What Should You Wear for Headshots?
You booked the headshots. Now comes the question almost everyone asks me:
“Okay…what am I supposed to wear?”
First, you do not need to go buy an entirely new wardrobe for your headshots. In fact, most of the time, I’d rather you wear something you already own, love, and feel good in.
The goal isn’t to look like a different version of yourself. You should still look like you—just the confident, put-together version.
Whether you’re coming in by yourself or taking headshots as a couple, here are a few things I recommend.
If You’re Taking Individual Headshots
Start with something you feel good in.
This is always my first piece of advice.
If you put something on and immediately start tugging at it, adjusting it, or wondering if it looks okay, it probably isn’t the outfit for your headshots.
Choose something that fits well and makes you feel confident. That confidence really does show in your photos.
Solid colors are always a safe choice.
You don’t have to avoid patterns, but solids tend to photograph really well and keep the attention on your face.
Neutrals are always great—black, cream, tan, navy, gray, brown—but don't be afraid of color if that feels more like you.
A rich green, blue, burgundy, rust, or even a brighter color can photograph beautifully.
The biggest thing I’d avoid is anything that is extremely busy or distracting.
Think about where you're going to use the photos.
Are these primarily for LinkedIn? Your company website? Your church staff page? Social media? Speaking engagements?
Dress for the places your headshot needs to represent you.
If you normally wear a suit to work, bring the suit.
If your business is much more casual and people would never see you in a blazer, you don't necessarily need to wear one just because you're having professional photos taken.
Professional doesn't have to mean formal.
Layers are your friend.
A jacket, blazer, cardigan, or overshirt can give us another look without you completely changing outfits.
We can photograph a few images with the layer on and then take it off for something a little more relaxed.
It's one of the easiest ways to get more variety from your session.
Pay attention to the neckline.
Your headshot is cropped much tighter than a normal portrait, which means the top portion of your outfit matters.
Choose a neckline that lays well and doesn't require constant adjusting.
Also keep in mind that very high necklines can sometimes feel heavy in a tight crop, while extremely low necklines may look even lower once the image is cropped.
Don't forget the little things.
Make sure your clothes are wrinkle-free if possible. Check for lint. Think about jewelry, glasses, hair, and anything else that will be visible around your face.
For jewelry, I usually recommend keeping it fairly simple unless statement jewelry is part of your normal style or brand.
And yes—you can absolutely wear your glasses. If people normally see you in them, I want your headshot to look like the person they're actually going to meet.
What Should Couples Wear for Headshots?
When I'm photographing a husband and wife, ministry couple, business partners, or another pair together, there's one big rule:
Coordinate. Don't match.
You don't need matching shirts. Actually, please don't feel like you need matching shirts.
Instead, think about your outfits as if they belong in the same photograph.
Choose a similar level of dress.
If one person is wearing a full suit and tie and the other is wearing a casual sweater, the photo can feel disconnected.
You don't have to wear the same thing, but you should look like you're headed to the same place.
For example:
Suit + dress
Blazer + blouse
Button-down + nice top
Business casual + business casual
Watch your colors.
You don't need identical colors. Instead, choose colors that work well together.
If one person is wearing navy, the other might wear cream, camel, soft blue, or another complementary color.
If one person has a pattern, I usually recommend keeping the other person's outfit more simple.
The goal is for you to be what people notice—not your outfits competing with each other.
Think about the individual photos, too.
This one is important.
If we're taking both individual headshots and a photo of you together, each outfit needs to work on its own.
Don't choose something just because it coordinates perfectly with your spouse. Make sure you also love how you look in it.
One Last Thing: Bring Options
If you're stuck between two outfits, bring both.
Seriously.
I'd much rather have you show up with an extra shirt, jacket, or blouse and let us decide than have you spend the entire drive wondering if you chose the wrong thing.
And if you're unsure beforehand, send me a picture. I'm happy to help you decide.
At the end of the day, your headshot shouldn't feel stiff, overly corporate, or like you're trying to be somebody you're not.
It should look like you on a really good day.
That's what we're going for.