What to Wear for Headshots: The Ultimate Guide (2021)

Note: This article was written for actors – if you're not an actor, visit our other guide called "What to Wear for a Professional Headshot."
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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!

What to Wear for Headshots: The Ultimate Guide

By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly what to wear for your actor headshots... and what NOT to wear. Remember – wearing the wrong thing could cause a casting director to throw your headshot out!

We'll discuss color combinations, clothing styles, and even jewelry & accessories for headshots.

Here's what we'll cover:

• How to decide on clothing styles based on your Type – PLUS what to do if you don't know your Type yet
• The biggest clothing mistakes actors make in their headshots, and how to avoid them so casting directors don't put your photo up on their Wall of Shame (yes, that's a real thing!)
• Tips to ensure your makeup and hair look great on camera – these work even if you're not hiring a makeup artist
• The best colors and how to combine them together to make sure your headshot is sending the message YOU want to send
• And much more...

Ready to get started?

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​Part 1 of 4: What to Wear for Headshots

To figure out what to wear, you MUST be clear on your goals for the shoot.

What type of characters will you be playing (called your Type)? And what kinds of productions would you like to submit to?

For example, if you're planning to perform in commercials, you'll probably wear something totally different than if you're planning to do legit productions (while playing a serial killer for a horror film).

Note: As a reminder, this article is for actors. If you're not an actor, visit our other guide called "What to Wear for a Professional Headshot."

What to Wear for Actor & Modeling Headshots

If this is going to be your first time taking actor headshots, you might be interested in this article: Actor Headshots: The Ultimate Guide.

Another popular page is our Actor Resume Template: A Free Google Docs Template That Works on Any Computer or Mobile Device

​It's common to wear a t-shirt and leather jacket or a simple button-down shirt with a few buttons open in actor and modeling headshots. You usually don't need formal clothing unless the specific characters you'll be playing typically wear formal outfits. Remember that the headshot is about YOU, not about the clothing you're wearing.


First, figure out your Type:

To figure out what to wear in your actor or actress headshot, you must first think about the kinds of characters you could play based on your looks (called your Types). Ask yourself the following:

What kinds of characters could I realistically play? Can I play students? Lawyers? Business professionals? Grandparents? Gang members?

​Think about the kind of job or occupation you'd have as a character based on what you look like. You don't need to be hyper specific with your Types to figure out what to wear for headshots – you just need a general idea.

​It's OK to be stereotypical here – in fact, it's encouraged. Do you look like a typical business man? Well, if you have a big beard and messy hair, probably not. But maybe you could play a gang member or religious fanatic.

Keep in mind that it's important to be realistic! For instance, if you're only 16 years old, there's no way you could play a cop.

Here's a great article on finding your Type and Brand.


Next, decide on clothing that supports your Types:

Once you decide on some Types you can play, you can decide on the styles of clothing that supports those Types. For instance, if you think one of your Types is street thug, you probably wouldn't wear a business suit for your headshot.

City Headshots Tip: Go to Google Image Search and search your Type(s). For instance write "street thug." Photos will come up of people who look like that, and you'll instantly know whether A) you look like that Type and B) the kinds of clothes they wear. Now you'll know the general style of what to wear for your shoot.

After finding the general outfits you should aim for, come back to this article and scroll down to Part 2: What NOT to Wear on Camera.

​Want to Keep it Simple?
Download our Free "Actor Headshot Prep Checklist"

This handy checklist is perfect to review before any actor headshot session. It condenses the most important things to think about into 8 key checkpoints to help you get the most out of your shoot.

​Here's what's covered:
​

• 3 Checkpoints on Clothing & Colors: The three most important things to consider when choosing outfits (so you show up with clothing that makes you look your best on camera).
• 3 Miscellaneous Checkpoints: These checkpoints are related to makeup, hair, and a simple action to take the day before to ensure you look your best.
• 2 Checkpoints on Character: The final checkpoints cover the best questions to ask yourself to ensure you capture characters and "looks" that will get you more auditions

Send Me the Checklist!

City Headshots' Founder Martin Bentsen is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and is a monthly contributing writer at Casting Networks. Learn more about his work at www.martinbentsen.com.

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​Part 2 of 4: What Should You NOT Wear for a Headshot?

