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Question: Does an acting headshot have to be vertical!?
i have a really cute picture i want to use as my headshot but the picture is horizontil (------) do i need to have a vertical picture!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Yes you really need to keep it vertical!. As Theatre Doc said you need it that way so you can attach your resume to it but even more importantly agents and casting directors file the headshots in books ( binders) and when they are flipping through hundreds of photos they will not likely take the time to rotate the book just so they can look at that one picture!. I have worked in enough casting offices to vouch for that fact that vertical is very important!.

**And just so you know, I am not the older generation and while casting offices do in fact utilize online submissions much more then in the past, we also still do quite a bit with hard copies!. You don't show up to a casting with your computer, you show up with a stack of the headshots of the people you are reading!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, either is fine, as long as it is in color (which is the standard today)!. It also has to be exactly 8x10, have your name on it, and (preferably) have white borders!.

Vertical is still somewhat more common, however the "cinematic" (horizontal) style has become increasingly popular during the last 5 years, so either is fine!.

But you have a more important issue: Does your headshot look professional and is it taken by a professional headshot photographer - or is it just some snapshot from the family album!?

An amateur picture could very well ruin your chances to be taken seriously as an actor, no matter how 'cute' you think you look in it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. The older generation will try to tell you that you must have a vertical headshot, but the truth is that nowadays both are equally acceptable!.!. So many submissions are done on-line now, and the cinematic - landscape - style headshot is great for that!.

As with different types of borders, if a casting director thinks your look is right for the part, you'll get called in, regardless of whether your headshot is in vertical or landscape format!.

The importance is that your headshot looks professional!. Don't let some buddy take your headshot, always use a pro photographer!Www@QuestionHome@Com

It has to be vertical, 8x10!. It has to look like you!. The vertical is so you can attach your resume to the back of it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

no of course not!. it can be any way size shape color you want!. just make sure it looks organized and stuffWww@QuestionHome@Com