Most common are off-white, gray, light blue or any color that comes through with a gentle gray tone. If you are taking the photographs outside, again be sure there is nothing distracting to the eye in the background. A headshot s background will probably be mostly out of focus anyway. Many talent agencies have contracts with photographers and can direct you right to their studio. But if that is the course you choose be prepared to spend at least a couple hundred dollars.
Headshots are a necessity for every actor.
Photographers know that. They will charge you as much as they can get away with. And then on top of that you have to duplicate the finished product a few hundred times, especially if you are auditioning several times a week. When an actor auditions, he hands over the headshot to the casting director, and he never gets it back. It is always a good idea to have lots of copies, more copies than you think you'll need is enough.