How to Dress for Your Professional Headshots

The best clothing and style tips for professional headshots

Co-authored by Victoria Sprung and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 References

This outfit is too formal, but that one is so casual it screams, “I’m not serious about my career!” What will stand out, but not too much? What will grab a potential employer or client’s attention, but for the right reasons? Here’s a hint: not the hot-pink ballgown with the 12-foot train, nor the red-and-white pinstripe suit. For headshots, keep it simple and sensible. We’ve put together an easy-to-follow guide with 11 tips to help you do just that, so hurry and get changed; the photographer’s waiting.

Things You Should Know

Dress according to your profession, skewing more formal or more casual depending on your career field.
Show off your personality with a pop of color, jewelry, or your favorite outfit to help your headshot stand out.
Avoid distracting accessories like flashy jewelry or ties with busy designs.
Bring multiple outfits and sets of accessories to give your photographer options.

1

Dress for your profession.

Your outfit will let your clients know what to expect. Professionals like lawyers, realtors, or office workers ought to keep things formal but comfortable, while small-business owners or creatives have a little more room to play around.^{[1]
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- A neutral-colored (black, gray) suit or women’s power suit paired with a solid-colored shirt is always a safe bet for an office environment.
- For more casual professionals like actors, writers, or trade workers, wear nice-looking but not-too-serious tops, like sweaters, blouses, or turtlenecks—jackets aren’t strictly required!

2

Show off your personality.

Tell employers about yourself through what you wear. Standing out from the crowd can give you a leg-up, and the best way to do that is to show an employer who you are. Don’t be afraid to add a personal touch to your outfit by wearing your favorite color or an article of clothing that you feel best represents you (so long as it’s professional).^{[2]
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- Jewelry, watches, and makeup can all add distinct, personal details to your look.

3

Bring a few different outfits.

Having 3-4 outfit options on hand helps you get the best shot possible. You might show up to the shoot and find that your first-choice outfit clashes with your surroundings, or that it doesn’t photograph quite as well as you hoped. Bring 1 or 2 backup outfits and consult with your photographer as to which might work best.^{[3]
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- Plan a backup outfit distinct from your primary outfit. Two black suits, or two dresses with similar necklines or probably going to present the same problems, so mix it up!

4

Wear colors that complement your skin tone.

Photographs bring out your best (and worst) colors. If you’re not sure about how to choose shades that flatter your skin, one trick is to take a look at the veins in your wrist. Greenish veins suggest warm undertones that work well with reds, yellows, and earth tones. Blue or purple veins? Go for similarly cool colors like blues, purples, and grays. ^{[4]
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5

Opt for closer-fitting clothes.

Loose or baggy clothes tend not to photograph as well. Go for shirts or layers with ample structure, and which complement the shape of your body. If your top bunches or wrinkles a lot even after a thorough ironing, it’s probably too big, or not quite suited to your frame.^{[5]
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- Buttoned-up collars should fit snug around your neck, but you should still be able to easily slip a couple fingers inside the collar.

6

Use jewelry as an accent.

Avoid letting your jewelry steal the show. The subject of the photo is you, not your enormous (but dazzling) statement necklace. Opt for necklaces and earrings that complement your clothing rather than distract from it.^{[6]
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- Creatives have a little more freedom here; you want to display exactly how creative you are, after all. If you’re shooting for a more casual career, a splash of color or fun textures in your jewelry might be called for. As always though, make sure it complements the outfit in color and style.
- Just like how you should bring multiple outfits, bring multiple jewelry sets to give your photographer adequate choices.^{[7]
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7

Opt for simple tie patterns, or no tie at all.

A loud tie can be distracting and look unprofessional in a headshot. Just like jewelry, there is such a thing as a tie that’s too-much. For patterned ties, choose smaller, repeating designs rather than big shapes, and beware the striped-shirt-striped-tie combo—it’s a lot. But then, no tie with a single undone button can give a slightly more casual, fun look. Ask your photographer to take photos with both options.^{[8]
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- If you’re not wearing a suit, consider also ditching the tie. A simple button-up with nothing around the neck is a clean, sophisticated, more laid-back look.
- Avoid flashy knots. Tie a tie with a simple knot that’s not too showy.

8

Wear a high neckline that shows up in a bust portrait.

Low necklines can look awkward and unprofessional. If your neckline dips out of sight at the bottom of the photo, it can result in some unfortunate and unprofessional illusions, even if it’s actually perfectly modest. Choose a jewel, boat, crew, Peter Pan, or collared neckline to keep things sensible.^{[9]
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- V-necks, cowls, turtlenecks, halters, and keyhole necklines can also work, so long as they stay in-photo and don’t distract from your face.

9

Wear a jacket or cardigan to add depth and interest.

Layered, textured clothing is more likely to catch a client’s eye. When you wear visible layers, it can make your headshot more striking: a viewer’s eyes are busier analyzing your outfit, and so they look at your photo for longer. Just make sure they’re looking for the right reasons; keep the colors complementary, and don’t clutter or over-busy the look. Also try to include interesting fabrics, like lace shells to knit sweaters, to craft an interesting, stand-out look.^{[10]
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10

Stick with classic cuts and styles.

Trendy or dated styles can put an expiration date on your headshot. Headshots can be expensive, and take time out of your schedule to coordinate. Solid colors, button-ups, jackets, and blouses are all clothing items bound to withstand the unforgiving test of time and style.^{[11]
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