*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***
Unsolicited phone calls and personal visits to casting directors are prohibited in the entertainment industry. Not only does it display a huge level of non-professionalism, it is extremely inconsiderate of casting directors time. They receive hundreds, and even thousands of photos and resumes every week. They certainly can not accommodate being inundated with phone calls from actors, and aspiring actors, and their parents.
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Here is a sample of a professional actors resume and photo. The photo should not be a school photo, glamor shot, or a snapshot taken by a non-professional photographer (with the exception of infants where snapshots are acceptable). The photo should be 8" X 10" in size, the resume should be cut to the exact same size and stapled back to back on the photo. When you flip the photo over, the resume should be viewable on the other side. Do NOT paper clip the resume, but staple it on all four corners. The actors name and any union affiliations should be printed on the bottom of the photo, either on the border or on the corner of the photo itself. That way if by some chance the photo does become detached from the resume, the casting director can match them up again. The photo should be color and professionally taken. Just remember that the photo is an actors calling card. It should represent the "real" you, the way you look in everyday life. If your hair is long in the photo, then your hair should be long when you walk in the casting office. If your skin is fair, then you should not come to the casting office with a dark tan. Always keep your photos up-to-date according to your look.
Your child should have two good color headshots (not "retouched", unless only to clean up a loose hair, etc), one "serious" and one "smiling". But it doesn't hurt to have 3-4 "looks". Try to portray the best possible image of their "brand". In other words, the type of personality and look that they would best portray. Sometimes it is best to ask several other people who know them, like teachers, friends, classmates, etc. Sometimes parents do not see their kids as portraying the "type" that they really should be. Here are some of the primary "types" for young actors:
Young Females:
awkward/gawky
artist
brain
bully
girl-next-door
ingénue/innocent muse
jock
princess
trendsetter
Young Males:
bad boy
boy-next-door
brain
bully
jock
nerdy kid/future genius
paste-eater/super uncool
quirky/trendy
smart-ass
Also, there is no such thing as an "application" to fill out for acting jobs. Just the 8X10 photo and resume. Include a very brief cover letter with your submission, stating that your child is interested in auditioning for any acting roles that they may be good for, or that you are seeking representation for your child by an agent.
The photo can be taken either horizontal or vertical.
Sample Headshots:
Actress Cheyenne Logan
This is child actor Marcus Calderon, and he landed a national Disneyland commercial with this photo.
Sample Resume:
One last note about your photos:
If you can't afford to pay a professional photographer to take your photos right now, you can try something else. If there is a school nearby that has a photography department, go there and see if you can do "testing". Testing is when you exchange your time posing for a photography student in exchange for them taking some theatrical headshots and giving you some prints.
