What to Wear in a Professional Headshot?

Your choice of attire for headshots can affect how other people perceive you. As you prepare for a headshot session, here is an extensive guide on what to wear in a professional headshot so you’ll feel more at ease during the shoot.

Consider industry-related outfits and suit-inspired silhouettes when preparing what to wear for a headshot. While you can freely choose whatever makes you feel comfortable, you also need to ensure you’re wearing well-fitted garments, layers, tops with higher necklines, and simple accessories.

You can use headshots on your company website, social media accounts, speaking engagements, and other print marketing materials. What you wear should reflect who you are as a person and a professional.

Industry-Related Outfits

Your industry will typically impact your clothing, and your dress for a headshot should rely on its function. For instance, a plain shirt would be too dressed-down for a real estate agency, whereas a black lounge suit may look too corporate for a home-based business.

Corporate headshots: For corporate headshots, steer away from casual clothing such as shirts or hooded sweaters. Opt for sleeved tops, blazers, and trousers usually seen in an office.
Actor headshots: Prepare a semi-formal outfit that represents the role you want to play. For example, consider a dress shirt for a role in a medical show or a leather jacket for a crime-fighting play.
Personal branding: As long as it complements your personality and brand, you can wear anything more fashionable. It could be a jumpsuit to match your fun personality as an influencer or streetwear for your work as a dancer.
Model headshot: Stick to essential and casual clothing for model headshots. Tank tops and shirts in neutral colors are ideal for helping photographers, designers, or stylists envision you in their work.

Suit-Inspired Silhouettes

Traditional attire like slacks, blazers, and suit coats can affect intelligence, power, and authority views.

A study shows that blazers and trousers make applicants look more influential and forceful. Suits in darker colors also tend to have a more favorable influence when applying for leadership and management roles.

Well-Fitted Layers

Layering clothes adds depth to your outfit while creating a slimming effect. Make sure the blouse, vest, and suit jacket fit closely around the shoulders and arms, even as you layer them.

You should wear lighter or thinner garments first, then add one or two layers of thicker fabrics. For instance, a button-down shirt first under a wool sweater and cashmere topcoat.

However, you should refrain from including accessories like uneven shoulder pads, sloppy tie knots, or pocket squares with distracting designs that could make the outfit appear heavy. Clothing that is too big and baggy can make you appear untidy and unprofessional.

Tops With a Higher Neckline

Headshot photographers usually crop the images close around the head and face. Wear button-up shirts, blouses, or dresses with higher necklines that don’t distract the viewer’s attention from your face.

Low or scoop necklines can make your shoulders larger or the neck slightly wider. While V-necks, plunging necklines, and loose collars might detract attention from your face.

Accessories

Stick with essential pieces like a pendant, gemstone studs, and a wristwatch if you wish to wear accessories. These accessories won’t get in your hair or get lost in the layers of your clothes. Moreover, avoid wearing hats or scarves unless it’s part of your uniform.

You can wear eyeglasses if you wear them whenever you face people, especially customers. I will only ask you to remove the glasses if you have transition lenses that go dark in bright lighting or are highly reflective.

Whatever Makes You Feel Comfortable

Aside from people’s perception of you, dressing smart also affects your confidence, performance, and sense of self-empowerment. How you feel behind the camera will affect your pose, body language, and facial expression in the headshots.

If you wear something you don’t feel good in, you may look uncomfortable or hurt in the photos. You should still consider comfort above everything else.

At my Wynwood Studio, you get full one-on-one attention in a photography environment that makes you feel comfortable and at ease. I also shoot my tethered to a laptop so you can instantly see if you like your wardrobe or want to change anything, so the results are consistent quality headshots that set you apart in your field.

What Should You Not Wear in a Professional Headshot

After years of photographing several people, I have found the things or elements that don’t work well during a headshot shoot.

Distracting logos and patterns: Avoid graphic tees or shirts with distracting designs or logos unless you’re wearing a company-provided shirt. Trim lines and prominent symbols can form distorted patterns in the photos.
Thin fabrics: Studio lights can be bright, so delicate fabrics can make some tops a bit see-through.
Old or worn-out clothing: Tell-tale evidence of wear, such as faded colors or holes, might make you appear unprofessional.

Conclusion

In a professional headshot session, what you wear might affect how the pictures turn out. However, remember that what works for one person may not necessarily be ideal for you. We can plan your headshot wardrobe to guarantee you look your best.

Corporations large and small trust GFP with their headshots. Join the many Fortune 500 companies like Google, Forbes, J.P. Morgan, Hewlett Packard, and NASDAQ — as well as dozens of law firms and financial firms in San Francisco — and contact Gustavo Fernandez Photography today to upgrade your company headshots.

The Photography Process

1. Complimentary Phone Consult

When we make first contact, we will discuss all the details of your photography shoot including volume, location, and safety.

2. Your Photo Shoot Day

Experience a professional, high quality, and consistent photoshoots for yourself and all your staff, whether on location or in studio.

