What to Wear for Your Professional Headshot Session
What you wear to your headshot session matters more than you might think. The right outfit can make you look polished and professional. The wrong one can undermine an otherwise perfect photo.
The Basics
Solid colors work best. Busy patterns, logos, and graphics distract from your face. Navy, charcoal, black, burgundy, and forest green photograph beautifully.
Fit matters more than style. Whatever you wear should fit properly. Too tight looks uncomfortable. Too loose looks sloppy.
Layer up. A blazer or jacket adds instant polish. You can always remove layers during the session to get different looks.
Colors to Avoid
Bright white can blow out in photos and reflect light onto your face in unflattering ways. Off white and cream work better.
Neon colors rarely photograph well. They can cast colored reflections on your skin.
Busy patterns like small stripes or plaids can create visual distortion in photos. Stick to solids.
Industry Specific Tips
Tech and startups: Smart casual is perfectly acceptable. A nice shirt without a tie, or a clean sweater, works well.
Finance and law: More formal is expected. Suits, ties, and professional attire.
Creative industries: You have more flexibility. Show personality while still looking put together.
Healthcare: Clean and professional. Lab coats can work if that is part of your professional identity.
Practical Considerations
Bring options. I recommend 2 to 3 outfit changes so we can try different looks during the session.
Iron everything. Wrinkles show up in photos. Steam or iron your clothes the morning of.
Avoid brand new clothes. Wear the outfit at least once before the session so you know it fits and feels comfortable.
Grooming
Get haircuts a week before, not the day of. Fresh haircuts can look too sharp in photos.
Keep makeup natural. Heavy makeup looks obvious in professional photos. Enhance rather than transform.
For men, decide if you want to be clean shaven or keep facial hair. Either works, but avoid the in between stubble look unless that is your normal style.