The Best Colors & Clothing to Wear On-Camera

Figuring out what to wear for headshots can feel quite stressful.

​You probably know you look good in certain things, but how do you know if they'll be OK for camera or work for your brand?

In this article, we'll be discussing 4 keys for wearing great clothing on-camera.
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​"I wonder if that houndstooth jacket I have will look good in pictures..." 

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"Will wearing a black suit jacket look too formal?"

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We've worked with people wearing ripped, dirty T-shirts (yes, really) all the way to full tuxedos (which we don't usually recommend).

​Since we've seen so much, we decided to put together a simple guide to help you out!
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If you like video feel free to watch our "What to Wear for Headshots video below and then you can scroll down to read the 4 keys to looking great on-camera!

Best Colors to Wear for Pictures:

​Key #1:
​Any Color Can Technically Work

First off, any color can work if you like wearing it.

​If the shooter knows how to light you properly and balance the background with what you're wearing, anything will work! You can wear white, gray, black, blue, purple, orange... whatever you'd like!

Now, although you can technically wear anything, certain colors just tend to read better on-camera, and we'll be discussing those soon.

And actors, be aware that certain colors work better depending on your type. Learn more about brand & type for actors (and how it relates to what to wear for headshots) by clicking the button:

Branding for Actors

Bring Different Variations:

Different variations of your favorite colors will give you options. The 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.

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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.

Why do I recommend wearing colors you love? Because you'll be most comfortable in those colors and that translates to feeling more confident on-camera, which leads to a more successful shoot and better expressions.

Remember - emotion & expression is the most important factor in making a positive impression on people.

​Key #2:
Certain Colors Can Stand Out on Camera

Rich, Deep Colors Pop

In general, I 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 on top of the shoulders for instance).

A bright yellow might overexpose whereas a dark, forest green would look great because the amount of light that reflects from it is less.

What if you want to wear a really pale color anyway? Wear a jacket or other darker layer over the pale color.


Complimentary Colors Pop More

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

​The next section discusses what colors go well together.

​Key #3:
Let's Find Out What Colors Go Well Together

Intense color combinations can be distracting, so keep your combinations simple.

​Make sure the color combinations you wear are made of solid-colored pieces layered over one-another. Layers add more interest and make you look more dynamic and visually appealing.

Avoid single-layered shirts with patterns.

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.

​Key #4:
Avoid Certain Patterns & Distractions

Do not wear strong patterns on-camera because they can be highly distracting.​


So What Patterns to Avoid?
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Keep away from plaid, big checks, and any really small patterns such as tiny stripes or checks.​

Big patterns can draw too much attention to themselves if the colors are high-contrast, meaning they are opposite one another on a color wheel.

Very tiny patterns can be distracting because they cause a phenomenon called moire where it looks like there is 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.

​What Kind of Patterns Can You Wear?

The only kind that work are very subtle ones with a slight difference between the colors. And if that sounds confusing, just keep it simple and use solid colors.

Or email our stylist with any questions you have.


Stay Away From Logos or Pictures!

Logos and images are incredibly distracting and definitely don't look good in headshots.

For actors, jewelry is generally a no-no.


Clothing Style is Important Too!

It's not enough to just follow general color guidelines and wear something that works on-camera. You should also keep in mind that the style of clothing you wear can say certain things about you.

To project professionalism, formal clothing works well. If you're looking to give off a casual vibe, feel free to dress it down.

Just because you're doing a headshot doesn't mean you need to dress super fancy!

For actors, keep in mind that you want to capture your brand in your headshot, so make sure what you're wearing supports that.

​For submitting to commercial auditions, you might want something more casual and colorful. And for legit auditions, you'll probably want something more reserved.

Not sure of your actor brand? Check out this great article: Branding for Actors

Bonus Key #5:
Use Color Meanings to Send the Right Message

Remember - 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.

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.

​​I know it sounds crazy, but there have been studies done about why our brains interpret colors the way they do.
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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.

That's me (Martin Bentsen)

​I actually spent a ton of time researching these color meanings to create a detailed guide for anyone looking to make their headshot as good as it can possibly be.

The guide explains not only what each color says, 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 for your headshots and what backdrop(s) to request from your photographer.

I'd be happy to email you the guide for free as a thanks for reading this article.

​​​Just click the button below so I know where to send it:

Hidden Color Meanings

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​The Virtual Headshot
(see pricing on "packages" page)

Are you thinking about booking a professional headshot sometime soon?

Well, wherever you are in the world, you can now get a highly professional headshot with a great backdrop.

All you need is yourself and a window, and we'll guide you through the rest!

This is the original photo.

Digitally edited for a professional, flat backdrop.

Digitally edited for a professional, blurred backdrop.

​If you choose the book a Virtual Headshot shoot with us, we'll take you through the process via video chat, directing you to find your best angles, expressions, and positions.

By the end of the 20-minute session, you'll have a few shots to choose from and you can email us your favorite to be retouched.

We'll digitally change the background to match your preference (or industry trends) and adjust lighting, fix blemishes, whiten teeth and more, so your final image looks highly polished and ready for LinkedIn.

Have questions? Email us at info@cityheadshots.com and we'll get back to you within a few hours.

Want to book a "Virtual Headshot" shoot? We'd love to work with you! Click the button below.

Book "The Virtual Headshot"

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​Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this article, I recommend considering any of these:
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• Why NOT Having a Brand is Hurting Your Acting Career More Than You Think
• What Backdrop Will Work Best for Me?
• How to Prepare for a Headshot Session
• How to Look More Confident On-Camera