Top Tips for Dressing for Success

What to wear for business headshots?

Many people dread having their photo taken. Sadly the biggest concern is often over how they will look in the photos. I am often asked what a client should wear for a business headshot.

As a photographer, I can make you look great through flattering posing, correct lighting, the choice of location & helping you feel comfortable & relaxed in front of my camera. Because comfortable & relaxed in front of the lens equals comfortable & relaxed photos!

One thing that can hugely affect the success of a photo that I have less control over is what you wear. If you get that wrong, a well-posed, correctly lit photo with a beautiful natural smile can lose its impact.

Whatever the reason you are having your photo taken, you will want to look your best. The images should last & stand the test of time. Looking as good in a couple of years’ time as they do now.

You don’t want the photos to look dated by the outfit you choose or the way you style your hair. Your clothing should flatter, slim & compliment your skin tone & colouring. Clothing can make or break a photo.

It stands to reason then that the most common question I get asked before a photo shoot is ‘What should I wear?’

Here are some of my top tips for dressing for success in your photos!

What to wear for a business headshot; plan what you are going to wear in advance so that you have time to wash, dry-clean or iron anything that needs it. You don’t want a wrinkle in your dress to spoil an otherwise perfect photo!

What colours to wear for your business headshot

Choose solid colours, avoid crazy patterns, large logos or anything that will confuse or distract the eye in the photos.

Choose colours that won’t dominate the image. Bright colours can take over the frame. If you want to bring a brighter colour into your photo think about your accessories like a tie, scarf or piece of jewellery.

Choose similar tones for the top & bottom, e.g., dark top & dark bottom or light top & light bottom. The contrast between dark & light can emphasise size. A light top & dark trousers may make you look bigger by emphasising your top half. 

Darker shades are more slimming but black isn’t always the most flattering colour. Solid black can sometimes photograph flat and may lack detail and definition.

Stay away from colours that mimic skin tones. Choose colours that compliment your skin & colouring. If you’re not sure what works best please bring a couple of options with you to your shoot & I am more than happy to advise. 

Think about your brand colour & choose clothing that compliments it. If your brand is red, you may want to avoid wearing pink so that you don’t clash!

Avoid really vibrant colours, unless they are part of your brand or personal image.

Check out the colour wheel to see which colours work well together.

Styles

Choose classic & timeless styles. This year’s hottest trend may look on point now but in 12 months’ time will date your photo.

Choose a cut that flatters your figure & ensure that your clothing fits you well. Poorly fitting clothes (either too big or too small) will be very obvious in the photos.

Arms are an area that many women in particular are self-conscious about. If you are concerned about your arms then a more flattering long sleeve is the safe option.

I generally advise against wearing low-cut tops & short skirts for business photo shoots.

Wear a style that you are comfortable in. If you never wear a skirt don’t feel that you have to for your portrait. If you feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar clothing this will show in your posture & expression. This will come across in your photos.

Most business portraits are simple head & shoulders shots. If you do want a full-length image, think also about your shoes!

Some people choose to wear a uniform or branded top for their business headshot photos

What accessories to wear for your business headshot

Accessories can be a great way to bring some personality & character into your photos.

Ties – gentleman, if you wear ties, please bring several with you if you wish.

Scarves – adding a scarf can instantly change & soften the feel of your photo.

Jewellery – necklaces, earrings, bracelets, cufflinks, watches. Think carefully about what you choose, how will it enhance your photo?

Glasses – do you wear glasses? Do you want to be photographed in your glasses?

Choose accessories that compliment your outfit & bring a selection with you to your shoot.

Consider your brand colour as you accessorise. A necklace that matches your brand will show thought & consideration, emphasising the fact that you pay attention to detail.

Location

Consider where your shoot is taking place as this could influence your choice of outfit. For example, a personal trainer may opt to have their photos taken in the gym they work at. Here a suit & tie would look out of place & so sportswear is an appropriate choice.

Match your clothing to the location & to the nature of your work.

For a car mechanic photographed in his workshop, informal jeans & branded t-shirt worked well for his portrait.

Hair & Make-up

This could be a whole other blog post!

Men, I’d advise avoiding having your haircut immediately before the shoot – it will look like you’ve just had a haircut! And shave early in the day to let any razor rash disappear.

Women, don’t feel as if you need to go OTT with the make-up. Do it as you would for an evening out keeping your look natural. Try & avoid glossy or shimmery colours as these may catch the light and be distracting. You may want to bring a matte powder with you to touch up your makeup during the shoot.

If you want a little more confidence in front of the camera I can recommend a make-up artist to do your hair & make-up for you.

What to wear for business headshots

Follow these tips on what to wear for a business headshot & spend a little time preparing in advance to ensure that your outfit doesn’t let down your photo. This will make sure that you come out of your shoot with a great set of images that engage with your client & show you at your very best.

A woman in a black suit poses for a business headshot photograph in South London

Professional Business Photography in London, Croydon, Surrey & the South East

I am a professional photographer with over ten years of experience in photographing businesses. Clients range from solo entrepreneurs, start-ups & SMEs to large corporations.

I create images that can be used across a variety of digital platforms & print media. Including; websites, LinkedIn, social media, blogs, personal branding, magazines, press & PR & company literature.

Based in Croydon, I am ideally placed for professional business photography shoots in London, Kent, Surrey & the South East.