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Talent · Practical
Headshot rules that actually pass review in 2026
Most submissions get rejected before a casting director sees them — by the moderation team. Here are the headshot rules that pass first review every time.
5 April 20264 min readLConnect Newsroom
Most rejected profiles never make it to a casting director. They get cut earlier, by the moderation team, for the same handful of reasons.
Rule one: a real face, not a filter. Heavy retouching reads as deception even when it isn't, and casting offices push back on profiles that don't match the in-person talent.
Rule two: shoulders and above, eyes near the upper third, no sunglasses. This is a working brief, not a portfolio.
Rule three: one current shot, taken in the last six months. Headshots from 2022 don't pass review in 2026, especially for actors whose look has changed.
