If you’re in the process of planning for your professional business or corporate headshot, you are likely asking a very good question:

What to wear for professional headshots?

As a professional headshot photographer, I have the unique position of helping my clients figure out what clothing is going to look best for their portraits. In a way, I’m like a very specialized stylist! I understand what works well and what absolutely does not look good in headshot photography, and I’m here to help!

I’ve created the following guide on what to wear for a professional headshot session to help you prepare. I’ve photographed thousands of headshots at this point, and if you read through this guide, you’ll be sure to choose great outfits for your upcoming business headshot photography session. Let’s dig in!

We need to answer a few simple, but fundamental questions before we get started selecting outfits. These questions will set us on a particular path that we can then narrow down to detail.

I tend to take a very different approach to outfit advice than most photographers. While other headshot photographers in Orlando may always recommend the same type of outfit, I prefer to recommend starting with WHO you are, not just what you should wear. There are definitely rules to follow that will help us perfect your outfit, but it’s all for nothing if we’re not showcasing your personality, unique business expertise, and message to viewers. So, before we get into detailed rules, let’s find a few things out about you first!

As you can see, what you wear can have a huge impact on how others perceive you in business.

These two women have very different businesses - Jen, on the left, is a high-end advisor and speaker - an expert in her field. Stephanie, on the right, has an online business where she needs to seem approachable and full of joy. Your professionalism, degree of expertise, goals, and even personality can all be quickly assessed in a headshot, and your outfit can be a crucial element to what you’re communicating to your clients.

What is the purpose of your business headshot?

So, before we dive into all the nitty gritty details to help you prepare, I want to first ask you to consider what you’re creating this for. Many companies require a professional headshot from their employees - needing a specific style of outfit, backdrop, and even lighting. Others may need to communicate something for their own business or marketing needs. Who is your audience, and what are you trying to achieve with your headshots?

Keep these answers in mind as you make all of the decisions moving forward so that everything you choose will help you succeed in speaking to your client base. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, professional headshots are typically the first impression that people have of you, and nailing this part can make a huge difference in how you are perceived in the professional world.

If you were your own client or customer, how would you feel when looking at the outfit of this headshot? Put yourself in their shoes to get a feel for style, color, and even fabric choices. Start with what feels right and apply rules from there.

Now onto the fun part!

What to wear for professional headshots

There are so many options when it comes to what to wear for your professional headshots in Orlando, that it can be truly overwhelming. Should you choose black or white, should you go sleeveless or not, what about glasses, and how do they photograph? I’m about to cover all of the details after just a couple of more important considerations…

How should I dress for a professional headshot?

Style your outfit according to your industry

How you should dress for a professional headshot isn’t going to be an easy one-size-fits-all all answer. That’s why photographers can’t simply tell everyone to wear a black blazer. In fact, for some industries and some people, wearing a black blazer would go against their branding.

If you’re an entrepreneur, own your own small business, or are starting in acting, the look of a blazer can be too corporate and come off as impersonal and cold. But in other industries, it’s the gold standard! So, instead, think about the industry that you’re in and the tendencies around the types of clothing that your industry wears.

Think about how you would dress in a meeting.

Those pictured above are from a law firm in Orlando. They needed outfits that were sharp, tailored, and that looked like the picture of success. These outfits are completely appropriate for what they might wear when meeting a client for the first time, or even what they may wear on a daily basis in the courtroom or at the office downtown.

Consider who you may meet one-on-one in your business. How will they perceive you and feel about you upon meeting you? The best advice for narrowing in on what style of clothing you should wear is: think about what you would wear with the type of person that you’re creating your headshot for. What would you wear to a meeting with them? What would you wear if you took them out for coffee? What would you wear if you took them out for drinks? Whatever came to mind for you just then, is the type of clothing that you should aim to wear in your professional headshots.

Think about your future goals in business.

Are you getting these headshots to stand out in your own company? Who is the decision maker when you’re being considered for a promotion? Do you run your own business and need to connect on a personal level with a target audience?

Now that you’ve answered that question, I am going to give you a few rules to help you find the most flattering version of your vision!

Business Headshot Outfit Ideas and Rules

Bring multiple outfits for us to review if you are unsure
If you have narrowed down the basic style of your outfit choice (say, black dress), but are unsure which one will look best for the camera, bring both and I’ll be happy to help you choose! I have a good idea of what outfits will look like in a photo and how they will flatter your body type, so feel free to bring a few clothing options if they are in the same general area. Try not to bring outfits that are wildly different in style if you are only having one outfit in your headshot. Narrow down the style and feel, and then bring variations if you are unsure.
Try on your outfit and do a few poses in the mirror
We often have arms posed away from the body, use pockets, and often put hands on waits, backs of stools, etc. You may not be aware of how your outfit “moves,” so it’s very important to try poses and see how the outfit moves with you. For instance, a blouse that buttons up may “pop open” at the bust slightly when I have you open your arms, or a shirt may wrinkle in an odd way if I have you twist at the waist. Big wrinkles, folds, and open spaces can’t be photoshopped well, so it is best to avoid these problems before they start.
Make sure your outfit fits you well - don’t bring clothing that fits poorly!
It is common these days to wear baggy clothing, and as much as I love the style, it just doesn’t photograph well. When you’re wearing flowy clothing in the real world, the movements you make still imply that you have a shape. The problem with wearing those same outfits on camera is that they don’t have any movement and you will most definitely look like a box. Clipping the shirt in the back is sometimes and option, but often creates odd folds and wrinkles. Do not bring oversized or boxy shirts. Wear fitted clothing, or at least wear clothing that gives you the shape you want to see when you’re standing still.

Melissa, pictured below, chose a rich color, a top that had some shape at the waist and was easy to move in. Great choice!