In general, almost all clothing styles work for headshots. But problems start to creep up when actors break rules and wear things that look distracting.

So before we even begin to talk about colors and combinations, let's just go through a series of things to avoid so your headshot doesn't look unprofessional or distracting:

​Avoid Strong Patterns

Keep away from plaid, checks, and anything that has high-contrast colors right next to one-another. The only patterns that can work are subtle ones with a slight variance in color.
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Patterns generally draw too much attention and appear distracting, and some patterns (especially small ones) can cause a phenomenon called moire where it looks like there's a weird pattern showing up on-camera (that's invisible in real-life) because of the way the pixels on the camera work:

An example of moire.

This pattern is a bit distracting.

Avoid Logos or Pictures

Logos and images are incredibly distracting and definitely don't look good in headshots. If however you have a shirt with a small logo such as a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, it can usually be photoshopped out (just be sure your photographer includes retouching in your package).

The only time a logo or picture is OK is if it's being used on your actor website – otherwise casting directors will toss your shot!

Avoid Too Many Accessories

Should you wear jewelry in a headshot? No (unless it's just tiny stud earrings).

Actors and models should avoid wearing any form of jewelry in headshots because casting directors find it very distracting.

You should also avoid hats, scarves, chains, or other accessories.

If you wear glasses, you can keep them on during the shoot (or do some with and without) – but just be sure to tilt the lenses down a bit to reduce glare (by lifting the sides up slightly off your ears).

No glare in the glasses. Note that his shirt has a pattern, but since the photo was taken horizontally, it's not too distracting. A solid color still would have been better!

​Avoid Sleeveless Tops

For women, unless you love your arms, in general it's best to only show skin around your neck and face. Wearing a sleeveless top not only causes your shoulders and arms to draw attention away from your face, but sometimes your bra straps can creep into the shot which is highly distracting and will need to be photoshopped out.

If you do plan to take shots where you'll be showing your arms, be sure to hold them slightly off your body. If they're pressed up against you, it can make them look much bigger than they are.

​Avoid Clothes That Don't Fit Well

Wearing clothes that are too small or big can look terrible in pictures.

Baggy clothing can make you look heavier than you are in real life (or make you look like you're wearing hand-me-down clothes), and outfits that are too tight will bulge in places, drawing the eye away from your face.

Your clothes don't need to fit perfectly, but they should fit fairly well.

Article: How to know if your clothes fit (men)
Article: How to know if your clothes fit (women)

​Avoid Low-Cut Necklines or Turtleneck Shirts

Turtlenecks can cut you off and make you appear closed (like the effect you get when you fold your arms).

Low-cut shirts, on the other hand, can be distracting unless they're cropped in closely. Showing cleavage is a big no-no for actor headshots.

Even though some photographers will say otherwise, the truth is that there are no hard and fast rules for necklines in headshots – your photographer should be able to shoot you no matter what kind of neckline you wear. Just keep in mind that scoop necks and v-necks typically work best for women, and for men the only neckline that doesn't work well is a tight t-shirt or turtleneck that goes up high on the neck.

If you're not sure about something, feel free to bring it as an option and ask your photographer to take a test shot.

​Avoid Shiny Clothing

In general, shiny clothing can look distracting and should be avoided. That being said, certain kinds can work (such as black leather jackets), but you should absolutely ask for a test shot before committing to something for the shoot.

Definitely avoid wearing silver or white shiny clothing because it can look way too bright in the photo, which will draw attention away from your face.

​Want to Keep it Simple?
Download our Free "Actor Headshot Prep Checklist"

This handy checklist is perfect to review before any actor headshot session. It condenses the most important things to think about into 8 key checkpoints to help you get the most out of your shoot.

​Here's what's covered:
​

• 3 Checkpoints on Clothing & Colors: The three most important things to consider when choosing outfits (so you show up with clothing that makes you look your best on camera).
• 3 Miscellaneous Checkpoints: These checkpoints are related to makeup, hair, and a simple action to take the day before to ensure you look your best.
• 2 Checkpoints on Character: The final checkpoints cover the best questions to ask yourself to ensure you capture characters and "looks" that will get you more auditions

Send Me the Checklist!

City Headshots' Founder Martin Bentsen is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and is a monthly contributing writer at Casting Networks. Learn more about his work at www.martinbentsen.com.

