESSION
When you're getting your photos taken, it's important to have the correct serious expression for a theatrical headshot.
This expression consists of engaging serious eye contact. A good way to do this is to consider the smize. This is a small squint where you actually push the bottom eyelid up instead of squinting the top eyelid down. This gives you that serious connected eye contact with the viewer of your headshot. Add to this a very slight smile. This will keep you from looking too angry or pissed off. Feel free to practice this in the mirror.
The Commercial Acting Headshot
The commercial acting headshot follows a similar formula to the theatrical acting headshot.
It's what you're wearing and the expression on your face.
COMMERCIAL ACTING HEADSHOT WARDROBE
For the commercial acting headshot you should wear colors that are more colorful and fun. Any color that brings a light friendly bright happy attitude with it. These should also not be pastels. Think, blue red, yellow any color with a pop
Your choice of wardrobe should also be less serious. You don't want to wear a black leather jacket in a commercial acting headshot. Instead wear a colorful hoodie or a denim jacket with a colorful T shirt underneath.
COMMERCIAL ACTING HEADSHOT EXPRESSION
Your expression should also be more friendly in nature. A nice smile or relax expression that tells people you're a friendly person.
It's really that simple, just have your clothing and your expression appropriate for either a theatrical headshot or a commercial headshot.
Now go out there and get those new headshots with confidence.