Denver Actor Headshots
Show Your Range. Still Look Like You.
Actor headshots built around the roles you can genuinely play—with distinct looks, guided expression, and natural retouching that keeps you recognizable when you walk into the room.
Same-day proof gallery Final retouches within 48 hours
July Booking Bonus
One additional look at no extra charge.
Book your session by July 31. Your appointment may take place later.
Headshots for film, television,
theatre and commercial casting.
The Client Experience
Comfort in the room. Confidence in the image.
“Within days of my updated headshot, I was able to secure a modeling gig with a new client.
Matt is the winning combination of not only incredibly talented, but warm, professional, kind, and detail oriented. He makes you feel incredibly comfortable in front of the camera.”
Amanda H.
Draper Studios client
Complete direction throughout your session
Natural retouching that still looks like you
Fast delivery for upcoming submissions
Built Around Your Casting
One actor. Multiple believable directions.
Range is not simply changing your shirt. Each look is built around a different casting lane through wardrobe, lighting, expression, and energy.
The goal is not to make you look like four different people. It is to help casting see more possibilities in the actor already standing in front of them.
From authority to approachability.
Four distinct casting lanes. One consistently recognizable actor.
01
Authority
Attorney · Doctor · Detective
02
Leading Role
Dramatic · Film · Television
03
Power
Political Drama · Executive · Investigator
04
Commercial
Best Friend · Mom · Lifestyle
From introspective to unconventional.
Subtle changes in styling and energy create entirely different stories.
01
Introspective
Loner · Artist · Introvert
02
Social
Influencer · Socialite · Mean Girl
03
Edge
Rebel · Outsider · Anti-Hero
04
Ethereal
Dreamer · Period Drama · Otherworldly
Your Session
Let’s identify the looks casting needs to see from you.
The Difference Is Direction
You don’t need to know how to pose. You need someone who knows how to direct.
A strong actor headshot does more than show what you look like. It gives casting an immediate sense of where you fit, what you can play, and why they should remember you.
Before Draper Studios, I spent more than 15 years working closely with actors in Los Angeles—coaching auditions, directing scenes, creating demo reels, and making films.
That experience shapes every session. I’m not simply looking for a flattering expression. I’m watching for the small shifts in energy, thought, posture, and connection that make a character feel believable.
Direction, not posing
You’ll receive clear, specific guidance throughout the session, so you never have to wonder what to do.
Character before wardrobe
Each look begins with the roles and casting lanes you want the image to communicate—not simply a change of clothing.
Recognition, not reinvention
The final images remain natural and recognizable while revealing more of your range and casting potential.
Relaxed, fully guided sessions in Downtown Denver
Matt Draper
Photographer · Director · Former Audition Coach
My job is not to make you perform for the camera. It’s to create the conditions where something real can happen in front of it.
Selected Actor Headshots
Faces casting can imagine in a story.
Theatrical. Commercial. Character-driven. Every image is designed to feel specific while remaining unmistakably you.
Selected work 01—12
Swipe to explore
A Focused, Fully Guided Session
Built around who you can actually play.
We begin by identifying the roles and casting lanes that feel most natural for you—then build each look around a clear purpose.
You will never be left wondering how to pose or what expression to make. I’ll guide you through subtle shifts in thought, posture, and energy so the final images feel believable rather than performed.
Before the Session
Define the story each look needs to tell.
Before we shoot, you’ll receive a short questionnaire about your experience, current goals, casting type, and the kinds of roles you are pursuing.
We’ll use those answers to plan your wardrobe, backgrounds, lighting, and the energy behind each look.
- Focused pre-session questionnaire
- Wardrobe and color guidance
- Clear purpose for every look
During the Session
Direction that brings something real forward.
I’ll guide you throughout the session with specific adjustments and playable direction—not generic commands to smile, tilt your head, or “act natural.”
We’ll review images as we work, refine what is connecting, and make sure each look communicates something meaningfully different.
