An easy guide to maximum photo file sizes for casting websites

by Chris Violette

Actors and models have many online portals to choose from to post profiles and images for casting opportunities. Some may use only one or two but most use several. Unfortunately, the requirements for the size of the images you post typically vary from site to site. Some sites don’t necessarily even make it easy to discern the maximum size of the files you can upload.

Although these sites usually also have a minimum file size, I’m focusing on the maximum file sizes that they allow because that’s generally what you want to use. Some may say the larger the file the longer it will take for the image to load. That may be true for folks who are online with a modem but by and large the bandwidth of those computers and internet connections your target viewers will have is much more than sufficient.

In addition to a high resolution file of a retouched image that my clients receive which they can use for print, I also give them optional file sizes specifically intended for the various casting websites. You may ask your photographer to do it for you as well though it’s rather uncommon. Consequently, you may need to resize your images yourself.

You can resize your photos in Photoshop, presuming you have some experience with it, or more simply in Apple’s Preview program by opening a file, selecting ‘Tools’, then ‘Adjust Size’, make the necessary changes, then save the file under a different name (so as not to replace the original). You can also use sites like www.picresize.com or www.shrinkpictures.com.

The maximum file sizes you may need sometimes include dimensions based on pixels. In no particular order:

 

IMDb – JPG under 15mb

Casting Frontier – JPG under 5mb

Casting Networks – JPG under 4mb

Breakdowns/Actors Access – 20mb

Now Casting – JPG under 5mb

Model Mayhem – 4000px by 1000px, JPG under 1mb

 

For social networking, you may also need to resize your images as follows:

 

Twitter – JPG under 5mb

Facebook – Regular pics: 720px, 960px, 2048px (width); Cover – 851px by 315px

Instagram – 1080px by 1080px

 

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Break legs,

 

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