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Part 3 of 4: What Colors to Wear for Actor Headshots

It's now time to start looking at the best colors to wear for actor headshots!

Wear What You Love

The best color to wear for your headshots is the one you love. Any color can technically work on camera as long as the photographer lights it properly, so you should wear colors you feel comfortable in because it will translate into feeling more confident on-camera, which leads to a more successful shoot and better expressions.

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

​Different variations of your favorite colors will give you options. Your photographer or stylist can help suggest which versions of a color might look best.​

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

In general, we recommend staying away from white and other pale colors as the main color (pink, pale yellow, light green, sky blue, etc.). They can overexpose, distract from your face, and sometimes even make your skin tone look paler than it is. This especially applies to outdoor shoots.

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.

His shirt is too bright and takes away from his face.

Darker colors look richer and nicer on camera.

Wear Complimentary Colors When Layering

If you're going to be wearing layers (like a jacket over your shirt), you'll need to be sure the colors you wear compliment and support one another​.

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.

Keep in mind however, that anyone who tells you that a certain color always reads well on camera is forgetting that colors are highly subjective.

Your complexion, hair color, backdrop, and even the feeling you want to give off in your headshot should all be taken into consideration.

​Hidden Color Meanings

​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 and what backdrops to request so you send the right message to the casting director:

​Are Your Colors Sending the Right Message?
Download our Free "Hidden Color Meanings" Guide

Certain colors can unconsciously send a negative message to people if they're worn the wrong way. Our "Hidden Color Meanings" guide will help you pick outfits that send the right message.

Some examples:
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• The Color Blue primarily gives off the feeling of professionalism and confidence, especially if it is in the top-most layer of clothing. But if you wear it underneath the top layer, be careful because it can...
• The Color Black as an outer layer in a headshot typically signifies a feeling of elegance and sophistication, but when worn as an inner layer it can...
• The Color Beige is an interesting color because it acts similarly to a chameleon, taking on aspects and emotions of any color it is worn with. As an outer layer...

​Learn the meanings of colors by clicking the button below:

Send Me the Free Guide!

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​Part 4 of 4: General Tips to Prep for Your Shoot

In this final section, we'll outline a few things to keep in mind as you go about planning your outfits for your headshots.

​Don't Be Afraid to Bring a Few Options

Most photographers are fine if you bring more than what you'll need for the shoot. Feel free to bring a few different options so they (or their makeup artist) can help you decide.

​Sometimes they just need to see you in-person to know what will work best based on your skin tone, eye color, hair color, etc.

And of course, if the photographer does test shots, they can let you see them so you can see whether you like the way your outfit looks in the picture.

​Keep in Mind How Far Out the Image Will Be Cropped

Unless you need to do full-body or 3/4 length photos, you won't need to worry about your pants and shoes.

That being said, some people like to wear an entire outfit that matches. We often shoot with women who want to wear heels because it improves their posture and how they carry themselves in their photo.

Learn more about cropping for actor headshots here.

A half-body or 3/4 shot won't show your shoes, but does show your pants.

Beneath this suit, he was wearing biker shorts (just kidding).

​Looking Good in a Headshot is About More Than Your Outfit

When actors ask "How do you look good in a headshot?" they're usually thinking about what to wear. But remember – a great headshot is about more than just your clothes. It's also about your expression!

And since expression is so important, you need to feel good about what you're wearing.

If you choose clothing you don't like just because someone tells you to (or you wear clothes that are uncomfortable), it will be harder for you to relax enough to get good expressions.

​Wear what you love!

​Hair & Makeup Tips

Makeup for camera is different than makeup for everyday life. Camera lighting washes out your face, so your makeup needs to be more pronounced than what you'd do normally.

If you plan to hire a makeup artist, be sure to use someone who has experience in headshots. Most headshot photographers work with a makeup artist they recommend who can customize their makeup to your own personal style.

