What to wear for your Orlando Headshots
Choosing an outfit for your headshots can be a daunting task unless you know what photographs well, and what will not work for photos.
Often, photographers neglect to help their clients choose an outfit. We are here to help! Your outfit has a huge impact on how successful your headshots will be.
What to wear for your Orlando headshots may be different than what you might wear for headshots in other cities or states.
The sunshine, weather, and branding can be quite different than what you may want to wear for, say, a northern east coast session.
We are also communicating several things through our outfit choice that can make or break your photo shoot. Is your outfit tailored, communicate expertise, look professional, and speak to your approachability (and how to we accomplish all of these things in one outfit)?
Here are just a few pointers to help us get starting choosing an outfit for headshots, no matter what your profession or location.
Wear Long Sleeves for Indoor Headshots
Even though we usually have beautiful weather in Orlando, Florida, indoor headshots should have long sleeves. This way, our client will see our smile, eyes, and personality first.
Long sleeves also showcase professionalism, which is a must in the corporate world.
The eyes tend to go where the skin shows. One of the best ways to keep the focus on yoru eyes and smile is to wear long sleeves.
Avoid sleeves that “billow,” or are boxy, and make sure your sleeves fit your arms comfortably and well. I normally recommend a fabric that has some stretch.
As with most rules, there are exceptions, of course! But when in doubt, choose at least 3/4 sleeves.
Here are some examples of how long sleeves can have a strong, professional impact on your business headshots:
2. Wear Simple Layers For Your Headshots
Layers create interest, dimension, and texture, and can help tell your professional story.
A blazer, simple necklace, or vest are good examples of professional layers
Each layer should be fitted to your body type, but not too tight. Leave your arms with a bit of room to move without awkward pulling or tugging on the fabric.
For the Orlando professional headshots, I love to see a bit of color if it matches your personality! Especially if we are doing a vibrant outdoor look against palm trees or neutral architecture. Think, bold color undershirt paired with a simple blazer.
Remember to keep the layers simple. Too much going on in the outfit can hinder the professionalism and overwhelm your expression. For instance, you wouldn’t want to pick a blazer, necklace, and scarf. A blazer and necklace is a good choice, or a scarf with a blouse, but putting too much into your outfit will detract, not showcase. Love layers! Just keep them simple.
Again, rules can be broken! If you prefer to keep your outfit to one layer, that is always a strong choice.
Have some fun with one of the layers! Pick a fun pattern, bold color scheme, or light-hearted “voice” in the outfit. In Central Florida Headshots, we like to keep things friendly and warm.
Not sure what to choose? Bring a layer option and we can decide during your headshot session.
Here are some examples of professional Orlando headshots with layers:
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3. You Can Wear Solid Colors For Your Headshot Outfit
Bold, solid colors always look great in headshots and is a safe, effective choice for your professional portrait.
Make sure the colors you go with match your branding and business personality.
We also want to consider outfit color and how it will interact with the photography background. If your office requires a gray background, you would want to go with a strong, bold color, or white, You wouldn’t want to pick a medium gray outfit, for instance. If you aren’t sure what background you would like for your professional headshots, bring your favorite outfit and we will tailor the backdrop to you!
When in doubt, black or white always work great.
Colors to avoid in your corporate headshots:
Pastels. Light tones wash out the skin and tend to wash out in the camera as well.
Neon or bright colors. Really bright colors confuse the camera and rarely work on any skin tones. They will detract from your image. Primary colors are ok! Just avoid those extreme ones.
Lily Pulitzer. Although we love this brand here in Windermere,Winter Garden and Orlando, this clothing does not photograph well for corporate headshots. The prints are loud and the colors are too bright for a successful appearance.
As with all of our rules, there are exceptions. If a print matches your personality best, bring it!
Related: What Colors Should I Wear For Professional Headshots?
Here are some examples of Headshot Outfit Ideas with solid colors:
4. How Are Headshot Outfit Ideas for Orlando Different Than Other Areas?
Orlando headshots should be brighter, friendlier, and warmer than other cities whose client base may be more serious or technology-oriented. Here in Orlando, FL, we have parks, vibrant colors, an incredibly diverse population, lots of fun personalities, and a unique standard for what is considered attractive.
Brighter colors tend to gain more positive attention in Central Florida. With the beaches nearby, Disneyworld and Universal Studios, and a vibrant downtown life, I recommend picking lively color and sometimes fun patterns to stand out.
Of course, classic colors work here, too! Just know how your brand needs to read, and always make sure that your personality is highlighted with your outfit choice.
Now, all of these good-to-go rules should be countered with just a few things to stay away from in your headshot outfit. The camera can be a bit picky about what it likes to photograph :) Let’s give our lens a solid shot at an excellent headshot — check out these rules about what not to pick.
Things To Avoid For Orlando Headshots
Pastel Colors
Light colors wash out skin and photograph too lightly. Light pink, light blue, pale yellow, etc. are not good choices - the camera usually can’t help but wash out those colors, and those colors also wash out skin tones.
Two exceptions are white and a rich cream. These colors for headshots can be clean, crisp, and compliment your features!
Wrinkled Clothing
In this day and age, Photoshop and AI can work wonders with some things, but clothing that is wrinkled cannot be corrected in a way that looks natural. I always recommend bringing your outfit on a hanger and changing here at the photography studio.
Clothing that is dirty or sweaty
In Orlando, it’s easy to get hot in the car! Bring your outfit on a hanger and change at the studio to be safe.
Clothing with ribbing or stripes
Stripes that are large can distract from your great smile and captivating eyes. We want your face to be the main focus of your headshot, not a set of stripes.
Stripes that are small can confuse the camera lens. In general, avoid stripes if at all possible. Sometimes, this can be difficult for men who often have striped business shirts to go under their blazer - I recommend finding a solid colored button-up shirt for best results.
Ribbing can confuse the camera and cause a weird, blurry effect. The moiré effect is something you might have noticed in a photo before. This is undesired and unintentional. The term refers to unusual and repetitive lines, dots, or colors that show up in images with fine detail. Try to keep your fabric free of tiny textures to be safe.
Boxy or baggy clothing
It’s very important to choose an outfit that fits you well. An oversized blazer for a man will add unwanted pounds, and a billowy or boxy shirt for women can hide her shape and make it difficult for a headshot photographer to position her in an attractive pose. Even if you’re carrying a few pounds that weren’t there 10 years ago, still go with a fairly fitted outfit. A black, fitted, stretchy blouse is always my personal go-to for professional headshots!
Here’s me! I opted for a stretchy black shirt that fit my body type well.
I hope that this article has give you a bit more clarity about what to wear for headshots.
But just in case, let’s recap quickly!
When in doubt, choose at least a 3/4 sleeve (but remember - rules can be broken! Above, I opted for a half sleeve because I needed my arms to show up and highlight the camera).
Consider a simple layer
Solid colors are always a safe choice for professional headshots.
Do you have more questions about what to wear for your Orlando Headshots Session?
Get in touch and let me know how I can help!
Or are you feeling prepped and ready to book a headshot photography session? It’s my joy to be a dedicated Orlando Headshots Photographer, and I would love the opportunity to work with you.
Need more outfit ideas for your headshot session? Visit our homepage to see what other professionals have worn for their headshot sessions.