What To Wear For Your Professional Headshot Photo Session

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language." -- Miuccia Prada

woman posing for a headshot in Houston, TX wearing a pink ruffled blouse and a black tweed blazer

Whether it’s something to look forward to or dread every morning, the way we dress communicates information about our identity both in and outside of the workplace, which has a great deal of impact on how others see us and what they believe about us. The clothing we wear speaks to our sense of how we want to show up in the world, which communicates not only the more obvious message about what kind of work we might do, but also the more nuanced ideas of what we value, how much influence and credibility we have, and might even give clues as to how intelligent we are and even how much money we make. These subtle factors can all play into decisions that hiring managers, supervisors, coworkers, and clients might make about us…whether or not to consider us trustworthy and reliable topping the list.

Beyond having the right pose for your professional headshot and portrait style to suit the look you are going for (both of which I’ll cover in future posts), what you choose to wear in your headshots will help establish your professional identity within your network. Since most people will see your headshot before they meet you, your wardrobe in professional headshots is also an important part of making a great first impression.

As you prepare for your headshot session, consider these wardrobe tips and tricks for great professional portraits! 

Style Tips For Your Professional Headshot

Young business man with brown hair, blue eyes and a beard posing for a studio headshot in Houston, TX wearing a navy suit, white dress shirt and yellow tie.

Dress for your industry - and like your industry’s leaders.

Clothing expectations vary widely by industry. Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, bankers, etc. will likely be expected to have a more formal appearance, while creative and technical fields might encourage a more casual approach to clothing. The saying “Dress for the job you want” absolutely applies here. When in doubt, look to your supervisor (or the heavy hitters in your industry if you’re self-employed) to get a read on wardrobe expectations, and then take it up a notch from there.

woman posing for a studio headshot in Houston TX, wearing a black silk button-down blouse and black skirt, leaning against a white wall.

Less is more.

Simple clothing photographs best. Solid colors in neutral tones or colors that complement your skin tone will work best. Wear jackets as needed according to the look you are going for. For women, details such as textures, interesting necklines, ruffles, etc. are all good and bring a bit of life to the image. Large, colorful patterns are generally not recommended unless it is an intentional choice to support your company’s or personal brand.

Business man with glasses posing for a headshot photo wearing a plaid button down shirt and navy blazer

Avoid too-casual clothing.

Even if your everyday work attire is jeans and a casual top (or even more comfy if you work from home), consider upgrading your look with a more polished outfit for your business headshot if you want to appear more confident and trustworthy. Research suggests that donning more formal clothing elevates one’s sense of power and control, which can directly lead to more confidence when you step in front of the camera. This confidence in turn impacts your posture, presence, and expression in your headshots.

You don’t have to wear a suit to upgrade your look, though. For men, look for sweaters or shirt/blazer combos that strike the right balance between professionalism and the “I’m-not-a-corporate-accountant” vibe. Ladies can choose a more formal blouse, dress, or blazer to up-level your confidence.

Woman wearing a custom light blue button-down shirt and black skirt in a sitting pose for a studio headshot photo for LinkedIn

Opt for well-fitted clothing.

Flowy, shapeless tops and dresses are trendy, but they DO YOU NO FAVORS in photographs. Look for clothing that is fitted through the chest and torso but not too tight. Details like bell sleeves or poufy shoulders, while they look great in person, tend to add pounds when photographed, and no one wants that! For both men and women, jackets and button-down shirts should fit closely at the shoulders (but not too tight on the arms) and be fitted through the torso while buttoning comfortably and not straining at the chest or stomach. Women should also choose jackets and tops that nip in at the waist.

Include different outfits.

Consider the different people you interact with during the workday and what clothing best fits each scenario. Do you tend to wear the same types of outfits regardless of who you’re connecting with, or do you tailor your clothing choices to your audience?

If you regularly engage with different types of people throughout your day — which is often the case for entrepreneurs, consultants, and salespeople — make sure you have a headshot that fits each of your audiences. Instead of trying to make just one outfit do the heavy lifting for multiple settings, book a Signature Headshot Session or Personal Branding Session, both of which allow for multiple outfits and backdrops.

Fit man in a black short sleeve t-shirt posing with arms crossed for a headshot in Houston TX

Select simple jewelry.

The best professional headshots showcase the best version of yourself without distractions. For this reason, simple jewelry is a better choice for professional headshots – especially if your headshot will be cropped closely to your face (as most are). 

Professional headshot of a Black woman wearing a light blue blouse, black blazer and pearl necklace and earrings in Houston, TX

With your hair and makeup on point (more on that in a later post), your jewelry should just be the finishing touch. Choose a necklace that sit around the collar bone or higher so it doesn’t get cropped out. For earrings, stick with simple metal or gemstone studs; wear dangling earrings with caution. Hoop earrings and anything that dangles tends to get caught in hair or turned around and can get lost in the photo. 

Scrap the undershirt and soft collar.

Undershirts are great for protecting your shirt from sweat, but they’re not the most fashionable (and you won’t be working up a sweat in the cool studio!). Leave the undershirt at home.

Ensure your collar is stiff and stands up well, especially if you’re not wearing a tie to help give it form.

Business man with glasses poses for a headshot photo in Houston TX wearing a light blue shirt, gray suit, and dark paisley tie.

Avoid older, worn-out clothing.

This tip may seem obvious, but over time, even the nicest blouses and shirts will begin to show signs of wear. This is especially true of brightly-colored clothing or knit fabrics, which often fade or develop pilling after washing. Discoloration under the arms from perspiration is also unsightly. To ensure your clothes make you look tailored and put together, opt for newer clothing or “dry clean only” items that won’t show these tell-tale signs of wear. 

The right clothing + the right photographer = Headshot Success!

A scroll-stopping headshot requires the teamwork of a prepared client and a photographer who knows her stuff. Even the best clothing choices will result in a mediocre-to-cringe-worthy headshot if the photographer is not paying attention to your posture, presence, expression, facial angle, jawline, lighting, and eventually, image processing and retouching. All of these skills take time and experience to develop, so be sure to compare several different photographers to determine the right one for you. If you’re in the Houston area and are looking for a headshot or personal branding photographer that will have your back (and your face!), head over to my Sessions Info Page to see which session option is right for you.