Clarissa’s Actor Headshots: Targeting Magnetic, Nonconforming Roles in NYC
I recently photographed Clarissa in the studio for new actor headshots in NYC, and the goal was to stop sanding off the qualities that make them distinctive. Clarissa has a magnetic presence in person—socially open, a little elevated, slightly otherworldly—but there’s genuine sensitivity underneath it. We wanted New York headshots that let all of that live in the same frame instead of forcing them into a safer, more conventional version of themselves.
That started well before the shoot. Clarissa and I had an extensive conversation about the kinds of roles they actually want to pursue: modern commercial work, prestige TV and film, indie projects, and classical theatre. They also frequently work in gender-swapped roles, so the wardrobe needed to acknowledge the masculine energy that already feels natural to them. The charcoal look leans into that directly. We carried some of the same energy into the professional setup because Clarissa is not going to read as the standard lawyer or finance character—and there’s no advantage in pretending otherwise.
For the brighter commercial look, we went in almost the opposite direction. The idea was something like “cool teacher”: patterned layers, saturated blue, warmth, personality. It lets casting see the approachable side without losing the edge. We also kept one setup more stripped down so Clarissa’s physicality could come forward without wardrobe doing all the talking.
From a headshot photography standpoint, softness was important because Clarissa already has sharp, dark features. I used a 60-inch Photek SoftLighter about three feet away, close enough to keep the light broad and flattering while still allowing real depth in the shadows. An 8-foot white V-flat stayed within arm’s reach throughout the session, moving closer or farther depending on how much shadow I wanted to preserve. The backgrounds stayed mostly nonspecific so the styling, expression, and eyes carried the frame.
The best part of the session was how little Clarissa tried to hide. We talked beforehand about being fully present, taking risks, and letting whatever was happening in the moment actually reach the camera. That openness changed the photographs. These are magnetic nonconforming headshots because the nonconformity isn’t styling pasted on top—it’s part of the person. Clarissa said afterward that the images finally look like the way they feel inside. That’s exactly where we wanted to land.
