“What should I wear?”
This is the question we get asked most often and we understand why. Choosing what to wear for your headshot session can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. In this blog, we’re going to lay out everything you need to know about which clothes to choose.
Let’s get started!
First, we always tell our clients to feel free to bring multiple tops. This gives us the option to shoot variations, whether that’s with & without jackets, hats, ties, and jewelry.
With this in mind, here are a few general guidelines to help you look your best on the day of your headshot session.
Choose well-fitting clothes
Well-fitting clothes are THE most important aspect of choosing clothing that flatters you. You may be tempted to wear something that fits close enough, but trust us, you don’t want to do that. Since a headshot is only taken from the torso and above, the fit of your top becomes that much more important.
Know your industry
How do the people in your industry dress? Knowing the answer to that question will steer you in the right direction when you don’t know where to start. It helps to do a quick Google search to see what the norm is for your industry.
For example, lawyers that work at traditional law firms tend to stick to formal outfits with darker colors, whereas someone working in a startup would dress more casually with lighter colors.
Choose colors & patterns wisely
Generally, we recommend you choose solid color clothes and or non-bold patterns. Simple clothes will lead people’s eyes to your beautiful face instead of stealing the show.
Mind the background
We’ve found dark clothing tends to compliment dark backgrounds and light clothing light backgrounds. If you keep this in mind your headshot will grab people’s attention with ease.
Now for some more specific recommendations:
For men, a button-up dress shirt under a jacket is a classic look that you can’t go wrong with. If you’ll be wearing a tie, make sure that you choose a knot that works well with your collar type and that there’s no gap between the knot and collar.
For women, jewel tones usually photograph especially well since they complement most skin tones. If you’ll be wearing jewelry, we suggest keeping it as minimal as possible. Less is more.
Whew! That was a lot of information, but before you go we’d like to end with this final thought.
While we provided you with specific recommendations in this blog, these recommendations are just that, recommendations. Depending on your end goal, industry, and personal brand, some of them might not be applicable to you. You know yourself best so don’t feel the need to follow everything down to a tee. You may want to infuse some personality into what you wear. Be aware of the general guidelines while staying true to yourself. That’s what it comes down to.
There you have it!
If you have any questions about what to wear to your headshot session, please feel free to reach out! We’re happy to help.
