ello! My name’s Robin Savage. I’m a professional headshot photographer and I’ve been photographing actors and performers to give them their headshots and promotional photographs since 2007. I have two passions in life – theatre and photography. I went to drama school in the 90s and soon after graduation I signed with PFD (who became United Agents). I worked for a while in theatre and TV but as my eye as a photographer developed it soon became obvious my skill set was much more suited to photographing actors and helping them get into castings instead of being limp competition for them.

Over the years my clients have worked in plays and musicals in the West End, at the National Theatre, the RSC and theatres all round the world. They’ve worked in feature films, major television dramas, soaps, sitcoms, sketch shows and commercials. Of course I’m not taking credit for that, they’re the talented ones who nailed the auditions but having a strong, engaging, representative headshot is one of the main contributing factors to getting actors in the room in the first place.

I’m a bit of a headshot geek if truth be told. I love working with actors and nothing gets me going more than working 1-on-1 with them, knowing together we’re creating something to help reach their goals in their career.

In 2016 a collection of the UK’s leading headshot photographers formed the Association of Professional Headshot Photographers, an organisation committed to promoting and upholding the highest quality in performers’ headshot photography. Strict criteria need to be met to become approved by the APHP and I’m proud to be a founder member of the association.

As well as headshots I shoot production photographs for theatres. My photos have been seen outside theatres in the West End and all round the UK. I’ve been published in the Stage, national broadsheets and glossy magazines and I’ve been featured in several professional photography magazines. My first book of portraits D-Day – The Last of the Liberators was published in April 2014 and is available on Amazon.

How I work

My sessions are very relaxed but focussed. I see a maximum of two people per day to give us plenty of time to work through and get what you need. A stack ‘em high conveyor belt service this is not.

Each session starts with a cup of tea and a chat to give you a chance to settle in to the session and for me to find out where you are in your career and (crucially) where you want your career to go, what kind of actor you are and what you want your headshots to say. We’ll look at your tops, discuss hair and make up, make some choices then get to work.

I think a big part of making your headshots work is building a relationship between me and you. Casting directors, producers, agents and directors quite often will only see a headshot for a few seconds so it’s vital your headshot lifts of the page or screen – that you’re making eye contact with the viewer of the image – because these days a headshot has to be striking at thumbnail size. And that’s what I base my sessions around, engaging with you so you’re engaged in the photo. It’s about cracking your casting and producing striking pictures that show that off.

I work hard to make sure my sessions are fun. You can read what some previous clients have said about my work and sessions here.

Where I work

In the summer of 2014 I had my own studio built at my home in north London, which offers us flexibility and a private customised space to work in (see the pic at the top of the page).

If there’s anything more you’d like to know about my sessions give me a call or drop me an email and I’ll answer any questions you have.