Here are a few hair and makeup tips if you're planning to do it yourself:

• Keep your hair simple and remember we can't see what's behind your head – Your hair should look similar to how it normally does in every day life. Avoid asking your photographer or makeup artist if you should do your hair differently because hair is so subjective and you'll probably be uncomfortable with whatever they suggest. Also, keep in mind that in a photo, we can't see anything behind your head, so if you pull your hair back into a ponytail, it will look like you have really short hair. To show a ponytail or pulled-back hairstyle, slide it over a bit so we can see it sticking out behind your head.
• Don't do your makeup significantly different – Your headshots should look just like you do in real-life (unless you want to re-do your makeup exactly as it was in your headshot every time you go in for an audition), so be sure the makeup you do is similar to your normal style (and not overly glamorous). If your makeup looks too different, you'll be uncomfortable with your shots and probably won't want to use them. Plus, casting directors HATE when you walk in the audition room looking different than you did in your headshot.
• Contour your face a bit more – Because of the two-dimensionality of photos, you should add a bit more contouring to your face so you look more three-dimensional on camera. Also, with the way lighting works, your features can appear washed-out, so you might need some additional lip color and eyeliner.
• Add extra powder to cover up shine – Studio lights are very bright and can make you look shiny. Even though shine can look nice in real life, it can be distracting and make you look sweaty in your headshot, so it's best to bring some powder or tissues to lightly wipe down your face if appear shiny.
• Bring extra makeup and make adjustments after the photographer takes a test shot – The photographer should give you an extra 5-7 minutes at the start of your session to adjust your makeup after you see your test shot. Be sure to ask if they're open to this ahead of time.

​Prepare Your Clothing in Advance

Make sure all your clothes are ready to go at least 2-3 days before your shoot.

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.

Make Sure Your Photographer Shoots on the Right Backdrop

Remember that what you're planning to wear might not work if it clashes with the background of the photo.

Most good photographers will take a look at your outfits and discuss backdrop options with you before starting the shoot, but when the photographer takes his or her test shot, pay attention to whether your outfit is clashing with the backdrop.

For instance, you wouldn't want to wear a dark gray t-shirt on a dark gray backdrop unless the photographer can ensure the lighting creates enough separation so you don't fall into the background.

​This is why it's so important that you bring a few different clothing options – just in case what you were originally planning to wear doesn't work!

One final thing to keep in mind: the backdrop you use can help strengthen (or clash with) your Type and Brand. That's why choosing the right backdrop is so important to a successful shoot:

​Choose the Right Backdrop for Your Headshot
Download our Free "Headshot Backdrops Guide"

This quick guide was created to help you choose the proper backdrop for your headshot session. Not only will you discover your Brand and Type as an actor, but you'll also learn what type of backdrop will work best to capture it.

​Here's what's covered:​

• ​​Avoid Common Backdrop Mistakes – Did you know that a dark gray backdrop could make your actor headshot look dated if it's not lit properly? Learn the meanings of each backdrop so you choose one that works right for your goals.
• ​Backdrops Based on Type – The student, the father, the detective – they all require different backdrops. Learn which backdrop works best for each specific Type.
• How to Find Your Actor Brand – Learn our simple step-by-step process called G.I.S.T. Method to figure out your actor brand and the overall aesthetic and look that will best capture it.

Send Me the Guide!

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​In Summary:

Remember, the first step to deciding what to wear is to figure out your goals for your acting headshot. Look at what other actors with similar Types are wearing so your outfit makes sense and captures the casting director's attention.

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, no matter who you work with!

​​--About the Author of this Guide--

Martin Bentsen is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.
​
Want to book more acting work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.
​

​Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in taking a look at some of these:​
​

• ​How to Prepare for a Headshot Session (what most photographers won't tell you)
• Tricks to Looking More Confident On-Camera
• Actor Resume Template: A Free Google Docs Template That Works on Any Computer or Mobile Device

​Want to Keep it Simple?
Download our Free "Actor Headshot Prep Checklist"

This handy checklist is perfect to review before any actor headshot session. It condenses the most important things to think about into 8 key checkpoints to help you get the most out of your shoot.

​Here's what's covered:
​

• 3 Checkpoints on Clothing & Colors: The three most important things to consider when choosing outfits (so you show up with clothing that makes you look your best on camera).
• 3 Miscellaneous Checkpoints: These checkpoints are related to makeup, hair, and a simple action to take the day before to ensure you look your best.
• 2 Checkpoints on Character: The final checkpoints cover the best questions to ask yourself to ensure you capture characters and "looks" that will get you more auditions

Send Me the Checklist!

City Headshots' Founder Martin Bentsen is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and is a monthly contributing writer at Casting Networks. Learn more about his work at www.martinbentsen.com.