Believe it or not, we once had a client show up to a photoshoot with a ripped, dirty t-shirt and stained jeans.
True story. But the craziest part? He was scheduled for a 3-hour, multi-look headshot session with us, and that was the only outfit he brought. ​We had to get really creative. A few months later, an actor showed up wearing a full tux and red bowtie, thinking he needed to dress up "a bit" for his headshots. Yes, that's also a true story. Because of crazy situations like that, we decided to put together this in-depth guide on what to wear for a headshot so no one would ever show up to a shoot again with the wrong headshot outfits! By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly what to wear for headshots... and what NOT to wear for headshots. We'll discuss color combinations, clothing styles, and even jewelry & accessories for headshots. This article is for both men and women, and we'll talk about LinkedIn portraits, actor & modeling headshots, and online dating photos. ​Ready to get started?
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​Prepare Your Clothing in Advance
We've had clients needing to reschedule because there was a delay at the dry cleaner, and we've had others show up with wrinkled clothing.
Be sure your clothes are neatly pressed, clean, and lint-free. And if your photographer doesn't carry them, you can bring a lint roller and steamer to your shoot.
​Finally, if you're going to wear a tie and are unsure of how to tie it properly, watch a YouTube video and tie it ahead of time. During the shoot you can just slip it over your head and tighten it. Some photographers don't know how to tie ties, so you should prepare just in case.
Video: ​What to Wear for Your Headshot Session
Part 4: What Colors to Wear for Headshots
Wear What You Love
Don't wear colors you don't like just because you think they'll look good on-camera or because someone told you to.
​Bring Different Variations of Each Color
For instance, if you love blue, bring a light blue, dark blue, and really dark, navy blue. Then, based on where you're shooting and the background and lighting in the image, certain versions of that color might work better than others.
Rich, Deep Colors Pop on Camera
Sometimes lighting can be too bright on certain colors, making them look completely white in certain places.
A bright yellow might overexpose and appear white, whereas a dark, forest green would look great because the amount of light reflecting from it is less.
If you really want to wear a pale color, we recommend wearing a jacket or other darker layer over the pale color.
Wear Complimentary Colors When Layering
Intense color combinations can be distracting, so you should keep your combinations simple.
​Make sure the color combinations you wear are made of solid-colored pieces layered over one-another. Layers can add more interest and make you look more dynamic and visually appealing.
And if you're wondering whether to do your headshot with a jacket on or off, we almost always recommend keeping it on... but if your photographer is open to it, ask to do a few of each!
For a more in-depth guide on matching clothes and coordinating, you might want to read this article ​(primarily written for men): How I Stay Coordinated With No Sense of Style
Color Combinations That Work Well
​​Red
Pairs well with light green, pink, dark brown, and purple. Yellow Pairs well with dark blue, red, light blue, and black. Green Pairs well with dark blue, dark purple, dark green, and black. Teal Pairs well with dark green, dark red, peach, and dark blue. Blue Pairs well with dark green, pale green, white, and dark red. Purple Pairs well with dark blue, red, pale purple, and pale green. Pink Pairs well with gray, blue, red, and black. |
Use Color Meanings to Send the Right Message
Your complexion, hair color, backdrop, and even the feeling you want to give off in your headshot should all be taken into consideration.
Therefore, I think it's important to bring up one last (but extremely important) element to color:
​Some colors can unconsciously send the wrong message to people if they're worn the wrong way.
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For example, a large amount of green can signify harmony and stability, but a small amount of green can actually make you come across as jealous or inexperienced.
​​​Why do we interpret green like that?
​Well, evolutionarily, we learned that lots of green meant grass & woods, or a safe place. But small amounts of green tell us a fruit is not ripe yet, meaning we should avoid it.
Since color meanings are beyond the scope of this article, we've created a guide that explains not only what each color says to the viewer, but also how the meaning changes based on where the color appears in the image - as an inner layer, outer layer, or even as the backdrop.
Knowing this info will make it easy for you to figure out what to wear in your headshots and what backdrop(s) to request from your photographer (and which to avoid).
We're happy to email you the guide for free as a thanks for reading this article.
​​​Just click the button below so we know where to send it:
​We Hope You Enjoyed this Article!
Remember, the first step is to ensure you're clear the goals for your headshot. See what others are wearing so your outfit doesn't look out of place.
Then choose colors and combinations that work well and look great on camera.
But most of all, wear what you love and have fun in your shoot, and we wish you the best of luck with whatever photographer you work with!
If you have any questions, leave a comment below and we'll get back to you within a few hours.
