When I decided to update my headshots, I told myself it was just a refresh. New year, new headshots, new me.
It turned out to be a lot more useful than that.
The problem with going in with a fixed inspiration
Last time I booked an actor headshot session in Leeds, I arrived with screenshots. I had a very specific idea of the look I wanted. Cool girl. Editorial. Bright and perfectly vintage. On someone else, it looked incredible.
But when we started shooting in that direction, something felt off. Not wrong exactly — just not quite right. The images looked like me trying to be someone I'd admired rather than just being myself.
That's the thing about inspiration photos. They're someone else's casting lane. Their colouring. Their bone structure. Their natural energy. Trying to replicate the exact look felt forced in a way I couldn't fully articulate at the time, but can see clearly now when I look back at those images.
What experimenting with studio lighting actually taught me
This time, instead of locking into one idea, we experimented. That's one of the things that makes shooting at Dock Street Studio in Leeds genuinely useful — there's enough space, equipment, and time in a session to actually try things rather than commit to one setup and hope for the best.
We tried different lighting setups. Softer and brighter. Moodier and side-lit. We played with backgrounds and switched wardrobe mid-shoot. Even small changes made a noticeable difference.
Under darker, higher-contrast lighting, I looked more guarded than I actually am. My features read harder. It wasn't a bad look — it just didn't feel aligned with how I come across in a room.
Under very bright, airy lighting, I felt washed out. There's nothing wrong with that aesthetic. It just didn't feel like me.
When we shifted into clearer, more natural light, everything softened in the right way. My eyes were easier to read. My expression felt open. The images stopped looking posed and started looking like moments.
"Once I let the inspiration photo go and responded to what actually suited me, the session felt lighter."
Why wardrobe matters more than most actors realise
This time, I chose pieces that genuinely felt like something I'd wear. Clean lines. Simple colours. Nothing distracting. Previously, I'd chosen clothes that looked striking, but I wasn't completely comfortable in them. You can see that discomfort in small ways — the way you adjust your shoulders, hold tension across your chest, shift slightly without realising.
When you feel like yourself in what you're wearing, your body relaxes. And a relaxed body photographs completely differently to a tense one.
It sounds obvious when you write it out. But in practice, a lot of actors — myself included, clearly — choose headshot wardrobe based on what looks good in isolation rather than what feels good on them. The distinction matters more than you'd think. (Mark has written more on this in the studio's guide to what to wear for headshots.)
Makeup for actor headshots: the 'recognisable' principle
Makeup was another adjustment. We kept it as natural as possible this time — lighter base, softer eyes, less obvious shaping. The goal wasn't glamorous, and it wasn't the prettiest version of my face. It was just recognisable.
I wanted casting directors to see someone they'd actually meet in an audition room. But on a good day.
That shift alone made me more comfortable during the shoot. And comfort shows on camera more than almost anything else.
What actually changed — and what I'd do differently next time
The difference between my old and new headshots isn't dramatic. It's subtle. The newer ones feel more like me. Less effort. Less trying to project something I thought I should be.
More presence.
If I'd gone in with the same fixed inspiration photo, I'd probably have come out with technically better versions of the same problem. The most useful thing I did this time was stay open — to trying things, to being directed, to letting go of the reference image when it stopped serving me.
That openness is also what makes a good headshot session feel like a collaboration rather than just a transaction. The photographer needs to be able to say 'let's try something', and you need to trust them enough to go with it. At Dock Street Studio, that dynamic felt natural from the start. There was enough time and space in the session to actually find the image rather than just execute a plan.
That's the thing about actor headshots that no one really tells you clearly enough: the best ones rarely come from the clearest brief. They come from being willing to discover something in the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare for an actor headshot session?
Come rested, hydrated and with a couple of wardrobe options you genuinely feel comfortable in rather than pieces chosen only because they look striking. Keep makeup natural and recognisable. Most importantly, stay open — the strongest headshots often come from experimenting in the session rather than locking into one fixed reference image. You can read the studio's full guide to preparing for actor headshots for more.
What should I wear for actor headshots?
Choose clean lines and simple, solid colours in pieces that feel like you. Avoid busy patterns, large logos and anything you have to keep adjusting — discomfort shows on camera. When you feel like yourself in what you're wearing, your body relaxes and it reads completely differently in the final images.
How much do actor headshots cost in Leeds?
Headshot sessions at Dock Street Studio range between £95 and £200 depending on session time, image output and setups. Visit the headshot photography page for details or get in touch to discuss your needs.
Are the images suitable for Spotlight and casting profiles?
Yes. Actor and performer headshots are shot with clean, controlled lighting and casting-appropriate retouching, and delivered as high-resolution digital files suitable for Spotlight, casting platforms and portfolios.
Can I try different looks in one session?
Absolutely — and it's encouraged. There's enough time, space and equipment in a session to test different lighting setups, backgrounds and wardrobe changes, so you leave with images that genuinely suit you rather than a single fixed result.
How do I book an actor headshot session in Leeds?
You can book a session directly on the website, email mark@isophotographic.org, or call 0113 4400102. Every session starts with a short chat so we can plan around what you need.
A note from Dock Street Studio
Everything Nicole describes — the experimentation, the lighting tests, the wardrobe changes mid-session — is exactly how Mark approaches every actor headshot session at Dock Street Studio in central Leeds. There's no single setup, no conveyor belt, no fixed result. Each session is built around the person in front of the camera. If you're due a refresh or booking your first professional headshots in Leeds, that's the kind of session we'd offer you.
Book your actor headshot session at Dock Street Studio, Leeds: book online or visit dockstreetstudioleeds.co.uk.
About the author
Nicole Sheyni
Actor • Copywriter • Lighting assistant & guest writer, Dock Street Studio Leeds
Nicole is a working actor and copywriter based in Leeds. She is part of the Dock Street Studio team, contributing guest articles that draw on lived experience in auditions, casting, and professional practice. Her writing is aimed at actors navigating the realities of building a career in a competitive industry.