Frequently Asked Questions

The simple answer is yes. If you’re an actor and your headshot is more than two years old, you already know it’s time for a new one. Your headshot is your business card and helps you get work. For everyone else who spends time online, the answer is still yes. You control how people see you online, and first impressions matter. Your headshot acts like your personal logo and is a key part of your brand. Whether you’re networking on LinkedIn or looking for a date on Hinge or Bumble, people notice your profile picture. We live in a digital world, and using an old wedding photo just doesn’t work anymore. I suggest updating your headshot every two years.

When choosing a photographer, look for someone who specialises in headshots, especially for actors. Review their portfolio to make sure their style fits the look you want. Read reviews or get recommendations from other actors. It helps to have a quick call to make sure you feel comfortable working with them. Before your session, prepare by thinking about the image you want to convey, bring a few different outfit options, and get a good night’s sleep so you look fresh. Being prepared will help you get the most out of your headshot session.

We offer clients an amazing product. It is truly second to none. We don’t just photograph people; we educate and learn from them. The process is always evolving. No two headshots are identical. We see things differently. This is not just a photograph. This is your personal logo. It must stand out in the crowd. It must say “I’m the one.” It must be an honest picture of who you are. We are authentic in what we do. We believe it makes a difference.

You have to trust your photographer. Many people come into my studio very nervous. Some even liken it to going to the dentist. But I won’t poke your gums or drill your teeth. We’re just going to hang out. I’ll probably try to make you laugh. I will ask you to make faces. You may feel silly in some poses. It’s all for good reason. I’m not just your photographer. I’m also your expression coach. If you can be coached, you can achieve a great headshot. If you come to my studio prepared, confident, and ready for direction, you won’t leave without a great headshot. At Daniel Sommer Photography, we guarantee 100% satisfaction. I do free consultations. If you don’t have total faith in my ability, come meet me. If you are still unsure, talk to other photographers. I might not be the right one for you.

MUSIC
Create a playlist for your session. We have Spotify and Bluetooth speakers at the studio. Pick songs that inspire you. Keep the playlist upbeat. Slow songs will drain your energy. Workout playlists work well.

MOISTURISE
A little moisturiser helps prepare your skin for the session. Moisturise well the night before and the morning of your appointment. If you hired a make-up artist, do not apply any make-up before the session.

“Look” is photographer jargon. It means the number of outfits you wear during your session. The fee usually increases for each extra look. Most corporate clients need a 1-look session.

Corporate Headshot clients want images for their websites or LinkedIn profiles. The usual goal is to show confidence and approachability. Corporate clients rarely care about showing diversity or range, unlike actors. Don’t forget to read our guide on what to wear for corporate headshots. We will send that via email.

Actors and models often want extra looks. This depends on your casting. What roles do you usually get? Which ones do you want? Different looks help with different casting choices. Most actors buy our 3-look package. The 3-look session is longer to allow for clothing changes. More outfit changes give professionals more options. Instead of using one headshot for everything, choose the best one for each role. Women often change their hairstyle or makeup for each look. Men may wear stubble for their first look, then shave for the others. This is basic marketing for actors. Extra looks let you target your marketing. Directors can picture you in more roles.

Yes, we travel for our headshot sessions. We serve all major citys like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adeleide and Perth. We are also traveling internationally and have worked in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Oslo, Stockholm, Zurich and Singapore.

While we get fantastic results in our studios in Sydney using the controlled environment in our studio, our lighting, and the studio elements in the shots. We can easily repeat this on location.

We offer on-site Photoshoots if you have a unique environment or need executive portraits. Headshots need a lot of space. Not every location is good for this kind of photography.

Most on-location shoots include a site visit. We assess the space and decide what we need to bring. This ensures we can deliver our usual service.

All shoots under $1000 have a $300 travel fee.

Get in touch with us here for your On-Location needs

To give you the best product, I create a comfortable, welcoming studio. This helps us get the results we want every time. Shooting on the street or in a park offers little comfort or consistency. Outdoors, we have to deal with the weather and changing light. This distracts from focusing on your camera presence.
Nearly all my work is shot inside my comfortable studio.
I want to be able to give you a consistent quality shoot day or evening, rain or shine.

There are times when we use custom backgrounds for very specific corporate clients (e.g., blue/pink/purple for candy store staff). Office backgrounds with the city or harbour view in the photo are also very popular.

Generally speaking, though, the best headshots have little to nothing to do with the colour or type of background and everything to do with the energy you're giving the camera.

White, grey and black do very little to distract from your face and everything to complement it.