What to Wear for Corporate Headshots: A San Francisco Photographer’s Guide

I shoot corporate headshots for teams across San Francisco and the Bay Area, and the question I get more than any other, usually the day before a shoot, is simple: what should I wear?

It matters more than people think. The right outfit makes you look sharp and current. The wrong one dates the photo or pulls attention away from your face. Here is exactly what I tell my clients.

Start with solid colors

Solid colors almost always beat patterns. Busy stripes, small checks, and tight patterns can create a distracting shimmer on camera and pull the eye away from where it should be, which is your face. If you love a pattern, keep it large and subtle rather than tight and busy.

The colors that photograph best

Solid, bright colors are what I recommend: cobalt and royal blue, emerald green, red, teal, and rich jewel tones. Bright, saturated color pops on camera, separates you cleanly from the background, and reads confident and current. Navy, charcoal, and black still work if that is your style, but do not default to them just because they feel safe. A wall of identical dark blazers is exactly what makes a team page look dated. Avoid pure white, which blows out under studio light, and washed-out pastels, which can leave you looking faded. The one thing worth actually thinking about is your own coloring: pick a color that contrasts with your skin tone and hair so you stand out from the background instead of blending into it.

Bring two or three outfits, not ten

You do not need a suitcase. Two strong looks beat a pile of maybes, and fewer options keeps shoot day calm and quick. I usually suggest one more formal look and one that reflects how you actually show up at work, plus a backup top in case something wrinkles. Long or three-quarter sleeves almost always look more polished than short sleeves.

What to avoid

• Logos and slogans. They date the photo and compete with your face.
• Busy patterns and tight stripes.
• Bright neon or pure white as your main color. White can blow out under lighting.
• Chunky or shiny jewelry. Simple wins. Big necklaces, earrings, and scarves distract.
• Wrinkles. High-resolution cameras magnify every crease, so press your clothes the night before.

If you are booking a shoot for your whole team

Consistency is what makes a team page look intentional instead of thrown together. The easiest path is a simple wardrobe guideline sent to everyone ahead of time: solid colors, a shared tone like navy and gray, no logos. When I photograph a team, I help you set that up so everyone matches without looking like a uniform. If you are planning a team shoot, my free headshot day planner maps out timing, outfits, and logistics before the day.

Grooming, hair, and makeup: do it yourself, keep it normal

Wear your hair the way you actually wear it. The goal is a photo that looks like you on a good day, not a version of you nobody at work recognizes. If you color your hair, book any touch-up a week before the shoot, not the day before.

For makeup, do your own, and do it the way you would for an important meeting. Matte over glossy: shine is the enemy on camera, and modern lights find every reflective surface on a face. On shoot day, skip anything that adds sheen, including suntan lotion, heavy moisturizer, and SPF products with a glow finish. If your team wants a professionally consistent look across everyone, that is when a makeup artist earns their fee. I wrote about when a makeup artist is worth it separately.

The five minute day-of checklist

Right before you step in front of the camera:

• Lint roller. If you have pets, this is not optional. Dark blazers show everything, and fur reads clearly at headshot resolution.
• Check buttons, collars, and ties in a mirror. Straighten the collar, close the gap between tie and collar button.
• Blot shine off the forehead and nose. A plain tissue works.
• Take off lanyards, badges, and smartwatches unless they are part of your professional identity.
• Have water, not coffee, in the ten minutes before. Coffee dries lips and darkens teeth over a session.

The bottom line

Keep it simple. Solid colors, two or three outfits, nothing with a logo, everything pressed. Do that and the wardrobe takes care of itself, so the shoot is about you, not your shirt.

I photograph corporate headshots across San Francisco and the Bay Area for teams of any size. If you have a shoot coming up and want help getting it right, get in touch.