ACTOR HEADSHOT FAQs
Got a question? You’re probably not the first.
From what to wear and what happens during your shoot to choosing your final images, galleries, retouching and the practical stuff - it’s all here.
And if I’ve somehow missed yours, book a free Clarity Call and ask me.
Not even slightly. You’d be amazed how many actors walk through my door and say exactly that.
You don’t need to know how to pose, where to look or how to “do a headshot”. That’s my job.
I’ll guide you throughout the session, and because every photograph is wirelessly sent to an iPad Pro as we shoot, we’ll regularly stop and look at what we’re creating together.
You’ll know what’s working, I’ll show you what I’m seeing, and we’ll build from there.
No mystery. No awkward posing marathon. And definitely no nasty surprise when you finally see the photographs.
For me, it isn’t simply a photograph where you look good.
A great headshot needs to feel like you.
It should have presence, personality and something behind the eyes that makes someone want to look again. Most importantly, the person who walks into the casting room needs to be the person they recognise from the photograph.
My background as a performer, together with my ongoing connections across the acting and casting industry, means I’m always thinking beyond lighting and lenses.
We’re creating photographs that look brilliant - but they also need to work for you.
It depends on what you need, which is why I offer different sessions rather than trying to squeeze everybody into the same package.
If you want a comprehensive headshot update with time to explore different sides of your casting, The CORE (60 mins) is where most actors start. It’s my most popular package.
The MINI (30 mins) is there when you need something shorter and more focused, while The PRO (180 mins) is the full experience for people who want to go much deeper.
And if you like the idea of The CORE but want to see what we can create before fully committing, there’s The Screen Test.
Still haven’t got a clue? Book a free Clarity Call and we’ll work it out together. No hard sell.
The Screen Test is essentially The CORE - but with an exit door after the first 10 minutes.
You secure your session with a £50 non-refundable deposit, just as you normally would. We start shooting and your photographs appear live on the screen as we work.
After 10 minutes, we stop and take a proper look at what we’ve created.
Love what you’re seeing? Brilliant. You pay the remaining £277 and we carry straight on with the full CORE session.
Decide it’s not for you? That’s absolutely fine too. We stop there and you’ve only spent the £50 deposit. No further payment, no awkwardness and no pressure to continue.
If you choose to stop after the Screen Test, no digital files or gallery are supplied - the £50 covers the studio time, setup and photography.
It’s basically try before you buy for your headshots. You get to see the photographs before deciding whether you want to make the full investment.
And hopefully, after 10 minutes, the only decision we’re making is what we’re shooting next.
Absolutely.
My Clarity Call is completely free and is there for exactly that reason.
We can talk about where you are in your career, what you need from your new headshots, your casting, wardrobe, which session might suit you - or whatever else is going round your head.
I also think it’s important that you know who you’re going to be working with before you step in front of their camera. Headshots can feel quite personal, and a quick conversation beforehand can take away a huge amount of the uncertainty and nerves.
Sometimes ten minutes chatting is all it takes to arrive at the studio already feeling like we know each other a little.
Together.
We’ll think about where you are now, where you want to work and what might be missing from your current headshots.
That might mean exploring different energies for screen, theatre or musical theatre, or simply finding more range within your natural casting.
The aim isn’t to manufacture a collection of characters or make things too “on the nose”.
It’s to create a set of photographs that gives agents and casting professionals a strong, truthful sense of you, your playing range and where you could fit.
I’ll normally ask you to bring around 8–10 tops in a mixture of colours, textures and styles.
Think layers, jackets, overshirts, knitwear, denim, interesting seams and subtle textures. Simple pieces can work brilliantly too, and don’t be afraid to throw in a couple of wild cards. Sometimes the thing you nearly left at home becomes the winning shot.
Think about where you want your headshots to work - film and television, plays, musical theatre, corporate work or wherever you want your career to go - but we’re not playing dress-up. Your clothes can suggest different sides of your casting without making you look like you’re wearing a costume.
Try to avoid very busy patterns and enormous logos. Small logos aren’t the end of the world - I can usually remove those during editing.
If you’re completely stuck, have a look through my portfolio or book a free Clarity Call and we’ll talk it through.
Most importantly, don’t overthink it. Bring the options and we’ll work it out together. I’d always rather you brought something and we didn’t use it than left the perfect option hanging at home.
The basic rule is simple:
Look like you.
Arrive with your hair clean and styled as you normally wear it, and try to avoid dramatic new cuts or colour changes immediately before your shoot.
For make-up, natural and simple tends to work best. We’re enhancing what’s already there, not creating somebody casting won’t recognise.
Bring anything you normally use for touch-ups, along with hair products or tools if you think you’ll need them.
On The CORE and The PRO, we can also build in a hair or facial-hair change if it genuinely adds something useful to your casting.
And if you wake up with a spot on the morning of your shoot? I’ve got you. Minor temporary blemishes are exactly the sort of thing retouching is for.
Please do!
There isn’t an iron or steamer in the studio, so bring your wardrobe pressed, neat and camera-ready.
Absolutely. I’ve got your back.
Please don’t lose sleep the night before wondering, “What the hell am I supposed to do with my face?”
I’ll guide you through small changes in position, expression, eyeline and energy. Sometimes we’ll talk. Sometimes I’ll give you something to think about. Sometimes the tiniest adjustment completely changes what’s happening behind the eyes.
You don’t need to arrive knowing how to be photographed.
That’s what you’re hiring me for.
Yes - and it’s one of the most important parts of how I work.
Every photograph is wirelessly tethered to an iPad Pro, so we can review the images together throughout your session.
You’ll tell me what feels like you. I’ll show you what I’m responding to. We can spot what’s working, make adjustments and use everything we’re learning to shape the next part of the shoot.
