Can Acting Headshots Be Black And White?

Can acting headshots be black and white? Or should I go for the colored headshots?

Well, why not? They can be black and white, especially when the casting director or specific profession demands so. If the project too is going o shot in monochrome colors, it is best idea to provide black and white acting headshots.

In this guide, I’ll discuss each scenario, the advantages, and the disadvantages of using black and white acting headshots.

Can Acting Headshots Be Black And White?

A headshot represents you as a professional. At first hand, you should always keep in mind what the profession demands. So, I’d suggest you do some research about the job or role you’re sending your headshots for. It can be for modeling, acting, anchoring, and advertisement, etc. It’s because most of the time, the entertainment industries demand colored headshots, and you’ve to consider it as well. Although there is not much definitive answer to can acting headshots be black and white?

Ideally, a good acting headshot is defined by certain crucial factors. Thus, you must remember that your professional card is the most important and should reflect things such as good lighting on your face, absence of any dramatic shadows, or any other kind of messy element. When I take headshots, I usually keep some of them in black and white, not because the industry demands, but they look pretty amazing. 

It is the modern era, and I have heard questions on black and white acting headshots. Let’s dive into the evolution of color digital photography to know why most people don’t consider using black and white acting headshots.

The resolution for digital photos has improved drastically since the 1950s when digital photography comes into place. Then, the first DSLR was invented in 1986. Thus, it’s pretty commendable since the past decade that digital photography resolution improvement and the DSLR became superior to the colored world. 

Consequently, the expectations for contrast, sharpness, and color accuracy have also increased. And, this was the main reason behind the fading away of black and white photography. However, I’ll also recall some professions or industries where black and white acting headshots still dominate. 

As a model, business executive, or actor, you must represent an accurate picture of yourself in the headshot, as I’ve already discussed above as well. This black and white acting headshot, in my opinion, can’t represent you completely. 

With such headshots, the guessing game is quite long and extreme as the other person or casting director can’t know about the exact color of a person’s hairs, clothes, and other important specs. Yet, you can submit black and white headshots along with the colored ones. There’s an issue with that as a reference to the essential details fetched from your other images. 

In terms of technical jargon, black and white photography is also referred to as monochrome photography. In monochrome photography, the hues come in colors such as black, white, cyan, sepia, or brown, etc. So, they are almost similar hues to black and white. 

Can Acting Headshots Be Black And White In Monochrome Photography?

Yes, they have to be black and white here, of course! 

Overall, the gist is that using black and white acting headshots is wholly dependent upon your marketing profession’s color scheme. In such cases, you can even apply this specific theme in lifestyle photography as well. And, I usually do the opposite.

I employ a black and white theme for lifestyle photography and use color headshots to represent accuracy. 

Although black and photography are also enriched with great history, one of the famous personalities used to dominate this black and white photography session is Ansel Adams. 

And, one another, I can count upon is Henri Cartier-Bresson. These two names are worth considering if you’re looking for great inspiration for black and white yet artistic photography. 

Also Read: How Much Do Acting Headshots Cost?

How To Make Headshots Black And White?

As a budding thespian, it may be pretty hectic to create professional black and white acting headshots. 

Before you go and create a beautiful black and white headshot for your next pitch, here are some tips for incorporating such acting headshots.

• You must clearly understand the difference between black and white portrait photography and black and white acting headshot photography. These two are different, guys!
• It could be better to start with colored photography and then transform it to a black and white acting headshot after selecting the best hue.
• Take images with good exposure and contrast to take a sound output even after basic retouching.
• Avoid shooting images that you need to crop down afterward. Instead, you must make its composition as close as possible so that you can have a more extensive and rich image.
• You can use fill to control the contrast.
• Practice a lot about the lighting session as it can either ruin or better your image session.
• Try to minimize the entire frame, including background, clothing subject, and other elements in your photo.
• Expression and representation of your eyes are more important than ever, even here.

Want To Be A Professional Player Of Black And White Photography?

If yes, stay tuned until the last of this guide, as I will curate some essential aspects of how to take black and white acting headshots.

1. Texture

The texture is quite a necessary component of black and white photography, I feel that! It’s because this kind of photography is more of a form dependent than anything else! How can you maximize the impact of texture in your image?

I generally do this by adding texture to the background, clothes, hair and then contrasting all these things with the matching contrast. So, that’s the game you’ve to play for as well! Play a bit with the clothes, hairstyle, and posture to determine what works best for you.

2. Background

Don’t be that guy who makes little to no effort to create awesome backgrounds. For backgrounds, the white color seems to be a kind of norm with lots of studio photographers. 

So, I always used to experiment with different backgrounds other than the white ones. The gist is to always go for an exciting background, such as the wooden indoors and going for average plain backgrounds. 

3. Hide Certain Features

As an actor, I know that every photoshoot session is going to have some vanity involved which you’ll have to adjust for. In my case, this vanity is always my hair cuts. Most of the time, I don’t like how my hair looks up in the pictures. And, this is the reason my photographer got frustrated taking more and more shots while trying to adjust the hair angles. Well, the issue here is to hide certain features which you can do by casting some shadows or keeping the subject in the majority of the limelight by letting it stand out from the background. 

4. Lighting

For the unimaginative setting, it’s the lighting that plays a major role. The lighting is what is called the biggest part of every successful shoot session. And, this is the reason I keep experimenting with my shoots with different lighting tools available for the purpose. For instance, there’s a tool called a beauty dish which is offered with a grid and is a lighting modifier commonly used while shooting models due to its flattering outcomes. And, it’s the utmost creative tool I’ve ever used, I must say! In case the grid is not provided, I’ll attach it myself so that the lighting goes forward on all acting headshots rather than the side.

Another thing you can do along with is to set up the camera in manual mode and shoot only with this flashlight for accurate results. 

5. Certain post-production tasks

There are certain post-production responsibilities you’ve to do, especially when it’s a shoot for black and white acting headshots. As already referred, you must shoot in color and RAW while taking black and white pictures. And, don’t forget to be creative in black and white post-production sessions as it will be much easier to hide your techniques such as boosting the contrast, etc. 

When To Use Black And White Headshots?

Well, there are very rare occasions for which you can only send black and white acting headshots. To start with, you can use them as a part of your acting portfolio.

Also Read: How To Make A Portfolio For Acting?

Then, you can use them for specific auditions where instructions are clearly laid down regarding the inconsideration of a person’s color features.

In these shoots, they are mostly looking for the structure rather than the color. Undoubtedly, you can use them as black and white portraits, which is a bit different from acting headshots for the reason of being personal rather than a professional portfolio. 

Final Thoughts

So, these were my overall thoughts on ‘Can acting headshots be black and white?’ Hopefully, you will check the scenario such as instructions and other guidelines before sending just black and white acting headshots. However, they can definitely be a part of your portfolio as this black and white color is super attractive and looks kind of unique as well.