Writing as a photographer, the choice of framing is always a primary consideration when composing a shot. I always shoot in both horizontal and vertical frame, although most shots of a single person are in the vertical frame. Here are some comparisons of horizontal-frame color headshots (landscape) and vertical-frame headshots (portrait).
Newer Widescreen-format Headshots (Horizontal frame)
Click for a Sharper Image
Traditional Portrait-format Headshots (Vertical frame)
Click for a Sharper Image
Which to Ask For?
When you are getting your headshots done, which format should you ask for? If you have an agent, then obviously you can ask them which they want. But I would bet dollars to donuts that your agent will ask for the traditional vertical headshot.
If you don’t have an agent, you will have to just to talk with acting friends and other people in the industry and see what they are doing. Then make your decision. Maybe the best would be to shoot half of each so you have a choice.
In my opinion, the widescreen format would be good for acting for film and television because because it resembles the wide screen frame of feature films and HD television.
For commercial modeling, the traditional vertical format is more like a magazine page, so I think portrait-style is better for models.
This is all just my personal opinion and not to be taken as any kind of recommendation.