It gives you complete transparency throughout the session. You’re part of the process rather than waiting until afterwards to discover what we got.
And you never have to spend the journey home wondering whether we got the shot.
Please do.
Spotify and Apple Music are ready to go, so stick on whatever makes you feel comfortable and gets you out of your own head.
You can even make a playlist beforehand if you fancy it - loads of people do.
Your shoot. Your playlist. Your questionable music choices are completely safe with me. 😂
Possibly!
Charlie is my Cavapoo and occasional studio Confidence Coach. His qualifications are questionable, but his success rate is excellent.
If you’re not a dog person, you’re allergic, nervous around dogs or simply don’t fancy a furry creative director wandering around your session, just let me know beforehand and Charlie can have the day off.
He won’t mind. He’ll probably sleep through it. 🐶
100%
You’ll receive a private online gallery containing all the photographs from your session as low-resolution, watermarked previews.
I don’t disappear after the shoot and decide which photographs you’re allowed to see. You get to see the whole session.
Take your time, compare expressions and looks and build a shortlist.
You’re also welcome to share the gallery with your agent, friends, family - even the cat next door if they happen to have particularly strong opinions about casting.
They can log in separately so everyone’s feedback stays organised.
Your gallery has tools to like, shortlist and approve photographs, plus a simple traffic-light system to help you gradually narrow everything down.
There’s no need to decide in five minutes.
And try not to only ask yourself:
“Which photograph do I look nicest in?”
Think about what each image communicates, what part of your casting it serves and whether your final selection gives you useful variety.
If you’re still stuck, I’m always happy to help.
There’s also Bookable Ten. For £50, I’ll personally go through your gallery and select what I consider to be the 10 strongest images, looking at casting clarity, range and what genuinely works.
Sometimes another pair of eyes makes the whole process much easier.
That depends on the session you book.
For example, The CORE includes three professionally retouched images.
If you fall in love with more - which happens rather a lot - additional professionally retouched images are £30 each.
There’s no need to decide how many you’ll want before we’ve even taken them. Choose once you’ve seen what we created.
You’ll see all the photographs from your session in your private gallery as low-resolution, watermarked previews, but unedited files aren’t supplied for download or use.
Once you’ve chosen your favourites, I’ll professionally retouch those images and deliver the finished, high-resolution versions.
Please don’t screenshot, crop, edit, publish or remove watermarks from gallery previews.
I want anything representing you - and anything carrying my name - to look exactly as it should when it reaches agents and casting directors.
Enough to make the photograph look its best.
Not enough to turn you into your suspiciously smooth-skinned AI cousin.
I’ll take care of temporary blemishes and distractions and give the photograph a polished professional finish while keeping skin looking like skin and you looking like you.
An actor headshot needs to be truthful. If you walk into a casting after they’ve seen your photograph, they should recognise you.
That’s the point.
Usually before you’ve even left the studio.
In most cases, I’ll have your private proof gallery ready for you there and then, so you can walk out with the link.
In the rare event that I can’t, it’ll be with you within 24 hours of your session.
From there, take your time going through the shoot and choosing your favourites. Once you’ve confirmed your final selections with me, I’ll begin professionally retouching them.
If you’ve suddenly got an agent meeting, casting deadline or something else that’s sent your diary into mild chaos, Fast Track is available subject to availability.
For £50, your three included retouched images can be delivered within one working day after you’ve confirmed your choices.
Additional images can also be fast-tracked for £15 each once the initial three have been fast-tracked.
If you’re up against a deadline, just tell me and I’ll let you know what’s possible.
Yes please - it’s always massively appreciated.
When uploading your finished headshots to Spotlight, please credit Matt Nalton as the photographer.
And if you’re posting them on Instagram, tag @mattnaltonphoto.
I genuinely love seeing the photographs out there doing their job - and I’ll often share your posts too.
I’m based at The Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey - London.
It’s my dedicated studio space with everything we need for your headshot session and is easily accessible by public transport.
For privacy and security, I don’t publish my individual studio number or access instructions online. Full directions and arrival details are sent to you once you’ve booked, so you’ll know exactly where you’re going on the day.
There are cycle racks available, and if you’re driving there are parking options nearby too.
You’ll receive a confirmation email immediately after booking containing everything you need to know before your shoot.
If it doesn’t appear in your inbox, have a quick look in your spam or junk folder. Occasionally the email gremlins decide that’s obviously where important information belongs.
You’ll find preparation advice, wardrobe information, studio details and everything else you need for the day.
Then all you need to do is turn up.
I’ll take it from there.
Actor diaries change. I get it.
When you book, a £50 non-refundable deposit secures your appointment and is deducted from the total price of your session - it isn’t an additional charge on top.
If you need to move your session, you can reschedule with at least 48 hours’ notice before your booked shoot time.
Simply go back to your original booking confirmation email from Calendly and use the reschedule link to choose a new available date. Your £50 deposit will automatically move across to your new session, so there’s nothing extra to pay.
If you miss the 48-hour rescheduling deadline, your original £50 deposit will be lost. You’re still very welcome to book another available date, but you’ll need to pay a new £50 deposit to secure the new session.
If you cancel your session completely, the £50 deposit is non-refundable.
If something unexpected happens, just get in touch with me as soon as you can.
Then stop reading FAQs and come and talk to me. 😄
Book a free 10-minute Clarity Call and tell me what’s on your mind.
Whether you’re nervous about being photographed, don’t know which session to choose, have no idea what to wear, aren’t sure what your casting needs or simply want to make sure I’m the right photographer for you, we can talk it through before you book.
No pressure. No hard sell. Just clarity.