4. Consider your neckline

What are you communicating to your viewer as it relates to your neckline? A very low-cut top could communicate that you’re confident, but it could also be too much skin for some, and could communicate lack or respect. Wearing something like a turtleneck can make your headshot look seasonal, especially in Orlando, and it may feel a bit out of place. Very high necklines can also make you feel shorter.

For the most part, however, your neckline should be determined based on what you want to communicate, and what you feel is flattering to yourself. I have broad shoulders and a bit more weight than I’d like to admit, so I prefer a v-neck that breaks up my torso lines and creates a nice, long neck (slimming!). But very tall, thin clients could opt for high necklines. So consider what makes you feel most confident, and aim to wear that.

If you would like a safer rule: women should opt for a neckline that is slightly lower, which increases the length of the neck and is more slimming and flattering to all body types.

5. Should you wear sleeves or no sleeves?

The answer somewhat depends on your industry and what you’re trying to communicate in your photos. However, arms can be a bit “loud” in headshots and can take away from your smile and expression. If you aren’t trying to communicate a message with your beautiful, buff arms (I often have clients who take great care of their bodies, and sleeveless outfits can help them communicate the correct message to their clients!), stick with sleeves. Also, I recommend long sleeves - short sleeves can cut the body into odd shapes and can look a but juvenile. If you are unsure of what is acceptable in your industry, I would err on the side of caution and stick with long sleeves.

6. What color should I wear for business headshots?

Different strategies can be achieved by wearing specific colors in your headshots. We prefer that the viewer’s eyes go straight to your eyes and your smile. Wearing bright bold colors can draw attention away when people should be looking at your face. However, you may prefer to use your outfit color to attract attention. Bold red is a good example of a color that will draw attention in a good way.

Consider bold colors if you’re looking for attention, and stick with neutrals and calmer tones if you want people to connect with you and your personality. Think about the colors that you look best in. If you’re drawn to a certain color, or if something compliments your skin tone, those colors should be considered as long as they fit with our top priority, which is your industry standard.

However, not every color translates well through the camera lens. Let’s go through some basic rules that will help you narrow down your selection, and I’ll also provide a few examples of good choices other professionals have used for corporate headshots.

I do have a few rules that will help us get great results in the camera for your professional headshots. Once you’ve picked a style and general feel the clothing should have for your industry, we can nail down the colors. I will keep my advice simple:

Good colors for headshots:
- Jewel tones, like blue, deep purple, emerald green, turquoise, and maroon.
- Black, white, gray, and sometimes a very light off-white
- Neutrals, like taupe, olive green, or a muted, rusty orange.
Colors to avoid for corporate headshots
- Yellow (either bold or light)
- All pastel tones (they wash out the skin and the camera makes them lighter than they are - seriously they are hard to work with. Please avoid pastel colors :)
- Very bright colors (like bright green, or neons).

7. What about glasses?

If you wear glasses normally, then you should most likely wear glasses in your headshots, however, the majority of glasses DO reflect the lighting and cause big problems. We have a pair of glasses here at the photo studio with the lenses removed, but it would always be best to have your lenses removed before coming to your headshot session. There are a few tricks to help somewhat avoid glare, but it’s very difficult to create a beautiful headshot with perfect lighting when we are working with glasses. Even glasses that are anti-glare will catch the light and often completely block out your eyes behind the lenses.

Have your lenses removed, or use our pair of black-frame glasses on the studio. If you don’t have the lenses removed and we are getting a glare, you will have to take your headshot without them.

What outfit to avoid for your headshots

Here are a few more rules to keep in mind that will help you dress for success:

Avoid anything that looks too dressed down - We want you to look comfortable in your professional images, but avoid clothing that makes you appear unprofessional or unserious about what you do. Think about your headshot as what you’d look like on your best day.
Avoid loud patterns - My first recommendation is to aim for solid colors in your headshots, but sometimes patterns are ok if they match your industry and personality. Just know that patterns will normally distract from your expression, smile, and eyes a bit :)
- If you really love patterns, try to keep it to one of your layers, or on the milder side as more of an accent, rather than the main piece.
No logos or pictures should be on your clothing - at all! The only exception would be a company logo of course :)
Try not to wear large or distracting accessories unless that is totally your vibe. I have had clients come in with huge necklaces, and they just love it! If in doubt, however, keep them simple so they don’t take away from your smile.
Avoid clothing with small ribbing or micro-texture of the same color (like you may find in a sweater or tank top). These micro-patterns confuse the camera lens, and usually create the Moire Effect on camera.

But…… sometimes it’s ok to break the rules!

If you are still thinking if your outfit selection is good and maybe you aren’t quite sure still what to wear for your headshot session, here are a few examples of professionals who opted for an outfit that ultimately made them feel happy, and that is the most important thing! We want you to feel confident, seen, and accurately represented in your business headshots.

Other important things to consider for your headshot outfit:

Don’t bring clothing that is wrinkled or has any pet hair or lint on it. If you want to be safe, bring your shirt on a hanger and change once you arrive to the photography studio.
Remember to try on your outfit before you come to the studio and move around. Does it pull or stretch oddly? May be best to try another outfit!
Bring 2-3 outfits to your headshot session if you are unsure what will work best!

Are you ready to update your professional image and make a stronger impact in business?

Get in touch or book online today for your Orlando Headshot Photography Session!

And as always, feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions before booking. I look forward to working with you to create powerful, attractive and effective headshots for your business, career, and corporate position.

Need sometihng a bit more than just a standard headshot? I also offer full Personal Branding Photography Sessions for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Book a Session

If you still need a bit more inspiration for

Outfit Ideas for Headshots

Here’s a few more professionals that made great choices for their outfitst. Go shopping! Have fun! These images should be taken seriously so others take you seriously in business. Dress your best and we’ll see you soon!