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What to Wear for Professional Headshots: Five Camera-Ready Outfits
Your headshot is an opportunity to show that you’re more than just a suit and a résumé.
Selecting an outfit for your professional headshot can be surprisingly difficult. On one hand, it makes sense to play it safe: the goal of a headshot is to present yourself as the polished, capable, trustworthy type of person that employers and clients want to hire. But on the other hand, this photo is an opportunity to say something about yourself, a chance to show that you’re more than just a suit and a résumé.
To help, we’ve compiled five simple style tips for selecting your headshot outfit. Read on for the tips, plus camera-ready outfit ideas that are way more exciting than simple suits.
Style Tips For a Professional Headshot
1. Wear Vibrant, Solid Colors
Let’s face it: Corporate headshots can often feel a bit…drab. If you want your headshot outfit to stand out from the crowd, opt for brightly colored pieces that complement your skin tone and draw attention to your face.
2. Project Professionalism
Professional headshots should reflect how you want to be seen in your professional life. Wearing clothes that convey confidence and align with the dress-code norms of your industry will help make your headshot session as productive as possible.
3. Opt for Interesting Necklines
Most headshots are cropped at the waist or shoulders, which means you have limited space to show off your outfit. If you want your look to convey personality, opt for pieces with interesting necklines that will be easy for your headshot photographer to capture within the frame.
4. Don’t Sacrifice Comfort
The best headshots are those that project confidence, and if you don’t feel at ease in your outfit, it may reflect in your expression or posture. Wear styles that feel as good as they look, and it’ll show in your smile.
5. Show off Your Personal Style
At the end of the day, your headshot should represent who you are as a person and a professional. If your industry is dominated by casual clothing, there’s no need to wear a business formal suit. If you always wear glasses, don’t feel pressured to switch to contacts for the photo. If you hate fitted clothing, wear something relaxed and flowy. You get the idea.
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What to Wear for Professional Headshots
Outfit #1
A jewel-tone dress like the Gwynne in berry jam is an ideal choice for your professional headshot. The rich red is bold and eye-catching, but not so bright that it’s distracting. This style also features a V-neck, sharp lapels, and a double-breasted silhouette for an extra professional look. Bonus: You can also wear it unbuttoned as a trench-style blazer.
Outfit #2
If you want to look as polished and put-together as possible, there’s no better choice than a classic blazer. The Yiyan has a sleek and timeless look, so your headshot will remain relevant for years to come. Plus, it has stretchy knit inserts through the back, so you can move with ease. Pair it with the Choe top in 365Knit and the sleek Smith pants.
Outfit #3
The Kinsley dress is proof that work dresses don’t have to be boring. With its chic mockneck and contrast stitching, you’ll feel more than camera-ready. Plus, of all the colors to wear, dusty pine is the one that will capture—and keep—their attention. And it doesn’t hurt that this dress is machine-washable, lightweight, and wrinkle-resistant. (Pro tip: The Kinsley dress is a great business casual option for petite women.)
Outfit #4
You can look perfectly put-together and feel like you’re wearing pajamas when you opt for comfortable yet polished pieces like the Merritt jardigan, Paige tank, and Daria jeans. Each of these pieces is soft, stretchy, and easy—perfect for getting comfortable in front of the camera. Plus, light colors like ivory can help you stand out among the black, gray, and navy suits.
Outfit #5
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the outfit you choose for your professional headshot has the potential to say a lot about who you are. The biggest mistake you can make is trying to look like someone you’re not. If you’ve never felt like yourself in dresses, opt for a cool, textured set, like the Natalia shacket and Bia pant. If you’d never be caught dead in a suit but work in a buttoned-up industry, know that there’s plenty of other business formal attire out there for you.
