How to Dress for Your Headshot or Branding Session

Wear properly fitting clothes.

Nothing radiates success like a perfectly tailored outfit. Clothes that do not fit properly can make you look unprepared, especially for branding sessions or full-length photos.

• Watch for faded colors, loose threads, wrinkles, and stains.
• Choose clothing that fits your current body comfortably.
• For men wearing ties, make sure the collar buttons comfortably.
• Freshly tailored or newer clothing usually photographs best.

Choose the right colors.

Look for colors that flatter your skin tone and create contrast with your background. For classic headshots, black, gray, navy, and other neutrals are always strong choices.

Wear solids.

Solid colors usually photograph better than patterns. The focus should stay on your face, your expression, and your confidence — not a distracting jacket, shirt, or print.

Dress for the role you want.

Consider your industry and the impression you want to make. If you are job hunting, dress for the job you want, not just the one you have.

Contrast with the background.

If we are photographing outdoors or in your workplace, consider the colors around you. You want to stand out from the background, not blend into it.

Keep accessories subtle.

Jewelry, scarves, ties, and nail polish should support your look without pulling focus from your face. Less is usually more.

Make sure clothing is pressed.

Wrinkled clothing can make an otherwise polished photo feel unfinished. Press or dry clean your outfit ahead of time and bring it hanging if possible.

Bring multiple outfit choices.

Extra options are helpful, especially jackets or blazers. If something is not photographing the way you hoped, we can quickly switch to a stronger option.

Leave casual clothes at home.

Unless your work specifically calls for a polo, t-shirt, or jeans, choose something more polished. Avoid logos unless they are intentionally part of your brand.

When in doubt, ask.

We will discuss clothing during your consultation and help make sure your outfit works with the location, background, and style of your session.