headshot

Or head shot

[hed-shot]

noun

1. a photograph of someone's face, especially a promotional photograph of a model, actor, or author.

2. mug shot.

Word History and Origins

Origin of headshot¹

First recorded in 1935–40; head ( def. ) + shot ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “photograph”)

Example Sentences

There, she learned she needed headshots to start reaching out to agents and going out for roles.

From Los Angeles Times

He started off by asking if anyone was hiring before whipping out a dated headshot and handing it off to Harrison Ford, asking the actor to pass it along to Steven Spielberg.

From Los Angeles Times

Below is a photo of a young woman, a headshot that might have been taken in a studio.

From BBC

Reeve wasn’t the producers’ first pick, but the size of the actor’s neck in a headshot made them reconsider, hoping he could build himself up to fighting shape.

From Salon

“A lot of times the shows that you see now are just headshots and everything that we put up becomes a background piece that’s kind of blurred,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times