- Complete expression and posing direction
- Image review throughout the shoot
- Distinct theatrical and commercial options
After the Session
Choose confidently. Submit quickly.
You’ll receive a proof gallery the same day, allowing you to compare expressions and select the strongest image from each look.
Your chosen photographs are naturally retouched and delivered ready for casting profiles, agency submissions, and print.
- Same-day proof gallery
- Natural, recognizable retouching
- Final images within 48 hours
Every Session Includes
Everything needed to create headshots you can use immediately.
One to three distinct looks, depending on the session selected
Character-driven direction based on real casting possibilities
Studio lighting and backgrounds tailored to each look
High-resolution and casting-ready versions of every final image
Actor Headshot Sessions
Choose the range you need right now.
Every session includes complete direction, a same-day proof gallery, and one naturally retouched final image for every look.
Choose the session based on how many distinct casting directions you need—not simply how many times you want to change clothes.
01
Focused Session
1 Look
The Essential
A focused session for actors who need one strong casting direction, an updated primary headshot, or their first set of professional images.
- One wardrobe and character direction
- One naturally retouched final image
- Complete posing and expression direction
- Same-day private proof gallery
- Final retouch delivered within 48 hours
- July bookings receive a second look free
02
Range Session
2 Looks
The Range
The strongest choice for most actors—giving casting two clearly different possibilities, such as theatrical and commercial or authority and approachability.
- Two distinct wardrobe and character directions
- Two naturally retouched final images
- Contrasting theatrical and commercial options
- Same-day private proof gallery
- Final retouches delivered within 48 hours
- July bookings receive a third look free
03
Complete Session
3 Looks
The Portfolio
The widest range for actors building a new portfolio, approaching representation, or replacing several outdated casting looks at once.
- Three distinct wardrobe and character directions
- Three naturally retouched final images
- Maximum theatrical and commercial variety
- Same-day private proof gallery
- Final retouches delivered within 48 hours
- July bookings receive a fourth look free
Not Sure Which to Choose?
The Range is the best fit for most actors.
Two planned looks provide meaningful contrast without creating repetitive images. During July, the added third look gives you even more flexibility at the same $425 price.
Included With Every Session
Everything needed to move from planning to submission.
Guided preparation
A focused questionnaire and wardrobe guidance based on your current casting goals.
Complete direction
Specific guidance for expression, posture, connection, and the energy behind every look.
Same-day proofs
Review your session through a private online gallery and select the strongest image from each look.
Casting-ready files
High-resolution and web-ready versions prepared for profiles, agency submissions, and printing.
Delivered Ready to Work
Ready for casting. Available in print.
Your final headshots are delivered in the formats actors need for casting profiles, agency submissions, websites, social media, and printing.
Digital files are included with every session. Professional 8×10 actor headshot prints are also available to order whenever you need them for workshops, showcases, networking, or auditions.
High-resolution final files
Full-resolution photographs for printing, agency use, websites, and long-term archiving.
Casting-ready digital versions
Optimized files that are easy to upload to casting profiles and online submission platforms.
Natural professional retouching
Polished skin, color, and finishing while keeping you recognizable and authentic.
Professional 8×10 prints available
Archival-quality actor headshot prints can be ordered separately whenever physical copies are needed.
Digital files included · Prints optional
Ready to submit
One session.
Every format you need.
Actor Headshot FAQ
You don’t need to arrive knowing what to do.
From choosing your looks to selecting the final photographs, I’ll guide you through the entire process.
How do we decide which looks I need?
We’ll plan your looks around the roles you can realistically play, the markets you are targeting, and any guidance from your agent or manager. You do not need to arrive with everything figured out.
Most actors benefit from having clearly different commercial, theatrical, and character options rather than several photographs that communicate essentially the same thing.
What exactly counts as a look?
A look is a distinct casting direction—not simply changing your shirt. Wardrobe, background, lighting, expression, energy, and character intention work together to create a photograph with a specific purpose.
For example, a warm commercial shot and a grounded theatrical shot would count as two separate looks.
What should I wear?
