Actor Headshots NYC
for Professional
Performers
Your Headshot
Gets You in
the Room.
Casting decisions are fast.
NYC actor headshots must communicate type, range, and presence immediately — without looking forced or over-styled.
We create actor headshots that feel dimensional, controlled, and authentic.
Headshots for Working
& Emerging Actors
EMERGING TALENT DEFINING THEIR TYPE
You need clarity. A defined type. A headshot that positions you strategically in a competitive market.
We help identify the archetypes you naturally embody and capture them with precision.
01WORKING ACTORS UPDATING THEIR PORTFOLIO
As your career evolves, so should your headshot.
We create updated NYC actor headshots that reflect your current casting range and professional growth.
02PERFORMERS EXPANDING INTO BRAND & COMMERCIAL WORK
For actors stepping into commercial, hosting, or branded partnerships, we create controlled images that maintain authenticity while expanding versatility.
03Actor headshots
built with Intention
Many actor headshot studios operate on a volume model.
Fast rotations.
Minimal coaching.
Flat lighting.
MJ3Eyes is a specialist studio focused on:
Precision lighting with cinematic depth
Accurate tone rendering across melanated skin tones
Real-time posture and micro-expression coaching
Founder-led sessions
Your actor headshot should carry weight — not look generic.
Trusted by
Some of the Actors &
Creatives we've worked with
Our headshots for actors are built with these criteria in mind.
What Casting Directors Look For
o1. Clarity of type
Casting directors scan quickly. Your headshot should immediately communicate the roles you naturally embody — before a word is spoken.
o2. Confidence without stiffness
A strong headshot projects presence and professionalism while still feeling natural and human.
o3. Emotional availability & Authenticity
Casting looks for actors who feel present and responsive on camera. Subtle expression and truthful energy matter more than dramatic posing.
o4. Market alignment
Your headshot should reflect the roles you are currently positioned to book in today’s market — not who you were five years ago.
The Actor
Headshot Process
-
Pre-Session Type & Casting Discussion
We discuss:
• Your casting range
• Target agencies
• Current audition goals
• Natural archetypesYour NYC actor headshot session is planned with intention — not improvised.
-
On-Set Coaching & Direction
Actors often worry about:
• Looking stiff
• Over-posing
• Forcing emotionWe guide breath, eye focus, posture, and subtle shifts in expression to capture grounded presence and emotional truth — not exaggerated performance.
-
Controlled Lighting & Cinematic Depth
Lighting shapes perception.
We sculpt shadow and highlight to create dimension and presence — avoiding the flat, overexposed look common in high-volume actor headshot studios.
-
Curated Selection & Professional Retouching
Retouching preserves realism.
Skin texture remains.
Expression remains.
The goal is refinement — never alteration.
Session Details
and Investment
-
All Sessions Include:
Initial consultation to understand your goals, industry, and how your images will be used
Guidance on wardrobe, background selection, and hair / makeup considerations
An expansive selection of studio backdrops to support different tones, moods, and professional contexts
Custom lighting calibrated to your features and skin tone
Creative direction and expression coaching throughout the session
Studio assistant support to monitor details beyond the lens
Private proof gallery for image review and final selection
Sessions take place in our Brooklyn home studio — a private, controlled environment designed for focus, comfort, and carefully crafted portraiture.
-
During Your Session You’ll Have Access To:
Private changing area with clothing rack for wardrobe changes
Private bathroom with mirror and outlets for grooming and touch-ups
Professional garment steamer for wardrobe preparation
Light refreshments during the session
Curated in-studio audio — you're welcome to bring a playlist that sets your tone
To ensure every client receives dedicated time and attention, studio sessions are intentionally limited to six per month.
-
Your portrait often introduces you before you speak — in a casting room, on a company website, or across a professional network.
Every session is approached with intention, precision, and respect for what your image represents.
We work with two primary groups: Performers refining their casting identity. Executives and founders communicating leadership and credibility.
Each session follows the same carefully directed process while tailoring the outcome to the client’s professional environment.
To maintain focus and quality, the studio accepts a maximum of six sessions per month.
-
THE CASTING ESSENTIAL
$650
For actors and performers refining two core looks — typically commercial and dramatic. Designed for casting submissions, agency representation, and professional casting platforms.
Directed session focused on performance and expression
Up to two wardrobe looks
Two fully retouched images
High-resolution files optimized for casting platforms
Additional retouched images
Single image — $150
3-image bundle — $375
5-image bundle — $575
The Performer Intensive
$975
For actors and performers expanding their range and building a versatile portfolio of professional images. Designed for casting submissions, representation, press materials, and performers who need multiple looks across platforms.
Extended directed session
Multiple wardrobe looks
5 fully retouched images
High-resolution files optimized for casting platforms
Additional retouched images:
Single image — $150
3 image bundle — $375
5 image bundle — $575
-
On-location sessions are available for clients who prefer portraits in their office, workspace, or a location meaningful to their brand.
On-location sessions begin at $500 above standard session rates, depending on location and production needs.
Team and company headshots are available. Custom proposals can be prepared for organizations requiring portraits for multiple employees or leadership teams.
-
A $200 retainer is required to secure your session date.
The retainer is applied toward your total investment.
Sessions may be rescheduled once with at least 48 hours’ notice.
Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice will forfeit the retainer.
The remaining balance is due on the day of the session.
Zelle is preferred for retainer payments.
Actor & PERFORMER
Headshots NYC Sessions
THE CASTING ESSENTIAL
$650
For actors and performers refining two core looks — typically commercial and dramatic. Designed for casting submissions, agency representation, and professional casting platforms.
- Directed session focused on performance and expression
- Up to two wardrobe looks
- Two fully retouched images
- High-resolution files optimized for casting platforms
Additional retouched images
- Single image — $150
- 3-image bundle — $375
- 5-image bundle — $575
FAQs
-
For the Casting Essential session, most actors prepare one to two wardrobe looks that represent their core casting range, such as commercial and dramatic.
For expanded sessions, actors often bring additional wardrobe options to explore a wider range of types and tones.
-
Yes. Many actors come to their session with a general sense of their type but benefit from refining it further. During the pre-session discussion, we talk through your casting range, the roles you are currently pursuing, and the archetypes you naturally embody.
The goal is to create images that align clearly with how casting directors are likely to see you.
-
The MJ3eyes studio is located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The exact address and arrival details are shared once your session is scheduled.
-
Most actor headshot sessions last 60 to 90 minutes, depending on wardrobe changes and the number of looks being captured.
This allows time for direction, lighting adjustments, and careful selection of expressions that read clearly on casting platforms.
-
Yes. Direction is a key part of the MJ3eyes process. Actors are guided through posture, eye focus, expression, and subtle shifts in energy to ensure the final images feel natural, grounded, and truthful.
-
Actor headshot sessions begin at $650 for the Casting Essential package, which includes two wardrobe looks and two fully retouched images.
Additional images and expanded sessions are available for actors who want to explore a broader range of looks.
Plan Your Headshot Session
Complete the form below to begin planning your session. We’ll review your goals, intended use, and visual direction before confirming your session date.