​Further Reading:
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Thank you. The article doesn't say anything about wearing black though... I understand "rich, deep colors pop more," but what about black?
I want to wear a black shirt in a headshot - I've heard it can be more versatile.
Hi Lori, thanks for the comment! In general, dark gray with a slight texture looks better on-camera than flat black, but it depends on the shot background and your hair color.
If you have super dark har, it can blend in with a black shirt. And if you're shooting against a gray or other dark backdrop, the black shirt can blend in. However, if you have lighter hair, black can stand out against it. Black shirts also look nice on a more colorful, outdoor backdrop, or even a flat white backdrop. I hope that helps!
I have always found that people that are so enamored with getting their picture taken are usually conceited in every way. When someone wants to include me in a photo, I don’t make any pretense of my looks. I know I’m unattractive and mostly a slob but at least I’m honest about it. What you see is what you get. Anything else is vain posturing.
What are your recommendations for and aging man with a small amount of hair left on his head. Come-over? Asking for a friend
Hey Howie, I'm not quite sure what you're asking here, but if you're wondering what to wear if you're aging with a small amount of hair left, I would suggest that the above tips in the article still apply.
When your photographer shoots, however, ask that he/she refrain from using a hair light. A hair light can light up the top of your head and reflect, which draws attention to the fact that your hair is thinning.
And if you're shooting outside, try to stand underneath some sort of overhang so that the light doesn't come down directly from the sky onto your head.
I hope this helps!
Hi Robert, thanks for your comment! I wouldn't say that people are conceited for wanting to have their photo taken or for wanting to look good in it.
These days almost everyone needs a professional photo online, and just as I'm sure you would want to look nice when attending an event such as a wedding, people want to look nice for their headshot since it will be posted online and seen by thousands of people.
Looking well-put together shows people you take your career seriously and want to be cast in a positive light.
There are certainly some conceited people in the world, but definitely not most.
Hello
Martin Bentsen, thanks for this quality post. Thumbs UP! your post has really helped me to click good pictures of mine
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post!
Thanks!
Hi,
I am 65+ professional in banking and wants to know what to wear
on camera for professional photo shoot?
Top with jacket(Blazer) color combinations?
Thanks
Keep it simple. I would recommend either blue or gray suit jacket (avoid black), with a white shirt and either blue or red tie with a simple pattern.
Excellent read, Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting? I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work.
Thanks Rishikes! The info in this posting is from doing a lot of research, combined with over a decade of experience shooting headshots!
I appreciate your compliment on my writing :)
Your website is very interesting about fashion.I like your website.there is beautiful article and images.We also have a website.If you want to buy something pleas visit our website and get more details.Thanks
Hey Na'imah,
Here is a great article that will show you how to best choose a headshot photographer:
https://www.cityheadshots.com/blog/how-to-make-choosing-a-photographer-easier
Hair color doesn't matter for headshots - if it looks like you that's all that is important!
I like how you said that our favorite colors will give us options. This is great to remember, as my daughter needs senior pictures done soon. I will pass these tips onto her for her photoshoot.
It was interesting when you talked about how we should consider what feeling we want the headshot to give off when choosing what colors it includes. I want to have a professional headshot taken than I can use when I start applying for administrative jobs next month. Thanks for teaching me what factors I should consider when making decisions about things like my outfit and backdrop!
No problem! I'm glad the article was helpful to you :)
Thanks for publishing this article. Any advice for ERAS photo colors to use/avoid? Not sure what colors go best with a dark charcoal suit. Thanks!
For ERAS, the same general rules apply. Keep it very formal though, and professional. Suit and Tie is best. Don't wear a black suit.
Navy blue suits tend to perform best according to science when it comes to how they are perceived and professionalism, etc.
Make sure your ERAS photo is taken on a white or light gray background, as those images stand out more in the online portal and are statistically more likely to be clicked on.
Check this page out for more information:
https://www.cityheadshots.com/medical-residency-application-photo.html
Thanks for explaining that it's good to wear formal clothes if we want the headshot to feel professional. I think it'd be smart for my husband to have a corporate headshot taken before he starts applying for executive jobs next month. I wasn't sure what he should wear before reading your article, so the style advice you shared here will be really helpful!
What type of suit should a woman wear for ERAS photo?
What combination of blazer - shirt colors?
I have long dark hair
Dark blue works well, or dark gray. Sometimes black can be too dark and I don't recommend it.
White shirt with dark blue blazer would be great!
I want to get some nice headshots taken that I can use for different profiles, but I'm not sure what to wear. It makes sense that I would want to wear something that helps to embody my personality! I'll have to look into different casual styles.
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