Denver Actor Headshots
Your headshot should look like a frame from something.
Cinematic headshots for film, television, theatre and commercial casting — photographed by a former Los Angeles director and audition coach. You don't have to fly to LA to get LA work.
Sessions from $325 Downtown Denver studio
The Work
What people mean when they call these cinematic.
Clients use that word before I do. What they're describing is a frame that looks pulled from a scene — where something has just happened, or is about to. It comes from lighting with direction instead of lighting to erase shadow, and from directing you toward a thought rather than an expression.
Casting doesn't need to see what you look like. They need to be able to place you in a story.
Film · Television · Theatre · Commercial · Representation submissions Book your session →
Building Your Looks
Range isn't changing your shirt.
A single headshot asks casting to make one guess about you.
If that guess is dramatic, you don't get seen for the comedy. If it's warm and commercial, you don't get called in for the detective. Most actors aren't losing those auditions on talent. They're losing them because the only image in the room pointed somewhere else.
Each look is a different casting direction — built through wardrobe, lighting, expression, and the energy underneath it. The goal isn't to make you look like four different people. It's to show casting more of the possibilities already standing in front of them.
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01
We plan the lanes before you arrive
A short questionnaire covers your experience, your current headshots, your representation goals, and the roles you're actually pursuing. Your wardrobe, backgrounds, and lighting get planned from those answers — so every look has a job before the camera comes out.
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02
You get directed, not posed
Specific, playable direction throughout — posture, eyeline, thought, the small shifts that separate a person performing from a person present. We review as we go, so you know what's working before you leave. You never have to invent an expression.
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03
You choose without pressure
A private proof gallery arrives the same day, so you can compare looks on your own time — or send them to your agent — instead of deciding in the studio. Retouched finals come back within 48 hours, ready for Actors Access, Casting Networks, IMDb, and print.
How many looks you need depends on how many lanes you're submitting for. That's what the sessions are built around.
Why Actors Come Here
You don't have to fly to LA to get LA headshots.
An actor with Los Angeles representation flew out to have her headshots taken. When the images came back, they weren't getting the response she needed.
So she started looking again — and found that the experience she'd bought a plane ticket for was already here. We photographed her in Denver. The new images went straight onto her IMDb and Actors Access profiles.
She isn't unusual. Denver actors tend to assume that industry-standard headshots require a trip to an industry city. It's an expensive assumption, and it costs people auditions while they save up for it.
I spent fifteen years in Los Angeles coaching auditions, directing scenes, cutting demo reels, and making films before I opened this studio. The standard came with me.
Four casting lanes, one session · Now on IMDb and Actors Access
Sessions & Pricing
Choose by lanes, not by photo count.
Every session includes complete direction, a same-day proof gallery, and one fully retouched final image for each look.
The Essential
One look
$325
An updated primary headshot, or your first professional set.
- One wardrobe and character direction
- One retouched final image
- Best if you're submitting in a single lane
Most booked
The Range
Two looks
$425
Theatrical and commercial — the two lanes most actors submit in.
- Two distinct character directions
- Two retouched final images
- Contrasting theatrical and commercial reads
The Portfolio
Three looks
$525
Building a new set, approaching representation, or replacing everything.
- Three distinct character directions
- Three retouched final images
- Maximum theatrical and commercial variety
Included with every session
- Pre-session questionnaire and wardrobe planning
- Complete expression and posing direction
- Same-day private proof gallery
- Natural retouching that keeps you recognizable
- High-resolution files and 8×10 casting crops
- Ready for Actors Access, Casting Networks and IMDb
Additional looks — $100 each, including one retouched image. Additional retouched images from your proof gallery — $50 each. Professional 8×10 prints available to order any time.
Not sure which lane you're in? Send me a note before booking — I'd rather point you at the right session than the biggest one.
What Actors Say
A headshot doesn't get you the part. It gets you in the room.
That's the whole job. Everything about the session — the lanes, the direction, the retouching that still looks like you when you walk in — is built around getting you seen by the people deciding who reads.
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.
Matt creates a warm and comfortable environment for his clients, while also providing them with awesome shots! Book a session with him ASAP. You won't regret it.
Matt brings a thoughtful, creative approach to every project. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a smart, reliable creative photographer.
If a look doesn't work, we shoot it again.
You're going to submit these for months. If one of your looks isn't landing the way we planned it, tell me and we'll reshoot that look — no charge, no awkward conversation.
Before You Book
The practical details.
What counts as one "look"?
A look is a casting direction, not a costume change. Each one involves a shift in wardrobe, background, lighting, expression, and the energy underneath it.
A warm commercial read and a dramatic theatrical read count as two looks, because they point casting at two different kinds of role. Swapping a blue shirt for a grey one doesn't.
How do we decide which looks I need?
Before your session you'll get a short questionnaire about your experience, your current headshots, your representation situation, and the roles you're actually being seen for.
We build the looks from those answers. The goal is range that's believable for you — not four characters you'd never get called in for. If you're not sure what your lanes are, that's a normal place to start and we'll work it out together.
What should I wear?
Bring more options than the number of looks you booked. Solid colors, simple textures, interesting necklines, and layers photograph well. Avoid large logos, tight repeating patterns, and anything that pulls attention off your face.
Each piece should support a casting direction rather than read as a costume. You don't have to narrow it down alone — we'll go through what you've brought and choose together before we start.
Do I need professional hair and makeup?
No. You should look polished, but you should still look like the person who walks into the audition or appears in the self-tape. Casting shouldn't meet a different face than the one in the photo.
Keep makeup natural, style your hair at its current length and color, and bring anything you need for touch-ups. If you want professional hair and makeup for a specific reason, I can recommend people.
How long is the session, and where is the studio?
Draper Studios, 816 Acoma Street in Downtown Denver. Session length depends on how many looks you've booked — the time reserved is shown when you pick your appointment. Everything is photographed indoors, so weather never moves your date.
When do I get my images, and what formats?
A private proof gallery arrives the same day, so you can compare looks at your own pace — or send the link to your agent or manager before choosing. Retouched finals come back within 48 hours.
You'll get high-resolution files plus 8×10 casting crops, sized and ready for Actors Access, Casting Networks, IMDb, and print. Professional 8×10 prints can be ordered any time you need physical copies.
What if I need to reschedule?
Auditions and bookings come up — that's the job. Reach out as early as you can and we'll find another time. Rescheduling more than 24 hours ahead is straightforward. If something lands last minute, call or email and we'll sort it out.
Ready when you are.
Cinematic headshots built around the roles you can actually book. Same-day proofs, natural retouching, finals within 48 hours.
Book Your SessionSessions from $325 · 5.0 from 77 reviews · Questions first? Contact Matt