Photography Terminology

Photography Terminology. Really?

Maybe this is just me. Not sure. But here I go. ‘Headshot’, or ‘head shot’. With what’s happening around the world today, this is one title I will never call myself: a ‘headshot’ photographer. I don’t ‘shoot’ ‘head shots’. I will say very easily though that I am a portrait photographer, or that I practice portraiture, or I create photographic portraits of people. But ‘headshot’? Sorry, that’s just not a term that sits well with my conscience. I mean I get it, that it’s a term used in the movie industry back in the 50’s for up-and-coming actors to hire a photographer to create an image of them, only showing their head and shoulders, that can be used to find acting gigs. Fine. It’s just that I think this is one of a few photographic terms that is long past due for a refresh. What’s wrong with calling it an actor’s portrait? Seems understandable to me. Or Actor’s Image. That works. The modelling industry uses what is called a Composite Card, or Comp Card. Sounds professional, and if you’re in the know, you get it. Although the front side does contain the main ‘head shot’. But why even call it that! Just include the image: “This is me!”, “However, if by chance you’re still in doubt, just flip it over and you’ll see all the details about me”! ‘Head shot’. And why the term ‘shot’? Or ‘shoot’? Who’s being ‘shot’? I’m certainly not ‘shooting’ anyone, I’m just holding a camera, pressing a button, and it magically records whatever is in front of it. And if it’s a person, well you’ve just ‘captured’ their likeness, which later can be rendered into a digital or print-form image. Then people will later say: “Great shot!”, if it is actually any good (to them). But sorry, I don’t ‘shoot’ anyone. And I don’t ‘take’ a ‘shot’. I create. The camera records; I create. Simple. I’m not ‘capturing’ anything either. Yes, you’re free to go now, I haven’t ‘captured’ you! I mean think about it, did Leonardo da Vince ‘capture’ a ‘head shot’ of Lisa del Giocondo? Did he ‘shoot’ her? Did anyone ever in the history of the world say, “What a great ‘shot’, Vince”? Nope! But he certainly did paint a beautiful portrait. There’s even an organization called The Headshot Crew, developed by the amazing Peter Hurley (love his work, read his book, watched the vids – he rocks!), that has an ‘ARMY’ of ‘headshot’ togs flooding the industry worldwide! Oh my, now we’ll never lose this term…! So no, please reframe from calling me a ‘headshot’ photographer. But yes, I am in fact a portrait photographer practising photographic portraiture. And there is nothing more thrilling to me than to create a beautiful portrait of a subject. Priceless, in fact. And whenever I am blessed with this opportunity, my goal is always to try and create a once-in-a-lifetime image. Not for me. For the subject. Thoughts?

Thank you for being here, and for your time.

Michael Gordon White, October 18, 2025