Hey everyone- quick question. D had nice headshots done last year for college auditions. We’ve pulled them out for summer auditions this year, but it got me thinking- how often do young people need to update? She has not changed her physical appearance (hair etc) but still. My original plan had been for her to keep these, and then get new ones done in her senior year to prepare for showcase/real life etc. Does that sound logical? For those of you with kids who have graduated from college, or who know people that have- how often do they update?
I think your plan to use the head shots from last year through college and for summer stock until senior year when you get new ones for showcase, should work, as long as your D doesn’t change her look much.
My D got new head shots every two years from age 10 to approx. age 22 (graduated college at 20). She’s 26 now and the last time she had photos taken has to be at least 3 years ago. And even then, it was not a headshot photo shoot but more of “promo” type shots for her website and to use for singer/songwriter stuff. She did end up using one of those shots for when she needs an actor headshot. I really think she is due for new ones, but she doesn’t seem to think this is a priority. She also pays for all her own expenses now, and so I don’t know if that is part of it or it doesn’t seem like anything pressing for her. Anyway, I think answers to your question will vary, but for a long while for my daughter, it was every two years.
As long as they still look like her and she’s happy with them, there’s no reason to change them.
College headshot used until this year (senior). All of his classmates updated their headshot this year, although some did update along the way, most did not.
My kid changes her hair quite frequently. We have one pic for each major hair change, but she’s about to do another…
My son’s still using his high-school-senior-year headshot…he’s a college sophomore now. 
Does he need a new one? Yep, but it still looks like him, and it’s hard to find time to deal with getting a new one! Also, he’s often either growing or cutting his hair (and facial hair) for roles in plays, which can throw in a monkey wrench.
I think it depends. My S looked like a baby in his headshots for college auditions so we had them done again for summer stock, he looks 5 years older I swear.
^^ I can attest to that!
S also got some edgier, more professional looking head shots between freshman and sophomore year.
My son had his braces off about 4 months after his college headshots were done. We’re still using those, but new ones are def. in order as the look of braces vs no braces is so different. So, I guess my advice would be to do new pics when your S or D no longer looks like the old photos. 
Or better, when the old ones are no longer a good representation of his/her current look.
I think that’s part of my issue. While her physical self is the same, she is not. I don’t know if the current photos are a good representation of “her” anymore - even if it is the same face.
@toowonderful, it sounds like new headshots are probably in order then, unless money is a problem. My son’s very sweet first set of headshots showed him as a high school kid. His new ones, which are a little stubble-ier and have a lot more going on in the eyes, show him as a young actor. There’s a difference.
One of those “side jobs” or special skills that many MT majors follow is photography. D knows a couple of older friends who are now in college and are also becoming serious photographers on the side. Their classmates have benefited from their talent by volunteering as models in exchange for jpg files to be used as headshots. A third girl discovered she had a true talent for photography and has now pursued that instead of MT. She is now an established professional photographer and has a contract with our local professional theaters to take all of their photos to be used in marketing materials in addition to doing head shot sessions and senior portraits, etc. She is well known among MT circles in our area and does Very well for herself.
Our D has had a fellow student take new head shots each year and they are amazing! And for a very minimal cost. Even though she didn’t need a new shot, this has allowed her to get some shots that show more sides of her personality. This student takes dozens of head shots for performing arts students each year, has her own professional website and business, etc… very legit. And I know other schools have students who have similar photography businesses.
I think sometimes before heading in to auditions, they like to have a new headshot. If the auditions are at school and they’ve used the same shot for every audition, they might just want to give the director, who knows them well, something else to think about or to look at them in a different way. And if it’s for someone new, sometimes having a new shot you really love just gives you confidence.
All that to say - if your look hasn’t changed, it’s not necessary to get a new headshot. But sometimes they may want to anyway just to show a different side of themselves or give themselves a little boost of confidence heading to auditions.
Not at all trying to hijack this thread…but when should an actress start getting professional head shots? D is a high school freshman, and so far we have submitted photos I’ve taken as her head shot. I have a strong interest in photography, good equipment, and have done a lot of research into how head shots should look. She’s gotten a lot of positive feedback about them, but I’m just enough of a photographer to see some room for improvement. Is it time to get some shots done by a pro, and how does one find a really good photographer who specializes in head shots? We’re in a fairly rural area, so we may have to travel a bit.
I don’t think you need to spend a ton on headshots for college auditions or bring in a photographer who specializes in headshots. It sounds like you are following all the rules. Yours should be fine. However, if she starts auditioning professionally, even as a high school freshman, she might need an upgrade.
Just my opinion, but I think it would depend on where you are submitting photos. I would imagine that for local/youth/community theater “amateur” shots would be fine- esp if they look nice - which is after all, the goal. For my kid- BFA auditions were the 1st place we felt we needed to up the game. And I should note, I have known kids get great college results with non-professional headshots, but it was something I could control last year, and I was all about things I could control
When my daughter auditioned for community theater and for TV/Film from actors access we used professional headshots. Starting off with the attitude that this is something that she takes seriously and wants to peruse professionally, the headshots helped set that tone. JMHO (we did two sets one at age 14 when she was a blond and another at 16 when she became a redhead).
My D is just starting to cross over from youth/community theater into more professional auditions. Even though she got lots of positive comments on her photos (made me so proud since I took them!) it sounds like she’s ready to take a leap into more professional shots. She most certainly wants to present herself as seriously pursuing theater!
Thank you for your input!
I dont’t totally agree with Jkellynh. I have seen some amateurs do work as good as some pros, especially good enough to get through college auditions. Just make sure you have the proper equipment (cameras, deflectors, etc) and get some unbiased opinions.
@MTmom2015 , there is an online photo site that professional photographers use that can remove the braces very inexpensively and quickly as long as you have the rights to the photo. The professional site is retouch.com, but they also run a business to do work for non-professionals through another company name and site (I can’t remember it, but you can call Retouch and they will give you the info). The same people do the work for both companies, but they charge less for professionals. The cost to remove braces is $10 and they can do it in 24 hours. They do a very good job. They will also whiten teeth, remove blemishes, remove stuff from the background, and all the typical photoshop stuff for a very reasonable price (e.g. I think teeth whitening is included in braces removal cost).