Headshot Session FAQ
Where is your studio?
The Archives is my studio in Seven Sisters, North London — a short walk from Seven Sisters station on the Victoria line and Overground.
The Archives, Unit 10 The High Cross Centre Fountayne Road London N15 4QN
What should I bring to the shoot?
Bring at least eight tops. Plain, solid colours photograph best, in necklines that frame the face rather than crowd it. A working list:
A well-pressed black shirt or a simple black dress
Plain black and white tops
A few colours that pick up your eye colour
Scoop, V or round necklines
A roll-neck jumper — reliably strong in headshots
A structured jacket or blazer for professional casting types
Avoid prints, patterns and logos; they pull the eye away from your face. Headshots crop close, so fit matters more than the label — a plain top that sits properly at the shoulders will always photograph better than an expensive one that doesn't.
If you're unsure, bring more than you think you need. We'll make the final choices together on the day.
What about hair and make-up?
Keep both close to how you actually present. Casting directors need to recognise you when you walk into the room, so the strongest headshot sits as near as possible to your everyday self.
For women, natural make-up that evens skin tone and quietly defines the features works well — though if a fuller look is how you normally present, we photograph that. For men, clean grooming: a fresh shave or a neatly kept beard, whichever matches how you're cast.
You can adjust hair and make-up between looks during the session. Minor blemishes are retouched in the final images.
What happens during the session?
I've been photographing actors since 2006, and every session runs on the same principle: unhurried, collaborative, and built around your casting.
We start with a short conversation about where you're aiming — the roles you're right for, what your agent needs, whether this is a first portfolio or a refresh. Then we shoot: studio lighting first, and if the weather allows, natural light nearby for variety. Along the way I direct you through the expressions and casting types that suit you — grounded and professional, warm and open, something with more weight. We review images together as we go, so you always know how the session is building.
What happens afterwards?
Straight after the shoot you'll receive a link to your private online gallery, where you can take your time over the images and share the link with your agent if you're represented.
Once you've chosen your favourites, I retouch them by hand — light, skin, stray hairs, nothing that stops looking like you — and deliver the final high-resolution files in colour and black and white within a week.
If you'd like a second opinion on your selects, ask. Your agent's eye is worth having here too.
Can I order more retouched images later?
Yes. Additional retouched images are £25 each, payable online.
Which session should I book?
That depends on where you are in your career and what you need the images to do. The three sessions — All are laid out on the pricing page, and if you're not sure which fits, email me and I'll tell you honestly.
How do I book?
Email mail@kirill.co.uk with a few dates that suit you, or call 07927 942 822, and I'll take it from there.
How does payment work?
A deposit secures your date. The balance is due on the day of the shoot — card is simplest, and bank transfer works too; transfers sometimes take a day or so to clear, so it's worth sending ahead of the session.
Do I need to credit you?
Yes — please credit Kirill Kozlov Photography whenever the images are shared or published, including on Spotlight and casting profiles.
How should I prepare?
Sleep well the night before and drink water — both show in the face. Avoid dramatic changes in the run-up: no new haircut, no tanning, nothing you haven't lived with. Arrive as yourself on a good day, and I'll do the rest.
Nice and simple.