Actor Headshots
Commercial, theatrical, and the range in between.
Directed headshot sessions covering the full range working actors submit with: commercial, theatrical, and everything between. Each look is shot individually within the same session, and nothing is left to chance across a single expression.
You pay for only the images you want to use and walk out with headshots built for what casting is actually looking for.
Voted New York’s best by Backstage readers
Backstage readers are the people Peter actually shoots, which is why that one matters more than the rest.
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Why Choose Peter Hurley Studios
Peter Defined the Industry Standard
or 25+ years, Peter has set the standard for modern headshot photography. He wrote The Headshot and trained the largest network of headshot photographers in the world, all shooting to his methods. The Hurley look is the one every other studio is chasing.
Direction That Puts You at Ease
Most photographers point a camera and hope you land on something usable. We direct you in position and pull a real, natural expression out of you, so you’re never standing there guessing what to do.
Hundreds of 5-Star Google Reviews
The same three things keep coming up. Clients walk in nervous. Peter disarms them, directs them, and makes them laugh. They walk out with the best picture they’ve ever had of themselves.
A Range of Looks, for a Range of Roles
You are submitting for different types of roles and different types of jobs, and the same face does not work for all of them. So the session is built to produce a range rather than one picture you like. We direct you through each look deliberately, one at a time, instead of shooting two hundred frames of the same expression and hoping variety turns up in the edit.
A commercial headshot is the warm one. Bright, open, approachable, the face a brand wants selling their product. Friendly and trustworthy on purpose, because the job is to make a stranger comfortable in about a second. It books advertising, product, and anything where the casting note is relatable.
A theatrical headshot goes the other way. Grounded, with something underneath. Film, TV drama and stage want emotional depth and a hint of what you can carry, not a pleasant expression.
Most actors need both. Most agents expect both. Beyond that it is covering real ground: bad guy, boy next door, cop, DA. For women, the sweet girl-next-door read through to the hardest edge you can carry. We push apparent age in both directions too, because the call you actually get is rarely the one you had in mind.
Peter started out on the other end of the lens. He acted and modeled for years and not one photographer ever directed the expression out of him. When he switched sides, he made that the cornerstone of how he shoots, and it is why we direct every frame.
What to expect during your actor headshot session
i direct you in front of the camera
We’ll guide you through the shoot, and pull authentic expressions out of you. You’re not expected to know how to do any of this walking in.
We review the images together
Images appear on screen as we shoot, so we can address issues as they arise and see what’s working while there’s still time to get more of it.
You choose the photos you want to keep
You only pay for the images you want to keep. If you can’t decide on the spot, an online gallery can be provided at an additional fee.
Actor Headshot Questions
What does an actor headshot session cost?
Sessions start at $500. Final retouched images start at $150. You choose your images at the end and only pay for the ones you want to use. View Rates
How many looks does a session cover?
As many as you need to get the range you need. We direct you through them one at a time rather than hoping variety turns up in the edit.
Do I need both commercial and theatrical headshots?
Most actors do, and most agents expect both. They read differently. Commercial is warm and approachable, the face a brand wants selling something. Theatrical is grounded, with more going on underneath. One session covers both.
What should I wear to my headshot session?
Bring a range, and the first rule is that you have to love it. If you are not comfortable in something it shows. Bring different cuts, colors and necklines. Layers work well and there is no need to be seasonal, from t-shirts through to light jackets. Keep jewelry minimal, since anything hanging or chunky pulls attention. If you wear glasses bring every pair so we can check the glare. There is a steamer in the studio, so creases are not a problem.
Can I shoot with facial hair?
Come in with whatever growth you like. Once we have shot the scruff we can shave or trim it down mid-session and keep going, so you leave with both. Bring your own grooming kit.
How do I choose my images?
We review them together on screen as we shoot, so you see what’s working while there’s still time to get more of it. You pick the ones you want before you leave, rather than sorting through a gallery later.
How long until I get my images?
Retouched images are delivered one week after your shoot date.
Where do sessions take place?
Our studio is at 134 W 26th Street, Suite 1203, New York, NY 10001, between 6th and 7th Avenue in Chelsea. We also travel on location on request.
How often should I update my headshots?
When you no longer look like the picture. That is usually a change in hair, weight, age, or the kind of work you are going out for. If casting is surprised when you walk in, the headshot is out of date.
Do you photograph performers other than actors?
Yes. Singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, voice actors and Broadway performers all get the same session, directed the same way.
Capture the range casting directors want to see
Book online today, or contact the studio to discuss our services.