What is a casting agent looking for in a headshot?

1. The headshot has to be in color. Black and white images are outdated.
2. You should look like yourself on a regular weekday.
3. Keep your make up and styling to a minimum so it doesn't call attention to itself.
4. The picture shouldn't be cropped too tight. It's okay to crop the head at the top slightly but some of the torso should be visible.
5. Your headshot should be taken at eye level to create an honest and undistorted look.
6. Keep your hands away from your face. Your face should be the "star" and nothing else.
7. 8x10 is the industry standard size for headshots (preferably portrait orientation).
8. Staple your resume on the back of your headshot in all four corners (back to back).
9. Your headshot can have a border or it can be full bleed, it doesn't matter.
10. You should look confident and inviting.

How to look good in photos

1. Try not to focus too much on how you look. Do you ever really focus in your everyday life on how your face looks like at any given moment?
2. It's important that you avoid a double chin, therefore try to move your forehead towards the camera in order to elongate your neckt and getting rid of a double chin and wrinkles on your neck.
3. Make direct eye contact with the camera.
4. Angle your head slightly to hide asymmetrical features of your face. The left side of the face is for most people the better side.
5. Squint very slightly to give your expression confidence.
6. Unless you have naturally a great smile that comes effortlessly while being photographed, it's better not to smile at all, relax your jaw and keep your lips soft.

Check out Peter Hurley's video and hear him talk about squinting/squinching:

http://www.youtube.com/user/peterhurleyphoto