This is Jai Khalsa.  This headshot sells Jai as someone high up on the social ladder.  She’s rich, connected and knows exactly what she’s doing.

But this headshot also shows a good bit of acting range on Jai’s part.  Is she about to tell you a secret that will ruin your entire life or is she about to confess that her husband has left her (yet again)?  There’s a mystery to this headshot with is very compelling.

Part of this mystery comes from Jai turning her head to face the camera with her back turned.  This is not a new way to shoot a photograph although it’s often eschewed in headshots.  It can often be hard to get a good picture of someone’s face when they’re turned away from you.  Makes sense.  But this headshot works because Jai turns just enough to show 3/4 of her face but not enough to take away the mystery.

Now it’s time to reveal Jai’s secret:  She’s a total goofball.  She’s fun, silly and cracks up laughing all the time in her normal conversations.  She’s got piles of headshots with amazing commercial smiles.  She was searching for something to sell herself as something more, as an actress.  This photo tells the casting community, “Jai can do more than just smile and be silly.”