3. Same Day Client Viewing

After we finish the shoot, each subject will get a chance to view their photos and we make sure that you will be satisfied with the results.

4. Photography Delivery

After touch-ups, we deliver all relative files and photographs to you directly, with a 3 - 5 business day turnaround time. Same-day and next-day rush orders are available.

About The Photographer

Gustavo Fernandez specializes in clean and crisp, hassle-free headshots for both small and large businesses in the South Florida area and beyond.

Gustavo Fernandez Photography works with clients such as Google, J.P. Morgan, Forbes Media, and NASDAQ. Every year, about a dozen headshots of his are featured in Times Square, on the eight story high NASDAQ MarketSite tower.

He has been recognized as a leading professional in his field, and is trusted by many corporations to capture their events and deliver top-notch headshots.

Outside of work passions, he is actively involved in serving the community through organizations like The Guardsmen and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He even created a charity called “Hogs for Kids” where he rode his Harley Davidson across the US doing portrait sessions, donating all sitting fees to support at-risk you in the Dominican Republic with Children International.

Raves & Reviews

At Gustavo Fernandez Photography, we understand what businesses are looking for in a photographer, and we deliver. Our studio is the best at what we do. But don’t just take our word for it — see what other professionals are saying.

The Benefits of Professional B2B Photography

Consistent and Matching Images

Gustavo Fernandez Photography knows that when photographing company headshots, consistency is key. Subjects will have your specific look and lighting, every single time. Each portrait will not only look great on its own, but will be part of a cohesive set of images with the same specifications, all tailored to match your brand. As you expand and hire new employees, each one of them will also have a matching headshot, even across different locations.

Professionalism And Communication

We understand what companies are looking for – you need a photographer who is professional, personable, responsive, and competent. The process should be seamless and stress-free from photo shoot to delivery, with a quick turnaround. You won’t need to hand-hold; once we have a mutual understanding of what you want, we will deliver, every time.

We Can Help You Look Your Best

Your staff may not feel “camera ready” or maybe no one really wants their photos taken, but Gustavo makes the process quick and painless. Proper lighting, posing, and a little Photoshop come together to enhance the best traits, and we will be sure to capture natural smiles. We even offer a professional hair and makeup artist to give each team member a quick touch up before they step in front of the camera, if you choose to add it.

Traveling Photo Studio

Instead of taking hours out of your work day for photos, GFP comes to your workplace, and sets up a mini studio in your conference room, so each staff member only needs to miss about 15-20 minutes of billable time. Not only does this save you time and money, but it makes the task seem much less daunting, and remains easy to keep up with as you hire new team members.

Elevate Your Brand

Photography is an important marketing tool, and your headshots are a large part of how you present your business, both on your company website and on social media. Invest in your image and elevate your brand perception with quality headshots.

On-Site Headshots For Your Entire Team

Do you need consistent, high-quality, professional headshots for your team, even as you expand your business across the state, or the globe? Gustavo Fernandez Photography specializes in headshots for both small businesses and large corporations in the Miami-Dade area and beyond.

Gallery

We provide a safe and efficient experience.

Above all, we believe in being good community citizens. We are working cooperatively with the state and local leaders to provide a safe environment for all.

Contact Us

No time for forms? Contact us directly using our phone, email, or social media.

Phone: (305) 204-1300

Email: gustavo@gustavofernandez.com

When was the last time you had professional headshots taken?

Great headshots are absolutely essential as a thriving professional in today’s digital world, and they’re the most important component for making a captivating first impression.

As your photographer, my goal is to make you shine in front of the camera and capture your essence — creating inviting photos that attract your ideal clientele.

What is a headshot?

A headshot is a photograph of one’s head and shoulders, with the main focus of the image being the face. Photos often feature a solid or neutral background, and can be cropped vertically or horizontally.

Who needs a professional headshot?

Corporate Leaders such as CEOs, CFOs, and COOs
Lawyers and Law Firm Staff
Presidents, VPs, Board Members
Investors, Financial Firms, Private Wealth Managers
Bankers, Brokers, and Accountants
Realtors / Real Estate Agents
Small Business Owners
Fortune 500 Corporations
Human Resources / HR Officers
Authors
Public Speakers
Insurance Agents
Marketing Professionals
IT Techs
Sales Reps
Medical Professionals: Doctors, Nurses, and Caretakers
Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Dentists and Hygienists
Therapists
Performing Artists: Actors, Dancers, Musicians

Where can I use my headshot?

What kind of backgrounds can I choose from?

About 80% of our clients choose white, but we also have solid black, for a more formal, dramatic look, as well as several tones of grey. Check out our page on backgrounds for examples.

If you want something more environmental, GFP can also photograph you and your team inside your office, with your workspace as the background, or on location outdoors.

Can you come to my office to photograph headshots?

Absolutely! We can set up a portable studio in the conference room or lobby of your office building and get all of your employees photographed in one day.