You’ve decided to invest in professional headshots to help you jumpstart your career. Congratulations! This is a great step forward. But now comes the hard part: what should you wear?
Deciding what to wear for a business headshot photoshoot can feel like an overwhelming task. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a guide with lots of tips on how to choose the perfect outfit for your business portraits.
Your brand is the single most important investment that you can make in your business.
Steve Forbes
What’s the message you want to convey?
First things first, what image do you want to project? If you’re creative and quirky, then you might want to dress in an expressive and playful way. If you’re more professional and serious, then consider dressing in a more conservative manner.
One of the first things I go through with my clients is finding out who they’re trying to reach, who their ideal client is, and what message they want to communicate. Is it a serious, formal businesswoman or man? Or is it fun and vibrant? Working mums? Health practitioners? Find the look that suits you best and run with it!
Who’s your ideal client?
If you’re not sure what type of client would best benefit from your services, ask yourself the following questions:
a) Who do you want to work with?
b) What are their values?
c) What specific problems do they often experience, and how can you help them overcome them with your service?
So who do you want to communicate your brand to? Find what will align best with your current or future clients.
For example, if you’re a yoga instructor, you probably don’t want to be photographed wearing something formal. Similarly, if you work in the tech industry your audience is likely to skew young and casual- so dress accordingly to attract your ideal client.
Determine what type of person you want to work with and how your visual brand identity will speak to them.
You know who you’re trying to reach, now you need to decide how best to connect with them through your clothing choices.
The theme and location of your shoot
Once you know what message and look you want to project through your professional headshots, it’s time to decide on the themes of your shoot. Where will the shoot take place(e.g., at the office, a yoga studio, a cafe)? What type of environment will you use (e.g., rustic, modern)?
You want to wear clothing that fits the theme of the shoot! For example, if you’re getting headshots done of yourself in a formal outfit, you might wear casual outfits for your lifestyle photos.
Or if you’re a nutritionist shooting photos of yourself showing what you do, creating your products or spending time with your family, you’ll wear clothing that’s more appropriate to the mood.
Also ask yourself, what would best connect you with your audience? Is it an edgy, dark, strong theme or a more positive, light and airy look?
What is the right colour to wear for your business headshots?
A lot of people ask me what is the best colour to wear for their photoshoot. The answer is…it depends on who you are, what message you want to convey, and who you’re trying to connect with. It’s been proven that the colours you wear can shape how people perceive you and can affect your mood.
So what do the colours mean?
Blue: trust, power, strength, intelligence
Green: balance, harmony, growth, health
Yellow: happiness, optimism, communication
Red: passion, desire, love
Purple: luxury, royalty
Black: authority, formality
White: purity, innocence
Brown: masculinity
For example, if you want to convey warmth and approachability wear earthy tones such as greens, browns and oranges. If you’re trying to project power and authority consider wearing deep blue or something in the purple/blue spectrum. If you’re looking for a professional edge then black and white can be a good choice.
Does the colour suit your skin tone?
Unless you want to follow a specific colour scheme, I recommend wearing something that compliments your skin tone. You should look amazing and glowing!
Here’s an example: if you have a very light skin tone, avoid wearing anything too dark that will make you look pale. However, if you’re someone with a medium to deep skin tone then wear colours that suit you best- such as emerald greens and deep blue violets.
Once you’ve decided what colour to wear, find the clothes that will illuminate your best features and help you shine!
Wear clothing that match your brand
Your visual brand identity and clothing colours should work in tandem. Choosing to wear clothing in your brand colours is a great and easy way to make your photos more cohesive.
For example, if you have a brand with green as one of its key colors, then choosing clothes that feature the hue helps connect your business headshot to your message and strengthen your visual identity.
Whether it’s a shirt in bright colors or patterns, jeans, or a smart suit jacket- just make sure it follows your vision and overall look of your business.
Look and comfort in your professional photoshoot
Your clothing should make you feel comfortable & confident. Your clothes should highlight your best features while making you feel comfortable and able to move!
If you’re not comfortable in your clothes it will be very easy to feel stressed and awkward during the shoot- which won’t look good in your photos!
What hairstyle suits you best?
A simple and low-maintenance hairstyle will be best in the long run, so that you can easily maintain it even before your photoshoot
The hairstyle should reflect the no-fuss, elegant vibe of someone who is very successful and on top of their game- without caring too much for their looks.
So what is the best hairstyle?
Whatever you feel most comfortable and reflects your personality. You don’t have to do anything that you wouldn’t normally do.
– whether it’s straight or curly, long or short. Try not to overthink it!
Best accesories for your professional photoshoot
Accessories can help your outfit come alive and give it personality. It’s important to make sure that your accessories are not distracting or take attention away from the main focus of the shot- your face. Wearing a great watch, bracelet, or ring that’s visible in the photo can add interest and class to your photos. If you’re choosing to wear jewelry keep it simple and clean.
When it comes to your hair, make sure not to overdo it with accessories like headbands, clips, or ties. Whether it’s a bright colour in your hair or in your accessories, everything should work harmoniously together to create a cohesive look.
Make sure that your accessories don’t take away from what makes you special, but rather help highlight your best features and give your photos a more sophisticated and polished look.
Footwear
Footwear is the final detail to consider. As I mentioned before, you want to make sure that your shoes don’t distract from the overall shot and that they are comfortable enough to walk in. Comfortable shoes will mean that you can move around more easily, which will allow for more creative photoshoots- without being restricted by your footwear.
That being said, choose something that reflects a clean and put-together look, to ensure that your shots convey a professional and polished feel.
I hope this article gave you a clear insight into what to wear for your professional business headshots! If you found it helpful, let me know in the comments.
Ready to take your business to the next level?
Hi, I’m Gabi and I’m the professional photographer behind Branding Stories specialising in creating bespoke business portraits for small businesses and entrepreneurs helping them look confident and approachable in front of the camera and convey their personality so they can connect with the right client.
If you’d like to know more feel free to book a discovery with me so we can chat about your business and how I can help you create awesome photos!
Branding Stories
At Branding Stories, we create photos that help you communicate your business and brand vision to your ideal clients. To learn more, check the about page, or our photography portfolio. Ready to discuss your photoshoot? Get in touch over on the contact page.