Bring wardrobe that supports the roles you want to be considered for without looking like a costume. Solid colors, simple necklines, texture, and well-fitting layers usually photograph best.
Once your session is booked, we can discuss your casting goals and narrow down the strongest options together.
What about hair and makeup?
Actor headshots should look like you on your best day. Hair and makeup should feel natural, polished, and recognizable rather than heavily styled.
Avoid making a dramatic change to your appearance immediately before the session unless it accurately represents how you will appear when walking into an audition.
What if I’m uncomfortable in front of the camera?
That is completely normal. You will be directed throughout the session, including posture, body position, expression, eyeline, and the emotional intention behind each photograph.
You are not expected to arrive knowing how to pose. The goal is to create authentic moments rather than hold stiff positions.
How do I choose my final photographs?
You will receive a private proof gallery, typically on the same day as your session. You may review the photographs yourself or share the gallery with your agent or manager before making your selections.
The proof gallery is provided for reviewing and selecting your final photographs. The gallery images are not final delivered files and are not licensed for publication, submission, outside retouching, or other use.
How many final photographs are included?
Your session includes one professionally retouched final photograph for each purchased look.
Additional photographs may be purchased from your proof gallery for $50 each when retouched by Draper Studios.
Do I receive every photograph from the session?
No. The online gallery is a proofing gallery created so that you and your representation can review the session and choose the photographs you would like delivered.
The complete proof gallery, unedited files, and RAW camera files are not included with the session. Any photograph selected beyond the number included in your package must be purchased as an additional image.
The additional-image charge is for purchasing another photograph from the session—it is not a fee for receiving a high-resolution version of a proof.
Can my agent use their preferred retoucher?
Absolutely. Your agent or manager is welcome to have the selected photographs completed by their preferred professional retoucher.
The photographs included with your package can be supplied as properly color-corrected, full-resolution files prepared for that retoucher. Additional selected photographs are $35 each when Draper Studios is not performing the final retouch.
This reduced rate reflects the removal of my retouching service. It is still the purchase price for each additional photograph—not a high-resolution file fee.
I’m also happy to communicate directly with the retoucher to confirm their preferred file format. RAW camera files are not delivered.
What does your retouching include?
Retouching is designed to keep you recognizable. It may include subtle skin cleanup, temporary blemish removal, stray-hair cleanup, color refinement, and small background or wardrobe corrections.
Permanent features, natural skin texture, and the character of your face are preserved. The goal is a polished actor headshot, not a beauty-filtered version of you.
What files will I receive?
Purchased final photographs are delivered in both high-resolution and web-ready formats. Actor-friendly 8×10 crops are also included.
High-resolution files are suitable for printing and agency use, while the web versions are optimized for casting profiles, websites, and online submissions. Prints are available separately.
How quickly will I receive my finished headshots?
Proof galleries are typically delivered on the day of the session. Draper Studios retouches are generally completed within 48 hours after your final selections have been submitted.
Delivery timing for photographs sent to an outside retoucher will depend on that retoucher’s schedule.
Where do sessions take place?
Most actor sessions take place at Draper Studios in Denver, where we can create multiple lighting and background setups efficiently. Depending on the goals of the session, we may also incorporate natural light or nearby environmental settings.
Denver Actor Headshots
Your next role starts before the audition.
Create headshots that show casting where you fit, what you can play, and why they should remember you.
Every session is fully guided and includes a same-day proof gallery, natural professional retouching, and casting-ready digital files.
July Booking Bonus
Book by July 31 and receive one additional look at no extra charge.
Downtown Denver studio
Same-day proof gallery
Final retouches within 48 hours
Actor Headshots
Film · Television · Theatre · Commercial
Free Actor Resource
How to Prepare for Your Actor Headshot.
A practical guide to arriving prepared, relaxed, and ready to create casting-focused images that feel like you.
Wardrobe, colors, layers, and what photographs well
Hair, skin, makeup, and grooming preparation
Planning distinct theatrical and commercial looks
What to bring and what to expect during your session
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