Michael Helms Photography

Michael Helms is one of the most experienced headshot photographers in the Los Angeles market, with over 35 years of professional photography experience — nearly four decades of continuous work that has given him an encyclopedic understanding of lighting, expression, and the specific demands of actor headshot photography. Operating from his studio at 10349 Siesta Drive in Shadow Hills, approximately 10 minutes north of Burbank, Helms works in a quieter, more residential setting that provides a welcome contrast to the frenetic energy of Hollywood and central LA studios. His career has included photographing major Hollywood talent including Kate Hudson, Tim Curry, and Angelina Jolie, alongside thousands of working actors at every career level. Casting directors regularly refer actors to Helms, and his longevity in the market reflects the consistent quality and reliability of his work — in an industry where photographers come and go, maintaining a thriving practice for over 35 years requires delivering results that keep clients and their representatives coming back. His expertise in lighting is particularly renowned, with the ability to sculpt and flatter virtually any face shape and skin tone through precise, intentional illumination.

In 2025, Michael Helms Photography continues to serve the Los Angeles acting community with the same dedication to quality and versatility that has defined his practice for over three decades. Helms excels at capturing both commercial and theatrical looks within a single session — his adaptable style allows him to shift seamlessly between warm, approachable commercial shots and more intense, dramatic theatrical portraits, ensuring actors walk away with images suitable for every submission category. His lighting expertise is the technical foundation of his versatility, as the ability to modify lighting setups quickly and precisely between looks allows him to create dramatically different moods and qualities within a single session. The Shadow Hills studio provides a professional, controlled environment with the added benefit of a calm, residential neighborhood setting that many actors find more relaxing than urban studio locations. Helms offers both standard headshot sessions and workshop-format sessions that combine photography with extended consultation and coaching, providing actors who want deeper guidance with a more comprehensive experience.

Booking a session with Michael Helms involves contacting the studio through michaelhelms.com. Helms offers multiple session formats, including standard headshot sessions and workshop-style sessions priced at approximately $500 to $600 for three-hour sessions that include consultation, coaching, and photography. The workshop format is particularly valuable for actors who want more than a straightforward photo session — the extended time allows Helms to share his 35-plus years of industry insight on topics like how casting directors evaluate headshots, what agents look for in submission photos, and how to present yourself most effectively across different casting categories. Pre-session guidance covers wardrobe selection, grooming, and the specific looks the actor wants to achieve. The Shadow Hills location, approximately 10 minutes north of Burbank, is easily accessible from the Valley studio corridor and provides ample free parking — a practical benefit that Hollywood and central LA studios often cannot offer.

The Michael Helms session experience is characterized by his decades of accumulated expertise in lighting, direction, and the specific technical demands of headshot photography. Helms' lighting technique is his signature — he understands how to use light to sculpt facial features, minimize imperfections, create dimensional depth, and produce the specific quality of illumination that makes a headshot look simultaneously professional and natural. His direction draws on 35-plus years of working with actors at every experience level, from first-time headshot subjects to A-list celebrities, giving him an intuitive understanding of how to put different personality types at ease and draw out authentic expressions. Sessions include multiple look changes with wardrobe guidance informed by Helms' deep understanding of what photographs effectively and what casting professionals respond to. The workshop-format sessions extend the photography experience with educational content about the headshot industry, providing actors with strategic understanding of how their headshots function within the broader casting ecosystem.

Michael Helms' client base spans the full spectrum of the entertainment industry — from Oscar-nominated performers and series regulars who need headshots reflecting their established status, to mid-career working actors updating their materials, to newcomers building their first professional portfolios. His celebrity credits (Kate Hudson, Tim Curry, Angelina Jolie) demonstrate his ability to work with high-profile talent whose representatives demand the highest quality, while his accessibility to everyday working actors shows that his services are not reserved exclusively for industry elite. Casting directors who refer actors to Helms do so based on decades of positive experience with his results, and the referral network he has built over 35-plus years represents genuine industry endorsement of his work. The Shadow Hills location draws clients primarily from the San Fernando Valley and Burbank areas, though actors from across greater Los Angeles make the trip for his specialized expertise.

Michael Helms' workshop-style sessions are priced at approximately $500 to $600 for three-hour sessions that include consultation, coaching, and photography — a format that provides significantly more time and educational content than standard headshot sessions from other photographers. Standard headshot session pricing is available by contacting the studio directly. Compared to premium photographers charging $695 to $1,500-plus per session, Helms offers competitive pricing that reflects his extensive experience and celebrity credentials without the extreme premium that some top-tier photographers command. The workshop format represents particularly strong value for actors who benefit from extended time and educational guidance — the three-hour duration allows for unhurried photography plus the strategic industry insight that Helms has accumulated over 35 years. For actors on tighter budgets, the standard session format provides his expert lighting and direction at a more accessible investment level.

Michael Helms is an excellent choice for actors who value deep expertise, exceptional lighting technique, and the strategic industry insight that only comes from 35-plus years of continuous professional headshot photography practice. The workshop-format sessions are particularly valuable for actors who want more than just photographs — the educational component provides strategic understanding of how headshots function in the casting ecosystem that can inform not just this session but every future headshot decision. If you are based in the Valley or Burbank area, the Shadow Hills location is conveniently accessible. If the commute from other areas of LA is a concern, other photographers on this list may be more geographically convenient. For actors who prioritize lighting quality and technical precision above all other factors, Helms' 35 years of lighting expertise produces results that few photographers can match. Review his recent portfolio work before booking to ensure his current style aligns with your vision and casting needs.

Contact the studio through michaelhelms.com to discuss session options and determine whether the standard or workshop format better serves your needs — the workshop is ideal if you want education and strategy alongside photography, while the standard session is more efficient for actors who know exactly what they want. Plan your drive to Shadow Hills during off-peak hours if you are coming from central LA or the Westside — the location is easy to reach with light traffic but can be a slog during rush hour. Ask Helms about his lighting approach for your specific skin tone and face shape — his 35 years of lighting experience means he likely has solutions for any challenge, and discussing this in advance allows him to prepare setups optimized for your features. Bring at least four wardrobe options in solid colors and ask for Helms' guidance on which options photograph best — his decades of experience provide informed wardrobe advice that can significantly improve your final images. If you choose the workshop format, come prepared with questions about the headshot industry, casting platform requirements, and submission strategy — Helms' accumulated knowledge is a valuable resource that you should take full advantage of during the extended session time.