Exploring a New Lighting Setup for Actor Headshots

A Fresh Approach to Actor Headshot Photography

Recently, I’ve been exploring a new direction in my actor headshot photography, and I’m excited about where it’s heading. For years I’ve worked with traditional flash lighting — crisp, reliable, and consistent — but I wanted to experiment with something that felt a little more organic and cinematic.

I’ve started using continuous lighting, which lets me see exactly how the light falls as I shoot. This real-time control has been a game changer. It also allows me to work at lower f-stops, like f/2.8, creating a shallow depth of field and a beautiful, filmic separation between the subject and the background. The result is softer, more natural, and draws real focus to the actor’s expression and presence.

New Hand-Painted Backdrops for a Cinematic Look

To complement this new lighting setup, I’ve also invested in several hand-painted backdrops. These add rich texture and tone to a session — far more character than plain paper rolls. I’m especially fond of a moody green backdrop that has quickly become a favourite. It gives the portraits a timeless, painterly feel and works beautifully across a range of skin tones and styles.

Creating Natural, Modern Actor Headshots

Combining continuous light and hand-painted backdrops has given my recent actor headshots a distinctive new look — natural, cinematic, and full of character. It’s a subtle evolution of my style, but one that really elevates how each actor’s individuality comes through on camera.

If you’re ready to update your headshots and want something that feels modern, filmic, and true to you, have a look at more examples on my portfolio.