What to Wear for Your Headshot
Simple, honest advice from someone who shoots corporate headshots every week. Pick what you are thinking of wearing and I will tell you how it reads on camera, then check the quick prep guide below.
Do
- Wear a solid, bright color. It photographs cleanly and keeps the focus on your face.
- Come with matte skin. Your own everyday look is perfect.
- Women, do your own regular makeup. No stylist needed.
- Tame any stray or flyaway hairs before you sit down.
Avoid
- Plain white shirts if you can. They tend to wash out.
- Sunscreen and heavy moisturizer that morning. They make skin look shiny under the lights.
- Showing up greasy or shiny. Blot before we start if you need to.
- A lot of stray hairs. A comb or a little product goes a long way.
The short version
Solid, bright colors photograph best. Skip plain white if you can, come with your skin matte rather than shiny, do your own everyday makeup, and tidy any flyaway hairs. That is genuinely most of it. I handle the lighting, the direction, and getting a real, relaxed expression out of you, so you do not have to overthink the rest.
Planning a whole team? Use the headshot day planner to see how long your shoot will take and what it costs, or browse all my planning tools.