And what is considered business casual attire, anyway?
I often get asked by my clients what they should wear for their professional headshots! In this blog, I’ll share three categories of attire, what to consider when picking out your outfit for a professional headshot, and what on earth “business casual” means nowadays.
We’ll cover clothing basics, accessories, and three categories of attire.
Let’s start with the clothing, shall we?!
What to Wear for Headshots
You want to wear clothing that expresses your personality and still looks professional. We’ll get to the three categories of attire in a minute, but in general you want to favor solid colors that don’t distract from your face (ie. let’s leave the neon in the 80’s). Steer clear of busy, large, and intricate patterns and colors that clash with your skin tone or make you appear washed out or ruddy. Choose a color that complements your skin color, eyes, and hair and makes you feel your best!
Many of my clients choose colors such as: black, white, gray, navy, muted earth tones, or jewel tones.
Make sure your clothing is ironed or pressed, and don’t be afraid of layering, as these clients of mine opted for! Layers can include blazer over dress shirt, sweater over dress shirt, sweater or blazer over camisole, etc.
In general, avoid old, worn looking clothing that’s pilled or fading.
What to wear for your professional pictures is a personal choice, but these pointers can help get you started!
What is considered “business casual” attire?
Business casual usually refers to the fact that you’re not required to wear a blazer or a tie. Every company has their own definition of business casual, so it’s always best to check HR for their professional headshot requirements.
Here are the three categories of professional attire for you to consider wearing for your headshots:
Conservative: Blazers for everyone and ties. Basic colors with no loud colors or patterns.
Creative: There’s more leeway here for patterns, colors, and unique personal styles, while still maintaining a professional appearance.
Casual: Usually no blazer and no tie required.
No matter which category you dress from, I recommend long sleeves for your professional headshot for best results.
Even if you work in a casual or informal environment, consider stepping it up just a bit for a headshot that looks confident and a little more formal. When you feel your best, you look your best!
Accessorizing
The best professional headshots enhance your natural look, without being distracting!
Simple jewelry is the best choice to wear for professional headshots and can be thought of us as the finishing touch. As Coco Chanel once said, “Always remove one piece of jewelry before you go out.”
Less is more when it comes to accessories you wear in your professional photos.
Choose one or two accessories that complement your outfit and add a touch of interest but keep the focus on you. You don’t want to overwhelm the photo with a distracting necklace or earrings that swallow your face whole.
It can be helpful to think about the purpose and context of the photoshoot when choosing accessories. If you're taking headshots for a corporate job, for example, you may want to keep accessories to a minimum or choose more conservative options. If you're taking photos for a creative project, you may have more freedom to choose bolder accessories.
When in doubt, choose timeless pieces that won’t date the photo.
For necklaces, make sure to choose one that doesn’t compete with the neckline. If you’re wearing a top with a low neckline, you may want a necklace that fills in the space. If you’re opting for a pendant necklace, be sure you can see the pendant in the shot.
Be cautious when choosing dangling earrings so they don’t either end up tangled in your hair or becoming the main attraction.
The best answer to what to wear for headshots is clothing and accessories that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
This is one of the many pieces I guide my clients in for their professional headshot sessions. I want to ensure you look and feel your best and provide my best guidance and advice around what to wear for your business headshot!
With my experienced eye, I make critical live-time decisions and ensure we get the right shot!
There’s a lot of nuance to taking a great headshot and micro adjustments make a big impact in the final result!
Ready to get started and look your very best in a headshot? Contact Me!
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