What to wear for your professional headshots
I get asked this a lot by my headshot clients!
I love helping people get great photos, which is why I always recommend taking some time to plan your outfits ahead of your shoot. This will save time and stress on the day and will help you look great and feel confident in front of the camera.
1 Before you start…
…take a minute to think about who will be looking at your headshot.
Try to put yourself in your client’s or future employer’s shoes. How do they expect your headshot to look? While a professional headshot in formal attire is still the norm in some industries, a quick search on the internet (or my headshot page) will show you a range of different headshot looks.
Your headshot outfit should reflect the sector you work in and the impression you want to give your audience. It’s fine for a fitness instructor to wear sportswear for their headshots, but probably not for a solicitor. And remember, your photo should look like you, so that when a potential employer or client meets you for the first time they recognise you from your photo.
2 Colour in headshots
Most people know what they look good in. It’s important that you feel comfortable and confident in the colours you choose to wear in your headshots, as this confidence will come across in the photos.
If you’re not sure which colours suit you think about when people have complimented you on your outfit and which colours you were wearing. Or I’d recommend having a colour consultation – I had one a few years ago and it was a revelation!
All-white or all-black can look either very bright or very dark in the final image and lose detail, particularly if your photograph is being taken against a plain white or black backdrop. You can add a splash of colour by adding a scarf or other accessories, or use a contrasting background.
And don’t forget that colour plays an important role in conveying information non-verbally, creating certain moods, and even influencing the decisions people make. For example greens and blues suggest harmony and peace while yellow is the tone of new ideas.
3 Branding
Colour isn’t just about what you’re wearing.
If you plan to use your headshots on your website or social media, make sure your outfit complements your branding colours. You don’t have to ‘match’ your brand but if your logo, colour pallet and website design are light and airy with soft pastels for example, wearing a brightly coloured geometric print shirt will look out of place. So make you’re in sync!
And obviously you should avoid wearing anything with a brand name or logo, unless it’s your own company name of course.
4 Accessories
If you like to wear accessories, do. These can be a great way of bringing your branding colours into your photos. But don’t overdo it as too much can be distracting in the final photo.
5 Patterns
The same goes for patterns.
Patterns can work well in headshots but they key is balance. Subtle prints – like fine stripes, soft checks, or understated textures – can add interest without overwhelming the image.
But very bold, busy or high-contrast patterns can draw attention away from your face. We want people to notice you before your outfit!
And remember to consider the background of your shoot, so your outfit doesn’t clash with it or you don’t blend in! The aim is contrast and harmony.
6 Comfort
It’s important that you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. And I mean physically comfortable!
I like to make photoshoots as relaxed and enjoyable as possible and the last thing you’ll want is to be breathing in the whole time or worried about whether your top has slipped.
Make sure you’re wearing something that you don’t need to keep adjusting or fiddling with, as this will break the flow of the shoot. The more relaxed, comfortable and focused on the photographer’s directions you are the better the end result.
Most headshots are just that, a photo of your head and shoulders, so it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing on your bottom half as long as you’re comfortable. But if you’re having longer length photos, or if you’ll be sitting down, then your trousers or skirt need to fit the bill (and fit you too!). Avoid a tight waistband that will cut into you or a skirt that rides up when you sit down.
7 Slippers or stilettos?
Photoshoots can be tiring and you could be on your feet for a while, so comfortable footwear is important. I have actually photographed people wearing slippers (nobody will know except me and you!) but if you prefer a pair of killer heels to give you some confidence then go for it!
Obviously if you’re having longer length photos and your feet are likely to be in shot, then your shoes and socks should be considered in your outfit choice (and clean!)
8 Less is more
You may want to avoid sleeveless tops as bare arms can highlight the contrast between the tone and colour of your arms and your face. And, as headshots are often taken slightly from the side, you also risk showing your armpits in certain positions!
The same goes for low necklines as lots of skin can distract attention from the face in the final image and is best avoided.
Unless of course it’s a style statement and fits with the tone you’d like to convey. I think bare shoulders are completely fine in this headshot of a Pilates teacher for example.
9 Mix it up a bit
Not all your photos have to be in ‘workwear’.
My ‘More Than A Headshot‘ service provides the opportunity for a change of outfit and the chance to show some of your personality in more relaxed lifestyle images. You can wear something more casual, as long as it’s appropriate and a reflection of your brand or your industry.
Many of my male clients like to have headshots taken in a jacket and tie and also some less formal shots in just an open neck shirt for example. It’s a good way of adding variety to your website and social media.
10 Team photos
If you’re planning headshots for a team, a little coordination goes a long way.
You don’t need everyone in matching outfits, but choosing a shared colour palette or overall tone will help the images feel cohesive when viewed together – whether that’s on your website, social media or marketing materials.
Think complementary shades rather than exact matches, ideally tying in with your company colours for a polished, professional look.
It’s also important that everyone has a similar level of formality. If some people are in suits while others are dressed casually it can look disjointed. So agree in advance whether the look is smart, relaxed, or somewhere in between, so everyone feels consistent and the final set of images works well as a whole.
And finally…
Remember that this is just a guide. One of the most important things is that you are happy and comfortable with what you are wearing. And that you feel like YOU!
What’s next?
If you or your company needs a headshot refresh, you can find out more about my headshot photography service here.
About Michelle Richards Photography
Hi, I’m Michelle and I’ve been a professional headshot photographer here in Bromley for over 10 years.
Lots of my clients are small business owners, juggling work with life and family – just like me! I understand that having your photograph taken can feel a bit nerve-racking, that’s totally normal and why I try to make my photoshoots as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.
As well as individuals and business owners I also work with larger companies looking to update their website. Before I became a professional photographer I had management roles in both the public sector and private sector so I know how to work with people at all levels. A key skill for putting people at ease in front of a camera.
My aim is to make everyone look their best self!