According to recent research, our choice of attire communicates a wealth of information about our identity, both within and outside the workplace. It also significantly influences how others perceive us. This perception affects not only our level of influence and authority but also our perceived intelligence and income. These factors play a crucial role in determining whether hiring managers, colleagues, and clients view us as trustworthy and dependable.

In addition to mastering the perfect professional pose and selecting an ideal portrait style, your wardrobe choices for your headshots can make or break your professional identity within your network. Since most people will encounter your professional headshot before meeting you in person, your clothing becomes a pivotal element in making an indelible first impression.

If you’re considering updating your headshots, you may be wondering, “What should I wear for professional headshots?” As you prepare for your headshot session, consider these valuable wardrobe tips and tricks for creating captivating professional portraits.

And for those looking to refresh their professional headshots without visiting a studio, be sure to check out our article on how to take a professional headshot at home using just your smartphone.

Style Tips for Professional Headshots

Dress Like a Leader

Appropriate workplace attire varies significantly across industries. Professions like law and medicine often demand formal and conservative dress, whereas creative or technical roles may embrace a more casual style. When in doubt, take cues from your superiors or industry leaders you admire. Their attire usually sets the standard for your field and can help you project confidence without appearing overly formal.

Avoid Overly Casual Attire

Even if your industry leans toward informality, consider donning more formal clothing for your headshots to convey confidence and authority. Research suggests that simply wearing formal attire can boost your sense of power and control, which can positively influence your posture and presence in photographs.

Remember, your comfort and confidence in front of the camera can greatly impact your appearance in photos. Opt for formal clothing that makes you feel confident. If you need an extra boost, explore smart-casual options that exude friendliness without looking excessively corporate.

Showcase Multiple Outfits

Consider the diverse interactions you have throughout your workday and tailor your clothing choices accordingly. If you regularly engage with different types of individuals, such as entrepreneurs, consultants, or salespeople, ensure you have headshots that align with each audience. Rather than trying to fit all professional scenarios into one outfit, capture multiple photos in different ensembles to ensure you’re always dressed appropriately for your professional headshot.

Embrace Suit-Inspired Silhouettes

While a full suit isn’t mandatory, attire traditionally associated with masculinity, such as trousers, blazers, and darker-hued suit jackets, can significantly influence perceptions of intelligence and capability, especially in management and leadership roles. Research shows that individuals wearing blazers and trousers are often seen as more forceful and influential, leading to favorable hiring recommendations for leadership positions.

Consider outfits inspired by jackets and dress shirts, which can give you a polished and commanding look without a full suit.

Avoid Worn-Out Clothing

Even your favorite clothing items will show signs of wear over time. This is especially true for brightly colored garments or knitted fabrics, which may fade or develop signs of wear with each wash. To ensure you appear polished and put-together, opt for newer clothing or items labeled “dry clean only” to avoid these telltale signs of aging.

Opt for Simple Jewelry

The best professional headshots enhance your natural features without distracting from them. Therefore, opt for understated jewelry, especially if your headshot will focus closely on your face. Ensure that necklaces have visible pendants above the photo’s crop. For earrings, stick to simple metallic or gemstone studs, as dangling earrings can become entangled in your hair and get lost in the photo.

Skip the Undershirt and “Floppy Collar”

In professional headshots, the area beneath your face is crucial, as these photos are often closely cropped for platforms like LinkedIn. Pay attention to your undershirt and collar:

• Avoid wearing an undershirt, especially in white, black, or grey, as it can be distracting in a formal professional headshot.
• Ensure your collar is stiff, as a “floppy collar” can make your headshot appear sloppy, even if the rest of your attire is perfect.

Choosing Colors for Your Headshots

Consider Color Psychology

Color psychology explores how specific colors influence our moods, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as how wardrobe hues can shape others’ perceptions of us. For instance, red conveys confidence and energy, while navy blue and black evoke a sense of dominance and authority. When selecting colors for your professional headshots, think about the message you want to convey and choose your attire accordingly.

• Dark colors are associated with formality, dominance, and authority.
• Light colors create a friendly and approachable image.
• Some bright colors convey confidence and energy.
• Muted colors project conservatism and approachability.
• High-contrast combinations, such as a dark jacket paired with a light shirt, can convey influence and authority.

Stick with Solid Colors

Regardless of your portrait style and setting, simple colors and subtle patterns usually look best on everyone. Bold or busy patterns can distract from your face and lead to visual distortions like moiré patterns, which are unpleasant.

Coordinate with Your Background

When selecting wardrobe colors for your professional headshots, take your portrait backdrop into account. Unless you’re aiming for a company-branded headshot, choose colors that contrast with your background to ensure you stand out. This is especially important if you plan to have black and white headshots, as a dark top against a dark background may make you appear like a floating head.

Contrast with Your Skin Tone

For the most effective results, ensure that your skin tone, clothing, and backdrop all contrast. Choose attire that is significantly darker or lighter than your skin tone to avoid appearing nude from a distance. If you aim for a monochromatic headshot, inform your photographer in advance for expert guidance.

Avoid Stereotypical Outfits

Common outfit mistakes include resembling a doctor or a waiter. To avoid these clichés:

• If you want a professional headshot, steer clear of white blazers, as they can resemble medical coats in the final cropped headshot, particularly when shooting against a studio backdrop.
• Avoid the waiter look by refraining from combinations like a white button-down shirt, black tie, and black suit.

Perfecting the Fit for Professional Headshots

Opt for a Higher Neckline

For corporate website headshots, remember that they are typically closely cropped around your head and face. Even work-appropriate tops with lower necklines can appear more provocative than intended. To maintain professionalism:

• Ensure that buttons on button-up shirts do not connect below the crop of the photo.
• Women should opt for blouses and tops with higher necklines, as low-cut attire can lead to perceptions of lower competence.

Embrace Tailored Clothing

Closely-fitted clothing tends to look cleaner and less distracting, especially for formal or business-casual photos. Blazers and suit jackets should fit snugly around the shoulders and arms, even if slightly tight. Most headshots are taken with jackets and blazers unbuttoned, so concerns about waistline creases are minimal.

Collared shirts and blouses should also fit snugly around the neck to avoid distracting gaps that draw attention away from your features.

The Right Wardrobe, the Right Photographer

While your attire plays a significant role in shaping the message conveyed by your professional headshots, nothing is as crucial as choosing the right photographer. If you’re a St Louis area professional seeking to book a headshot session, contact us for pricing and booking information.

Your professional headshots are a powerful tool for making a lasting impression, so invest the time and effort needed to create a polished and impactful visual representation of yourself.