Actor photographed by Kurt Sneddon on a New York City street

Actor headshots in the streets of NYC

New York is
your backdrop.

Casting-ready headshots with personality, texture and life—photographed in the real streets of New York instead of against the same studio backdrop as everybody else.

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20+ yearsPhotographing actors and performers

Directed throughoutNo need to know how to pose

Midtown ManhattanOne-hour street session

Your headshot should look like you. Not like everybody else’s.

Plain studio backgrounds have their place. But when every actor in NYC is photographed against the same handful of solid color walls, nothing is really that unique.

I use natural light, real locations and New York itself as my backgrounds to create headshots that work for casting and creating different characters — while actually feeling the life and space in our spectacular city!

The offer

The NYC Street Headshot Session

A full hour in Midtown Manhattan designed to give actors a genuinely useful range of polished, current headshots.

Fall SpecialSave $250

Street Headshot Session

Normally $950

$700

One-hour outdoor session in Midtown Manhattan
6-8 distinct actor looks and outfit changes
4 professionally retouched final images
Color and black-and-white versions included
Direction throughout the entire shoot
Additional finished images: $100 each

REQUEST A SESSION TIME

Casting-ready doesn’t have to mean generic.

More personality

Real environments give the image energy and context without creating distractions or drawing the eye away from the subject's eyes.

Natural light

Outdoor light keeps skin and eyes feeling believable, with enough polish to stand up professionally.

More variety

One compact New York block can create several completely different looks without changing studios or setups.

What clients say

1 / 4

See what my clients say:

The practical stuff

Quick answers.

What should I wear?

Bring solid tops, jackets and pieces that suggest the kinds of roles you want to be considered for. We’ll move efficiently through six to eight distinct actor looks during the hour.

WHERE DO WE CHANGE OUTFITS?

I call it ninja-changing in the streets. There's always nooks and crannies to give you privacy as well as holding up my reflector, but most actors are used to doing quick changes. If you do require more privacy for a full length change, we can jump you into any local store or even base our session near your home where it's more convenient too.

DO YOU OFFER HAIR & MAKEUP STYLING?

Yes! I can give you names for a few stylist mates who can join us for the session. This is usually best if we base ourselves at your home location or hire a studio.

WHAT IF I DO WANT SOME STUDIO LOOKS?

That's great. I shoot in a hired studio 1-2 times a month on certain dates which gives us both options. If you're needing hair & makeup and want the comfort of being based in a studio space, as well as the ability to shoot both indoor and outdoor, contact me about studio days. There is a higher cost (and no discounts) based on the location for those sessions.

Are outdoor images suitable for casting?

Yes. The face remains the priority. Locations are chosen for color, texture and depth without becoming distracting.

What happens if the weather is bad?

I actually love shooting in the rain or snow. Some of my best images taken in the city feature a shining wet city street adding to the drama and feel of the image. And usually we find sheltered spots so you aren't getting wet. Worst case scenario, we whip into a Starbies for 20 mins to wait out a downpour. And of course if there's a major issue forecast, I'm super flexible so we'll also get the shots.

When will I receive my images?

You’ll receive an online gallery after your shoot. Once your final selections are placed, Kurt completes every retouch personally.

Can I order more than four images?

Absolutely. Four finished images are included, and additional favorites are $100 each after viewing your gallery.