Wardrobe Tips for Corporate Headshots

When you have business headshots taken, these are photos that you may have to look at for a very long time. They might be on your business card, posted on your or your company’s website and might be used on literature and brochures that will be in use for several years. This is why you want the best photograph possible and is also why you should take care in selecting your wardrobe for that day.

For men, it’s often a no-brainer. A business suit is a good choice for a corporate headshot. If you want a more casual look, you can forego the blazer and wear a white shirt with a tie. For blazers, grey or navies in solid colors are often a good choice for timeless portraits. You don’t want clothing or hairstyles to look too trendy as it can date the picture and many companies will expect the picture to last a long time for the investment they are about to make.  If you are paying for professional photographer services yourself, you’ll also want the photos to last a long time.

If you are wearing a tie, try not to overdo it with the patterns. You can choose a simple pattern and a bright color if you like but avoid anything too over the top.  If you prefer not to wear a shirt and tie, your photo can still look nice and professional in a nice collared golf shirt or turtleneck sweater.

Wardrobe choices can feel more complicated for women but choosing a classic business suit or simple blouse and skirt or pants is a great idea.  Again, don’t wear anything too trendy and choose something that’s for fall or winter instead of summery.

Avoid complex patterns like stripes or checks and opt for solid colours wherever possible. This will not only give the headshot a more classic look but will be more tolerable to look at in several years when styles and trends have changed. Horizontal lines can be difficult to look at. Varying patterns on different articles of clothing can make for a disaster of a headshot. Vertical lines in clothes should be minimal but the presence of them can have a slimming effect.

Wear something you like, that makes you feel good! Feeling like you look good with nice clothes, a polished look and a warm smile will result not only in your enjoying the outcome of your headshot but also effectiveness in meeting your goals for it as well. It’s supposed to make you look confident and professional so take the time to choose something professional and classic to help you achieve desired results.

If you cannot decide for sure what to wear or even if you think you have made the right choice but want to be safe rather than sorry, bring two different changes of clothing to the photo shoot and ask the photographer for advice.