What should you wear to a photoshoot or headshot? Be yourself but with some guidelines!

Consider Your Industry: Think about the industry you’re in and dress accordingly. If you’re in a creative field, you might be able to be more adventurous and have more personal flair, whereas if you’re in a more conservative industry like finance or law, you’ll want to stick to more classic and professional attire.

Bring Options: It’s a good idea to bring a few different outfit options to your headshot session so you can see what looks best on camera. We can evaluate what outfit combinations will be best and possibly try a few options.

Grooming: Don’t forget about grooming! Make sure your hair is styled neatly, and if you have facial hair, keep it well-groomed. Consider getting a fresh haircut or trim a few days before your headshot session.

Select Solid Colors or Subtle Patterns: Solid colors generally work well for portraits, as they help keep the focus on you rather than the clothing. If you prefer patterns, choose ones that are subtle and not too distracting. Avoid large, busy patterns that might overpower the photo. 

Think of Color Harmonies: Usually a wardrobe will consist of two colors, preferably complimentary to each other. Another option that doesn’t following color harmonies, is various hues and darkness’ of the same color with neutral colors like black and white.

Check out this chart of color harmonies for a more complete understanding of what’s possible.


Layering can add visual interest and depth to your portraits: Bring various sweaters and jackets to help you layer. Layering can add color contrast, helping you create color harmonies mentioned and also create leading lines that add compositional interest.


Remember, the goal of a headshot is to represent yourself professionally and authentically, so choose clothing that makes you feel confident and comfortable, and don’t hesitate to ask me for advice ahead of time. Sometime a little flair can really set your headshot apart from others, so even if something goes against the rules on this list, bring it and we can talk it through.


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