One of the most common questions we get asked is “What should I wear??” Well, we’re here to help! The goal of every headshot and branding session we do is to create the perfect image that captures the personality of the person in the photograph. We want them to appear approachable, professional, and as experts in their field. Below are some basic tips we’ve come up with over the years. Not all of them apply to every situation, but it’s a great starting point. The tips below will help ensure that you are making the best first impression possible. But if you need more help, we are just a call away!
1. Wear properly fitting clothes
Nothing radiates success like a perfectly tailored outfit. Clothes that don’t fit properly make you look unkempt and unprepared. For traditional mid-waist up headshots, your clothing will have less effect on the overall look of the photos, but if you are coming in for a branding session or need full length photos, it is important to consider fit from head to toe.
A few things to consider when choosing your clothing:
– The age of the item of clothing. Favorite outfits can begin to look dated or show signs of their age. Watch for faded colors, especially along creases, loose threads and any stains.
– Have you recently gained or lost weight? This can make a big difference in how tailored your clothing appears.
– For men: Are you wearing a collared shirt with a tie? Your collar needs to be buttoned if you are wearing a tie, so you will need to make sure the collar is not too tight. It is unflattering and very uncomfortable to wear a too tight collar, so be sure to check!
– Sometimes it’s best to begin anew! New or freshly tailored clothing typically brings confidence, not to mention, it looks crisp and fresh.
2. Choose the right colors
You’ll want to look for items that flatter your skin tone. Your goal is to choose an outfit that contrasts with your skin and the background. For a standard headshot the best options are neutral colors like black, grey, or navy. For branding sessions, you may want to include a color relating to your brand, or show off your personality with something a little more wild. No matter what type of session you are doing, pick accent colors that match your eyes. Avoid colors too close to your skin tone as this can make you look washed out, or play a trick on the eyes that you aren’t wearing that article of clothing. Choose clothing pieces that are much darker or much lighter than your skin tone to create contrast.
3. Wear Solids
Solid colors typically translate better than patterns in photographs, plus some people may have an unconscious bias towards a certain pattern. You want people to look at your photo and think “Wow, they look polished and professional!”, rather than ” Wow, that’s an ugly jacket!” Again, if you are doing a branding session, there may be a place for patterns, but that’s something we can discuss!
4. Wear appropriate clothing
Consider the type of work you do, and then think about the person who you most look up to in that field. What would they wear? If you’re hunting for a job, remember to think about the job you want, not the job you have. That may require a step up in what you might normally wear. Women should avoid items that show bra straps, and low cut tops. Both can distract from your face. Men, if you are wearing a tie, make sure it is not distracting. Choose subtle patterns and remember to button your collar!
5. Wear clothing that contrasts with the background
We often shoot outside or in your place of work. In that case you most likely don’t want to wear green, because you want to pop off of the background. If we’re shooting in your place of work, consider the colors there. All of this will be discussed in your consultation, so we will help you pick if you’re having trouble!
6. Choose appropriate accessories
Accessories should be subtle. You don’t want anything pulling focus from your face, so it’s best that jewelry, scarves, ties and nail polish be subtle. Be sure to avoid busy patterns, bright colors like red, yellow and orange, flashy jewelry, wrinkled clothing and old worn items. Less is more when it comes to accessories!
7. Make sure your clothing is properly pressed
Wrinkled clothing sends the message that you didn’t plan well or don’t care enough to take the time to remove the wrinkles. Always hang your clothing after it has been pressed or dry cleaned and if at all possible bring it with you hanging.
8. Bring multiple outfit choices with you
Especially jackets or blazers. If something isn’t photographing as you would like, you’ll have a second option to throw on and save the day.
9. Leave the casual clothes at home
Unless your job requires a headshot in a polo or t-shirt, leave them at home! Jeans are also not typically great for headshots, but there can be cases where jeans work. Do not wear anything with a logo on it.
10. And finally…
Always consult with your photographer before your session to make sure the clothing you have chosen works with the location and setting of your session. We will discuss this during your consultation and can even set you up with a stylist if you need one.
