What you wear to your headshot session has more impact on the final image than almost any other variable — including the lighting, the backdrop, or the photographer. The wrong outfit can make a great shot look amateurish. The right one disappears into the background and lets your face do the work.

Here's what actually works, and what to avoid.

The core rule: wear what you'd wear to work

The single most reliable piece of advice is to dress for the context you're being photographed for. If you're a lawyer, wear what you'd wear to a client meeting. If you're a tech founder, wear what you'd wear to a board presentation. If you're an actor, dress as the character you want to be cast as.

Your headshot needs to match the reality of who you are professionally. A disconnect between the photo and the person — showing up to a meeting in a t-shirt when your LinkedIn photo has you in a three-piece suit — erodes trust before you've said a word.

Colours that work

Solid, mid-tone colours are almost always the right call. Navy, charcoal, forest green, burgundy, camel, and deep teal all photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your face. Soft pastels work well for more approachable, warm contexts.

Avoid:

  • Pure white — it blows out against light backdrops and can create unflattering contrast against skin. Off-white, cream, or light grey are better alternatives.
  • Busy patterns — stripes, checks, and small prints create visual noise and can cause moiré patterns on screen. They pull attention away from your face.
  • Matching the backdrop exactly — if you're shooting against a grey background and you wear grey, you'll disappear into it.
  • Neon or very saturated colours — they reflect colour onto your skin and dominate the frame.

Fit matters more than the outfit itself

A well-fitted basic always beats an expensive poorly-fitted piece. Clothes that pull, gap, or bunch will be visible — and retouching fabric is much harder than retouching skin. If you're between sizes or your go-to suit needs a press, sort it before the session.

Pro tip: Bring two or three options. Once you're under the studio lights, we'll quickly identify what's working best with the backdrop and lighting setup. What looks great in your mirror at home sometimes reads differently on camera.

Hair and grooming

Get a haircut at least a week before your session — not the day before. Fresh cuts can look slightly too sharp or show cut lines. Your hair should look natural and like you, not freshly styled for an event. If you colour your hair, get it touched up 4–7 days before.

For makeup: natural is almost always right. The goal is to look like yourself on a good day, not like you're wearing makeup. Heavy foundation or strong contouring can look natural in person but read as artificial under studio lights.

For men: shave (or tidy your beard) the morning of your session. Avoid trying a new skincare product the night before — your skin's baseline is what you know.

Glasses

If you wear glasses every day, wear them in your headshot — it should look like you. If you wear contacts, shoot with and without if you have time. The practical consideration: studio lights can create glare on lenses. We work around this with lighting angles and can often eliminate it entirely, but mention it when you arrive and we'll handle it.

What to bring

  • Two or three outfit options (we'll pick what works best on camera)
  • A lint roller — visible lint reads clearly in high-resolution images
  • Touch-up makeup if you use it regularly
  • Any accessories that are part of your everyday professional appearance

We'll send a short prep guide in your booking confirmation with these reminders. The session itself is relaxed — most people arrive more prepared than they realize.

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