Wardrobe Ideas for Professional Headshots

I get so many questions about the best wardrobe for professional headshots. Picking clothes for a session can feel intimidating, even overwhelming, so this list gives you specific, practical things to bring to get the most out of your time in front of the camera.

1. Raid the special-occasion shelf

Don't just bring the same three outfits you wear to the office. Grab a few of the shirts and ties you save for special occasions. With more options in the studio, we can put together combinations you wouldn't have thought of on your own, and the results are often bolder and more impactful. Shirts and ties pack flat and give us variety that shows in your photos.

2. Interchange your jewelry

Swapping jewelry between outfits is an effortless way to multiply your looks. Each combination reads slightly differently, increasing the odds of a final image that feels exactly right. We review images as we go, so you can experiment until you find the perfect pairing.

This applies to glasses too: if you have multiple frames, bring them. Different frames can completely change the personality of the same outfit.

3. Pack small accessories

Scarves, watches, pins, pocket squares: small accessories are easy to bring and can significantly lift the overall impact of a look without changing the whole outfit.

4. Bring a business-casual look

With so many platforms needing content, variety is critical: the photo in your email signature may not be the one you submit for blogs or speaking engagements. A slightly scaled-back, business-casual look gives you a relatable, authentic option for the places where the full suit would be overkill. Professional headshots don't always need to be formal.

5. And one genuinely casual look

More and more professional clients ask for personal photos as well. Whether it's for personal social media or a dating profile, a relaxed, natural image has real uses, and we can create one in the same session. Bring something you'd wear on a good weekend.

6. Don't skip the pants

This is important. Zoom meetings have lulled us all into "business on top, party on the bottom", but if you only dress your top half, you don't leave your photographer many options. Very often clients' favourite images are three-quarter or full-length, which can't happen in gym shorts. Press the slacks, wear the shoes you always get compliments on, and arrive 100% ready for anything we might create.

The short version

Bring more than you think you need: light and dark options, formal and casual, plus the small stuff: jewelry, glasses, accessories. We'll build the right combinations together in the studio. For color choices specifically, see choosing the perfect colors for your skin tone.

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