Marc Cartwright Headshot Photography

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Marc Cartwright Headshot Photography Actor headshots and corporate business portraits in Los Angeles. Premium studio sessions located in Studio City, CA. The rest, as they say, is history.

Marc Cartwright grew up in New York on Long Island’s East End. Partially raised by his grandparents who were avid fans of Hollywood classics, Marc developed a passion for film. At 18, he moved to New York City to study Mass Media/Human Behavior at NYU. While fulfilling an art requirement, Marc immediately fell in love with photography. This newfound love allowed him to combine visual narratives with the study of human behavior. Marc moved to Los Angeles after graduating NYU, to pursue acting and had a very successful commercial and print career working for brands including Coca Cola and Tommy Hilfiger. After working with the best in the business, the behind the scenes is what genuinely piqued his interest. Viewing the business from the other side of the lens was his moment of purpose. Marc has shot an array of television and film actors, and placed his work in various publications both domestically and internationally. The full circle of his love for Hollywood classics as a kid, to creating visual images with the respected Hollywood actors has been a rewarding journey of purpose.

10/22/2026

Male actor headshots: what the wardrobe is doing.

A white ribbed tank top, a denim western shirt and a plain gray tee. Simple pieces, each one shifting how he reads before he even changes expression. The tank leans grittier, the denim feels warm and easygoing, and the gray tee keeps all the attention on his face.

I cover how to choose what to wear for your headshots in What to Wear for Actor Headshots, in the Resource Library linked in my bio.

Studio City location.

10/14/2026

What makes an actor headshot stand out?

It’s not always the biggest smile, the most dramatic expression, or even the most flattering angle.

Sometimes it’s something much subtler. A slight shift in expression, the way someone holds themselves, or the connection they make with the camera.

Those details can completely change how a photograph is perceived.

After more than 20 years photographing actors in Los Angeles, I’ve learned that good direction is just as important as good lighting. My goal is to help actors feel comfortable enough to be themselves while making intentional choices about what they communicate.

A headshot should look like you, but it should also give someone a reason to want to know more.

Recent work.

Marc Cartwright Headshots
Los Angeles Actor Headshot Photographer

10/08/2026
10/02/2026

Headshots happen in a fraction of a second. The expression shifts, something becomes more specific, and that’s the frame.

That’s where direction matters. My job is to create enough movement and thought in the session that the authentic moments happen, then recognize them when they do.

Marc Cartwright Headshots
Los Angeles Actor Headshot Photographer

09/25/2026

Always great having Brandon Lessard back in the studio.

One of the things I like about working with an actor more than once is that we can build on what we already know works and push the session in different directions.

For these actor headshots, we moved between a more serious, character-driven read and something warmer and more commercial. Some of that range comes from wardrobe, lighting and environment. Some of it comes down to expression and very small adjustments in direction.

Great working with you again, Brandon Lessard.

Marc Cartwright Headshots
Los Angeles Actor Headshot Photographer

Do actors need multiple headshots?Usually, the more important question is whether each headshot is showing something mea...
09/23/2026

Do actors need multiple headshots?

Usually, the more important question is whether each headshot is showing something meaningfully different.

A wardrobe change alone doesn’t necessarily create a new look. Each image should have a purpose and add something useful to your overall headshot portfolio.

I put together a guide on how to decide how many headshots and looks you actually need, including when it makes sense to add a third.

Read the full guide:
https://www.marccartwrightheadshots.com/guides/how-many-headshots-does-an-actor-need

09/14/2026

What should you do if you wake up with a breakout on headshot day?

I asked makeup & hair artist Jamie Fisher about the questions actors have about headshot makeup, from skin prep and natural makeup to what not to do before your session.

Read the full Industry Interview in my Actor Headshot Resource Library. Link in bio.

Commercial and theatrical headshots aren’t simply smiling versus serious. Expression, wardrobe, lighting and overall ton...
09/12/2026

Commercial and theatrical headshots aren’t simply smiling versus serious. Expression, wardrobe, lighting and overall tone all play a role in what a headshot communicates to casting.

I put together a guide explaining what actually separates the two, with examples of both styles.

Commercial vs. Theatrical Headshots: What Actually Sets Them Apart

Read the article: https://www.marccartwrightheadshots.com/guides/commercial-vs-theatrical-headshots

09/10/2026

One actor. Three different reads.

Sometimes creating range includes changing wardrobe, lighting and environment. Sometimes it comes down almost entirely to expression.

Which is exactly what happens here.

Actor headshots photographed in Los Angeles by Marc Cartwright Headshots.

09/03/2026

Actor headshots should still look like you. These are a few favorites from a recent session where we kept the expressions natural and let his personality do the work.

Looking for actor headshots in Los Angeles? Session details are at the link in my bio.

Address

4647 Coldwater Canyon Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
91604

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 10am - 7pm
Wednesday 10am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 7pm

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