I like my headshots. The approach I took was aimed at creating a natural look and eliminating anything in the photo or on the print that would distract from my face:

• No earrings or jewelry of any kind
• Simple, solid-colored clothing, but no all black or all white
• Simple, soft hairstyle
• Professional but “natural” makeup
• Shots taken either directly from the front or with my left shoulder forward and turned almost full face.
• No angled or “arty” shots
• Minimal Photoshopping - largely softening shadows and eliminating stray hairs, but leaving my “consternation” lines. Also photoshopped evidence of my pierced ears.
• Professional borderless prints - name and website or contact information on the front. (I've also seen black borders that look good.)

I took along several outfits to get an idea of what combinations worked best.

The hardest part is getting what many casting directors refer to as “something behind the eyes.” I’ve never seen that defined, but what I think it means is an expression that conveys wit, intelligence, humor, charm, or at the very least somebody home.

For a time the trend was toward headshots taken outdoors. I understand from people in the business that this is now trending back toward studio shots. Personally, I think a studio shot gives you more control over lighting and avoids anything in the background that distracts from your face.

The other thing, color vs. black and white. Film auditions prefer color; I'm not sure about theatre currently. In any case, color shots can be easily printed in black and white so you don't need to have a separate set taken. They're not as crisp in my view, but they do fill the bill technically.

Thanks for the helpful information Kathryn. I have a number of photos and wasnt quite sure what would be considered a good headshot and what would be too artsy or bad. I have a better idea now. Thanks.

Thanks for commenting. It prompted me to go back and take a look at what I said and I've amended the part about no name on the front. I now recommend that people DO put their name and website or contact information on the lower right or left of the print. Resumes and headshots can sometimes get separated, so make sure the industry people can reach you if they look at your face and decide you're the one.

As for photographers, shop around, ask for recommendations from other actors. Your needs change as you grow in your profession and get a better idea of the kinds of roles you're best suited for. Joe Henson took my 2011 headshots and does good work. Lev Gorn of Gorn Photography in New York just shot my 2012 photos and did a great job. I was very impressed with the kinds of career questions he asked and the fact that he required a consultation prior to the shoot date to discuss what I wanted to accomplish with the shots and the kinds of roles I'm going for. Attention to detail in producers, directors, and photographers is a good sign. Also, he understands lighting and the importance of getting the eyes right. My session with Lev Gorn took 4 hours. As of 11/22/11 I'm still going through the proofs and it's going to be a hard choice because there are so many good ones. The one at left, for example, is one of the unretouched proofs. Very little photoshopping is going to be needed on this.

If you're looking for a New York photographer, below is a list of those recommended to me by actors who work in New York.

• Lev Gorn Photography (the one I chose) www.gornphoto.com
• Barry Morgenstein http://barrymorgenstein.com/
• Melissa Hamburg Photography www.melissahamburg.com
• Hornstein Studios www.jeffreyhornstein.com
• David Morgan Photography www.dmny.com
• Sabrina Reeves Photography www.sabrinareeves.com
• Hoebermann Studio www.hoebermannstudio.com
• Peter Hurley www.peterhurley.com
• Taylor Hooper Photography www.headshots-newyork.com
• Meredith Zinner Photography www.mzphotography.com

These all looked good and many showed recognizable actors from film and television.

In DC there's also Johnny Shryock at www.johnnyshryock.com He's very good, especially if you're in theatre.

Actress Jennifer Emmaline out in L.A. advises that actors narrow down possible selections by considering the following:

1. Does the photographer have enough experience dealing with actors of your gender and age range? In other words, is it in their comfort zone?

2. Do they vary their poses/looks or do they seemed to have 2-3 default poses/looks (and, if the latter, is that pose/look the one you're looking for and does it work for you?)

3. Are they able to shoot people with your complexion and coloring?

She then suggests that you google each photographer on YouTube to see if they've been interviewed on tape. (Some may also have audio or video interviews on their website.) Getting a good shot depends a lot of whether you "click" with the photographer. As she put it, "I was going to consult with one guy who is pretty famous, but just listening to him for five seconds made my teeth hurt."

Sounds like good advice.

Do you think you could give me a good headshot? And what will you charge me for a headshot?

Updating and rethinking my headshots for 2013. Conventional wisdom and advice from the experts has it that actors should stick to simple clothes in solid colors, wear minimal makeup and jewelry, and leave the background blank or very soft. I have generally followed that advice for the past three years while I was trying to figure out what my "type" was, but I find it too limiting. For one thing, sticking to "rules" tends to homogenize actors into a bland sameness. The idea is to stand out in that auditor's stack of headshots, not blend in. For another, with me at least, it often makes me look like a suburban soccer mom, and that's too young and not my type.

This year I went to Ken Arnold over in Baltimore. Ken is a talented and busy actor who does headshots and demo reels on the side, and his fees are competitive. He didn't pose me (which makes me tense) and he let me wear whatever I felt was right for me and that I felt comfortable in. My "type," as I'm finally figuring out, is a classic and often elegant older woman. I can play senators, judges, , attorneys, and socialites, or I can downscale with no make up o working-class immigrants. But I'm not that middle ground, wholesome, suburban type.

So this year I broke a few rules and kept a few others. I wore a solid color sweater, but in bright blue. I wore jewelry. I wore coats, gloves, and patterned scarves. I wore my usual makeup, which I did myself. My thought is that an actor's headshot should match whatever he or she looks like when they walk in the door to audition. And, for me, that is indeed what I look like. Pearls, gloves, makeup.

Ken took 800 or so shots and pared it down to 250 proofs. Terrific photos. It's going to be hard choosing one to post by January 1.