Headshots work best when they’re clear, grounded, and specific to you.
Whether we’re shooting in the studio or out in the streets around New York City, my sessions stay simple and intentional. We focus on connection, clarity, and what casting reads in the first few seconds. Especially at thumbnail size, because that’s where most decisions actually begin.
If you’re updating after some time away, starting fresh, or feeling like your current shots aren’t doing the job anymore, this page will give you a sense of how I approach actor headshots and what working together looks like.
How I Shoot
Someone once said headshots are the only part of an actor’s career you can truly control. I understand that deeply.
As an actor myself, I know the frustration of sending out a photo that feels almost right. Before we ever step into the studio, we talk. We look at where you’re working, what you’re being called in for, and what feels unclear or missing in your current materials.
The goal is to arrive at the session with a plan. Not to lock anything in, but to give us a clear starting place. We’ll still improvise. It’s part of the job. It just helps to know what we’re aiming for when we begin.
During the Session
My role isn’t to chase expressions or force moments. It’s to collaborate with you in a way that’s grounded, specific, and useful.
I don’t like to rush. We talk throughout the shoot and stop to look at what we’re capturing as we go. That feedback loop matters. It lets us adjust and make smarter choices in real time. If it’s helpful, we can even send a shot or two to your reps during the session.
By the end, you’ll have images that feel authentic and functional. Shots that look like you now and give casting a clear read without overstatement.
Where I Shoot
Most individual sessions happen around Sunnyside and Astoria, Queens, where I live and work. I love shooting outdoors in natural light and found locations. The streets, walls, and shifting light give us texture without distracting from the person in the frame.
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, I also offer a studio option. The studio gives us consistency and control, and the pricing reflects the rental. (It’s not too bad. Less than 80 bucks usually.) Both approaches work well. The choice usually comes down to timing, comfort, and what best serves the images we’re trying to make.
Wherever we shoot, the location is never the star. You are. The goal is always the same: clear, usable headshots that feel grounded and real.
It’s About the Thumbnail
Casting doesn’t meet your headshot full-screen.
They meet it small.
Most decisions start with a quick scan of thumbnails. If the image reads clearly, they click. If it doesn’t, they move on.
That means shape, contrast, clarity, color, and connection matter. The best thumbnails feel alive. You can tell who the person is before you know anything about them.
When I’m shooting, I’m always thinking at that scale. Does this read instantly? Does it feel like someone you’d actually want to meet in the room?
If a shot works as a thumbnail, it almost always works full size.
That clarity is what gets you in the door.
“They loved the curly look for New York… I have a meeting with one of those agents for national commercials already.”
“Casting brought him in yesterday for a recurring Guest Star. We are already seeing a return on the investment. Great headshots CAN get them in the room.”
“I’ve gone to Clinton three times for headshots. Each session he goes above and beyond.”
“You took the time to talk with me, get to know me, and bring out my essence, my personality, my whole vibe.”
“There is such an originality with your aesthetic that is hard to put it into words. I think it is a mysterious combination of your mastery of ‘painting’ with the location, the sharpness, the ‘Hollywood lighting’, and the atmosphere of ease that you bring to the shoot. ”
Next Steps
If these images feel clear, grounded, and like something you could see yourself in, the next step doesn’t have to be complicated.
You don’t need to have everything figured out yet. We can talk through timing, approach, and what makes sense for where you are right now.
I’m always refining my work to keep my headshots current, accurate, and artful, while staying accessible. I want your agents and managers to feel confident submitting you. I want casting directors to walk into the room (virtual or IRL) already knowing who they’re meeting because the photo they have actually looks like you now.
Most importantly, I want you to be happy with your shots. Happy actors tend to be confident actors. Confident actors give better auditions, take bigger risks, and do stronger work. That’s good for careers, and honestly, it makes for better art all around.
— Clint
Looking for session pricing and details? You can find those here.
I write more in depth about how I think about headshots, thumbnails, and casting in the Hack Your Headshots section of my site. Check it out.