CHILD ACTOR HEADSHOTS
Headshots for Young Performers Across the Bay Area
A casting director decides in seconds whether to look closer at your child's photo. My job is to make sure that first look works in your child's favor: a real expression, a real kid, an image that gets remembered for the right reasons. I photograph young performers from my private studio in downtown Pleasanton, working with families across the Tri-Valley and Bay Area. Sessions are built around two looks, commercial and theatrical, paced to fit how kids actually work best: short, unhurried and led by what keeps your child comfortable.
What Makes a Child Actor Headshot Work
A strong child actor headshot does one thing well. It looks like the kid who is going to walk into the audition room, not a posed version of them. The same direction that guides my adult actor sessions, built as an Associate of Peter Hurley, is adapted here for a nine-year-old's attention span rather than an adult's. The goal does not change: genuine expression, not a manufactured pose.
Sessions and Pricing
Every young performer package includes a pre-session consultation, wardrobe guidance for both outfits and a fully guided studio experience. You leave with headshot, three-quarter and full-length images, useful for casting profiles that call for more than a straight headshot.
What to Expect
Before Your SessionYou'll receive a prep guide covering wardrobe, timing and what to bring.
During Your SessionDirection is simple and specific, built for a kid's attention span, not an adult's. We take breaks when your child needs one. You stay in the studio the whole time, and we look at images together as we go.
After Your SessionWithin a few days you'll get a private online gallery to choose from. Files are delivered high resolution and ready for submission, your child's agency. Let me know at booking if you're working against an audition deadline and I'll do what I can to move your gallery up depending on my schedule that week.
Wardrobe for Young Performers
Wardrobe is where most young performer sessions go wrong before they start. A few guidelines worth reading before your session. Solid colors work better than patterns. Your child's face is the subject, clothing should support it, not compete with it. Bring two to three options for each look. Variety gives us choices once we see how the light and camera treat each piece. Think in look type, not outfit. Commercial reads warm and approachable. Theatrical reads quieter and more neutral. A plain layer, like a tee under a cardigan, can shift between the two without a full wardrobe change. Skip large logos, busy prints and characters. They pull attention away from your child's face and date the image fast. For younger children, we keep hair and face as they'd usually look, camera ready is simply clean and brushed. For teens working commercial or lifestyle looks, light styling support is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you photograph both theatrical and commercial looks? Yes. Every young performer session includes both, since agents and casting sites typically ask for each.
How long until my child needs new headshots? Most young performers need an update every 6 to 12 months, sooner if their look changes in a big way, a haircut, losing a tooth, a growth spurt. If your agent is asking for new photos, that's the signal. When it's time, reach out and we'll get a Look Refresh session on the calendar.
Do you retouch the photos? Yes, lightly. Casting directors want to see the child who is going to walk into the room, so retouching stays minimal, just clean and consistent.
Where is the studio? 4725 1st Street, Suite 262 in downtown Pleasanton. Easy parking in three lots surrounding the building. Approximately 30 minutes from most East Bay locations.