Your Quick Guide to College MT Headshots & Resumes
Before faculty ever hit play on your pre-screens — or before you sing your first note in an audition room — your headshot and resume are already doing their job. Think of them as the cover of the book that is YOU. A book cover doesn't tell a reader the whole story, but it gives them a first impression, a sense of tone, and a reason to open it and keep going. 🥰
Faculty aren't only asking, "Can they sing? Can they dance? Can they act?" They're asking a bigger question underneath it all: who is this person, and how do they fit into our program and community? Your headshot and resume are often the very first materials faculty see, before they've watched a single second of your performance — so let's make sure they're doing their job.
Headshots: The First Read on Who You Are
Your headshot gives faculty a first read on your personality and presence — it should look like your day-to-day self, not a glamorized, "special occasion" version of you. The goal is for it to match how you show up in your pre-screen video and in the audition room, not feel like a different person entirely.
Common mistakes: an outdated photo, over-retouching, or a headshot that doesn't match how you present yourself.
Timeline: Aim to get this done the summer before senior year, and finalize it by September. Professional photos are wonderful but not required — a clear, well-lit phone photo works too.
DOs & DON'Ts
Lighting
DO make sure your light source is in front of you, not behind you. Backlighting creates shadows and makes your face hard to see.
DO NOT use overhead indoor lighting. If you're indoors, find a window, open a door, or head to the garage and face the natural light outside — and turn that overhead light off.
DO experiment. Try a few spots around your house and yard to see what's most flattering before you commit.
Background
DO clean up the clutter. A headshot should be focused on you — anything busy behind you becomes a distraction.
DO NOT stand in front of domestic objects (a sink, an oven, a cluttered bookshelf). Look for a blank canvas — a plain wall or door works great.
Expression
DO try several shots: full smile, half smile, and resting face. Thinking of a fun memory while you snap can help bring some light into your eyes.
DO aim for natural, not forced. You want to look confident and relaxed — enlist a friend or family member to make you laugh or put on a fun playlist to help you loosen up.
Framing
DO shoot at eye level, framed from the chest up, with your eyes positioned about a third of the way down the frame.
DO NOT crop the top of your head or shoot from an awkward angle — both distract from a clean, balanced shot.
Clothes, Hair, & Makeup
DO wear solid colors that contrast with your background, and style hair & makeup the way you normally do day-to-day.
DO NOT over-accessorize or wear busy patterns — they compete with your face for attention.
DO test out different outfits and colors to see what makes you feel fabulous!
Tools
DO use your phone's front-facing camera (not the selfie camera), test out portrait mode, and take plenty of shots to give yourself real options.
DO NOT settle for the first few photos — the more you take, the better your odds of finding the one that actually looks like you.
Resumes: The Way to Show Your Background
Your resume shows faculty what you've chosen to spend your time on — not just your credits and training but your range of interests. Keep it clean, scannable, and honest. And remember, you do not need a jam-packed resume to be accepted into a program!
Common mistakes: padding with old credits that no longer reflect where you are (looking at you, elementary school production of The Three Little Pigs), inconsistent formatting, and burying your strongest training and credits.
DOs & DON'Ts
Formatting & Layout
DO keep it to one page with a clean, consistent format — your resume will be attached back-to-back with your headshot, so everything should fit together cleanly.
DO NOT go crazy with design elements. A resume that's hard to read because of a busy template works against you, not for you.
DO include your basic info at the top: name, contact info, height, and vocal range/type (although it’s OK to leave this off, because as high school students your voice is growing and changing!) And consider adding a small photo (ideally the one you use as your headshot) in the top left or right corner!
DO NOT include Eye Color/Hair Color/Weight. Those elements aren't needed on your resume!
Content & Categories
DO organize by clear categories (Musical Theatre, Theatre, Training, Special Skills, etc) and think about how you want to order your performance credits. If you want to show growth, you can list the years. But if you have varied credits (some ensemble, some leading roles), you could list the shows in order of importance.
DO NOT pad your resume with every credit you've ever had — if it doesn't reflect where you are now, it's time to cut it.
DO be honest. There is no need to embellish. If there are training categories you haven’t really studied, it’s OK to leave them off — faculty aren't expecting you to already know it all. Remember – You're going to school to learn!
Special Skills
DO think carefully about this section — it can get silly or unprofessional fast, but it's also where your personality and passions get to shine.
DO be specific. A detailed, genuine skill tells faculty more than a generic one.
DO NOT list anything you couldn't back up if someone asked you to show it in the room.
Final Check
DO have someone else read it over before you submit — a second set of eyes catches what you'll miss after staring at it too long.
DO NOT submit the same resume you used a few years ago without a real refresh first.
Bringing It All Together
Your headshot gives faculty a first impression. Your resume gives them a deeper dive into your training and background. Together, they're the front and back cover of the book— enough to make faculty want to open it up and find out more.
So, here are your next steps to finalize these pieces of the puzzle:
Pick your headshot (or schedule the shoot) — use the DOs/DON'Ts guide above as your checklist
Edit your resume — clean, clear, and easy to read is the key!
Build a system, whatever sticks for you, and knock these two out before you're deep in pre-screen season. And if you'd rather not figure it all out solo — that's exactly what we're here for.
How Aspire Can Help
If you're a senior in the thick of pre-screens right now, we know your plate is FULL. Aspire helps students polish these materials, so they show up as their fullest, most honest selves.
If you're a junior (or younger) reading this and thinking, "there’s SO much to plan for" — good news: you have time. Starting early on your headshot and resume means you walk into senior fall already ahead, instead of scrambling to catch up.
At Aspire, we offer a comprehensive, all-inclusive approach to college audition prep—live coaching, personalized repertoire selection, and one-on-one support every step of the way.
From the moment you sign up until results—and beyond— we're here to guide you every step of the way.
Ready to lighten your load and have less stress during college audition season?
📢 Learn more about Aspire and book a FREE 30-minute consult today!
Remember, you're not alone in this journey. With the right team by your side, even the toughest process becomes manageable — and, dare we say, enjoyable. 💛