🎙️036 | Todd & Jay: Why Headshots Matter (More Than You Think)

Actors need photographs of their heads in order to sell themselves to the people handing out the jobs. Full stop.

Known in the industry as headshots, these portrait-style photos are the most powerful, most immediate way to get yourself seen — especially by the one person who matters most: the casting director.

In this short, sharp episode, Todd and Jay get into why your headshot is more than a picture — it’s your shot at the room, your first impression, and your first “yes.” We talk about what works, what doesn’t, and how casting directors actually read your image.

So… what’s your face saying about you?

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⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Why actors need photos of their heads
01:30 – The real purpose of a headshot
03:00 – Who actually cares about your headshot?
04:30 – It’s not just about the hair or smile
06:00 – Getting in front of casting
07:30 – What makes a headshot pop?
09:00 – Todd evaluates Jay’s new batch
10:30 – Finding “the one” that books
12:00 – The science and art of standing out
13:30 – Role reversal: Todd critiques, Jay defends
15:00 – Jay panics about lighting
16:30 – Todd is mentally already on holiday
18:00 – “Barely hanging on” – episode energy check
19:30 – Welcome to chaos: Bonusode origin story
21:00 – “Is it Bepisode or Bonusode?”
22:30 – Spiraling into branding debates
24:00 – Good day to you, Jay. Good day to you, Todd.
25:30 – Bepisode vs Bonusode – the rematch
27:00 – Offstage inside jokes and naming chaos
28:30 – “No, that’s dumb — take it out!”
30:00 – Todd immediately regrets everything
31:30 – Bepisode: The hill Jay will die on
33:00 – Bonusode wins the battle (sort of)
34:30 – You should say it to yourself… “Bepisode.”
36:00 – “What’s our actual topic again?”
37:30 – Jay distracts, Todd recalibrates
39:00 – Todd gets new headshots — let’s unpack
40:30 – Beards, image, and first impressions
42:00 – Sorting through “the maybes”
43:30 – Navigating identity in your headshots
45:00 – Authenticity vs marketing
46:30 – The industry’s visual bias
48:00 – Todd’s top tips for standout shots
49:30 – Hair choices, eye contact, and posture
51:00 – Agents and the headshot debate
52:30 – Are black & white shots still a thing?
54:00 – What does a good photographer actually do?
55:30 – Jay asks about retouching and filters
57:00 – Overdoing it vs. underpreparing
58:30 – Lifestyle shots, reels, and self-branding
1:00:00 – Should your headshot match your reel?
1:02:00 – Don’t fake who you are (even in print)
1:04:00 – The “type” dilemma: leaning into it
1:06:00 – Everyone wants to be leading man/woman
1:08:00 – Real talk on being a “character actor”
1:10:00 – Are casting directors visual learners?
1:12:00 – Todd on subtle storytelling in a still frame
1:14:00 – Jay’s headshot regrets
1:16:00 – Final thoughts: get your face together
1:18:00 – Outro and total collapse of focus

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💬 Join the Conversation

What’s the worst (or best) headshot advice you’ve ever gotten?
Tell us in the comments — or tag us in your current fave.

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🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

🎧 Full Podcast & More: https://offstageacting.com/podcast
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/offstageacting
❌ X: https://x.com/OffstageActing
🌐 Todd’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/toddkramer
🌐 Jay’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jayreum

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📣 HASHTAGS

#actingpodcast #headshots #actorslife #castingdirector #offstageacting
#actorbranding #actorheadshots #actorsadvice #ToddKramer #JayReum