Every photo on this page is a real headshot from a real session at our downtown Los Angeles studio. No stock images, no AI composites — these are the kinds of photos our clients actually submit to casting offices, agents, and hiring managers.

That matters, because most galleries of professional headshot examples show you polished pictures without explaining what makes each one work. This page does both. For each type of headshot — actor, theatrical, commercial, corporate, LinkedIn, kids, and model digitals — you’ll see an example and a short breakdown of why it does its job.

What every good headshot example has in common

Before we get into types, notice what all of the examples below share:

• The eyes are tack sharp and doing something. A headshot is an eye contact machine. If the eyes are empty, nothing else matters.
• The expression has a specific intent. Warm, confident, dangerous, trustworthy — one clear read per photo, not a neutral blend.
• The wardrobe supports the read instead of competing with it. Solid colors, clean necklines, and pieces that match the job the photo is auditioning for. We cover this in depth in our guide to what to wear for your headshot session.
• The background is a choice, not an accident. Studio gray, clean white, or soft city bokeh — each one signals a different use.
• The color is honest. Skin looks like skin. A headshot’s whole job is to predict what walks through the door.

Actor headshot examples

This is what a working actor headshot looks like: simple wardrobe, soft directional light, and an expression that sits just on the edge of a smile. There’s nothing in the frame competing with the face. Casting can immediately see age range, type, and — most importantly — that the person in the photo will match the person in the room.

Notice how little is happening in the background. Actor headshots earn their keep in a thumbnail on a casting platform, so clarity beats cleverness every time. You can see more range in our actor headshot portfolio, and read about how we approach actor headshot sessions in Los Angeles.

Theatrical headshot examples

A theatrical headshot is the dramatic side of an actor’s package — the photo that targets serious film and television roles. Compare this example to the actor headshot above: the light is moodier, the background is darker, the expression is grounded and direct instead of open and warm. Nothing about it is asking to be liked. That’s the point.

Wardrobe does real work here. The worn leather jacket suggests a whole category of characters before the actor says a word. If your goal is drama, crime, or prestige television, this is the photo that gets you in the room — it’s the core of our theatrical headshot sessions. Not sure which side of the line you need? Here’s our full breakdown of commercial vs theatrical headshots.

Commercial headshot examples

Commercial headshots sell approachability. Brands cast people you’d trust to hand you a coffee, recommend a phone plan, or play the neighbor in a national spot — so the photo leads with warmth: a genuine smile, bright even light, and color that pops without being loud.

In this example the pink backdrop and denim jacket are doing exactly what commercial casting wants: energy, likability, zero edge. If the theatrical example above says “watch me,” this one says “you already know me.” That deliberate difference is why working actors shoot both looks — and why we build commercial headshots as their own dedicated session.

Corporate and business headshot examples

A corporate headshot has a different employer: your career. The clean white background, tailored navy suit, and confident-but-friendly expression in this example translate across a company website, a conference bio, and a press release without ever looking out of place.

The standard to hit is “credible at a glance.” Sharp grooming, structured wardrobe, and an expression that reads as competent first and warm second. We photograph individual executives and full teams in corporate headshot sessions designed to keep a whole company’s photos consistent.

LinkedIn headshot examples

A LinkedIn headshot is a corporate headshot optimized for one place: a small circle next to your name. That changes the rules slightly. The crop is tighter, the contrast between subject and background is stronger, and the expression can be a touch more relaxed than a formal executive portrait.

This example works because it still reads clearly at 48 pixels wide — dark blazer, light top, neutral background, direct eye contact. Recruiters scroll fast; contrast and eye contact are what stop the scroll. You’ll find more corporate and LinkedIn headshot examples in our portfolio.

Kids headshot examples

Kids headshots have one non-negotiable rule: the kid has to look like a kid. No heavy retouching, no adult styling, no forced grin. Casting offices want to see the child who will actually show up — their real hair, their real smile, their real energy on a calm day.

This example nails it: soft natural light, a comfortable half-smile, and wardrobe a real kid would wear. Because children change fast, these photos also have the shortest shelf life of any headshot type — which is why our kids headshot sessions are built to be quick, low-pressure, and fun.

Model digitals examples

Digitals (also called polaroids) are the opposite of a produced headshot on purpose. Agencies use them to see a model’s raw canvas: minimal styling, plain wardrobe, flat honest light, no retouching. A digital that looks too polished defeats its own purpose.

The example above is deliberately unproduced — plain background, simple black tee, natural hair. If an agency has asked you for digitals, our guide on how to shoot modeling digitals walks through the full set agencies expect.

How to use these examples for your own session

Start with the job, not the photo. Decide where your headshot will live — casting platforms, a company site, LinkedIn, an agency submission — and let that pick your type from the examples above. Then work backwards: the background, wardrobe, and expression choices all follow from that one decision.

Most working actors need at least two of these looks, and many professionals pair a corporate photo with a LinkedIn crop from the same session. When you’re ready, you can book a headshot session and we’ll plan your exact set of looks before you ever step in front of the camera.