How to Prepare for Your Headshot & Studio Session

Get Ready for Your Close-Up

At Goat Imagery, we want you to walk away with more than just a "nice photo"—we want to capture a standout image that advances your career. To help us get that perfect shot, we need you to arrive ready.

Please read through our official Studio Prep Guide below before your session. It covers everything you need to know about wardrobe, grooming, and what to pack in your bag.

1. Wardrobe Guide: What to Wear

We want the Casting Director to look at your eyes, not read your t-shirt.

Fit is King: Wear clothes that fit you perfectly right now. Baggy clothes make you look wider and less polished on camera.
Keep it Solid: No busy patterns, no logos, no graphics. Solid colours are timeless and keep the focus on your expression.

Planning Your Looks: To ensure we cover your full range of "castability," please bring 3 distinct options:

Option A: The "Commercial" Look

The Vibe: High energy, friendly, trustworthy, warm (Think: The Best Friend, The Young Parent).
The Colors: Brights, pastels, or light neutrals.
The Clothes: T-shirts, soft sweaters, denim shirts, open necklines.

Option B: The "Theatrical" Look

The Vibe: Grounded, intelligent, gritty, or authoritative (Think: The Lawyer, The Detective, The Villain).
The Colors: Navy, Black, Forest Green, Charcoal, Earth Tones.
The Clothes: Leather jackets, blazers, stiff collars, dark layers.

Option C: The Wildcard

Your personal favourite or a specific character type you want to target.

2. Grooming & Hair

Hair Your hair in the photo must match your hair in real life. Wear it exactly how you would wear it to an audition. Please bring product to manage flyaways.

Makeup & Skin We aim for "You on your best day". Casting directors want to see your actual skin texture.

Avoid heavy contouring or anything too glam unless that is your specific character type.
Matte is Better: Studio strobes reflect oil, so avoid heavy shimmer or high-gloss products.

For Men (Facial Hair) If you want looks with and without stubble, bring your shaving kit. We will shoot the scruffy look first!

Glasses If you wear glasses to auditions, you need a headshot with them. Please ensure lenses are clean and, if possible, non-reflective.

3. Setting the Vibe

To ensure we capture your "castability," a little homework helps.

Reference Photos: Save 2-3 existing actor headshots you admire. This helps us decide on the mood (Moody/Dramatic vs. Bright/Commercial).
Music: We have speakers in the studio! If you need high-energy pop for your commercial shots or moody indie for your dramatic shots, have a playlist ready.

4. The "Day Of" Checklist

Here is what to bring in your bag to ensure the shoot goes smoothly:

Your 3 distinct outfits (ironed/steamed), avoid pure white where possible.
A hairbrush, comb, and hairspray.
Lip balm (chapped lips are very hard to fix in post).
Translucent powder or blotting papers (to reduce shine).
Eye drops (if your eyes tend to get red/tired).
Water bottle.

Ready to book? I look forward to seeing you at the shoot!. If you have any other questions, please email alex@goatimagery.com.