Headshot day is also not the day to try out a brand-new outfit or style. Try to choose clothing that is familiar to you and that always makes you feel confident. 

Unless your headshot is meant to rep a specific brand or company.

Clothing looks best when it’s cut to our body shape without being too loose or too tight. When picking what to wear for headshots, choosing clothing that fits well increases the chance you like your photos regardless of how you feel about your body. 

Layering your clothes adds versatility, looks stylish, and can create a slimming effect. Layering can be done with suit vests, blazers, cardigans, sweater vests, jackets, ties, watches, jewelry, belts, pocket squares, scarves and other accessories. As with anything else, layering should be done in moderation. 

Most patterns are too busy for a professional headshot. If you often use patterns to express your personality, we suggest wearing patterns in small quantities, such as a patterned camisole under a blazer, or a patterned pocket square in a suit jacket. These patterns should be smaller and unobtrusive for professional headshots. 

Another option if you often opt for patterns is to swap patterns for textures. Textured clothing can create visual interest without overwhelming the photo the way patterns can. 

When you wear clothing that scratches, sticks, or irritates your skin, the irksome sensation increases your chances of looking uncomfortable in your headshots. 

Bold, rich colors will photograph well on camera, but you should choose what colors and shades suit your hair and complexion best – even if they’re not bold shades. Neutrals are always in! 

We recommend staying away from neon shades of color during headshots since light reflects off your clothing and onto your skin, and can create unnatural color casts on your skin. Also avoid flesh toned clothing, because the color can blend into your skin tone too well, risking the appearance of not wearing any top. (For the same reason, you’ll also want to avoid clothing with skinny strap tops or low cut necklines.) 

You’ll also want to limit the amount of white you’re wearing. To minimize exposure issues and to keep people from looking washed out, we recommend wearing a blazer and tie or cardigan in another color over top of white shirts.