What should I wear for a professional corporate headshot? Complete clothing & style guide

You finally scheduled your professional headshot session. Now comes one of the first questions almost everyone asks:

“What should I wear for my professional headshot?”

The simple answer is: Wear something that looks professional, fits you well and represents how you want clients, coworkers and potential employers to perceive you.

But the right outfit for a real estate agent may look very, very different from the right outfit for an attorney, contractor, doctor or small business owner.

This guide will help you choose clothing, colors, accessories and styling for your upcoming professional headshot session.

Let’s Start With How Your Headshot Will Be Used

Before choosing an outfit, you should think about where your new headshot will appear.

Professional headshots are commonly used for:

• Company websites

• LinkedIn profiles

• Business cards

• Email signatures

• Social media profiles

• Marketing materials

• Speaking engagements

• Press releases

• Conference materials

• Real estate marketing

• Professional directories

Your clothing choice should make sense for your profession and the people you want to connect with.

If you normally meet clients in a suit, wearing a suit for your headshot makes a lot of sense.

If your clients normally see you in a polo or button-down shirt, you probably don't need to suddenly wear a three-piece suit just because you're having a professional photograph taken.

The goal isn't to dress like someone else, the goal is to dress and appear as yourself.

General Clothing Tips for Professional Headshots

Regardless of your industry, there are a few guidelines that work well for almost everyone who is getting updated headshots.

• Choose clothing that fits you properly

• Wear solid colors or subtle patterns (Unless wild design is your thing)

• Choose colors that complement your skin tone or match branding

• Make sure clothing is clean and wrinkle-free

• NO clothing with large logos or distracting graphics UNLESS it’s YOUR logo

• Avoid extremely busy patterns (please)

• Bring multiple outfit options if you're unsure

• Consider bringing both a jacket and a no-jacket option

• Make sure collars sit properly

• Check clothing for lint, pet hair and wrinkles before your session begins

• Choose clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident!

When in doubt just keep in mind, simple usually photographs better.

Your face should be the most important part of your professional headshot, not your shirt, tie, jewelry or accessories you choose to wear.

What Colors Should I Wear for a Headshot?

Solid, neutral and moderately saturated colors tend to photograph very well under studio lighting.

Some dependable choices include:

• Navy

• Charcoal

• Gray

• Black

• White

• Cream

• Tan

• Medium blue

• Dark green

• Burgundy

• Earth tones

You don't necessarily need to avoid brighter colors. If a certain color is part of your personal brand or something you frequently wear, it can work extremely well.

The key is making sure your clothing complements you rather than competing with you.

Should I Wear Black or White?

Absolutely. Yes.

Both black and white can look great in professional headshots when they're styled correctly.

A white shirt under a navy, charcoal or black jacket is a timeless corporate look for your photo.

Black can create a clean, modern appearance, especially when paired with a lighter or neutral background color.

Instead of worrying about whether a particular color is "allowed," focus on creating some contrast between your clothing, skin tone, hair and the background color.

What Should Men Wear for a Professional Headshot?

For men, a few dependable options include:

• Suit with dress shirt and tie

• Suit or blazer with an open-collar dress shirt

• Dress shirt without a jacket

• Sport coat with a button-down shirt

• Polo for a more casual business look

• Branded company polo or workwear when appropriate

If you're wearing a dress shirt, make sure the collar fits properly. A collar that's too loose or too tight becomes much more noticeable in a tightly cropped headshot.

If you're unsure whether to wear a tie or not, bring one with just in case.

What Should Women Wear for a Professional Headshot?

Professional headshot clothing for women can include things like:

• Blazer with a blouse or simple top

• Professional blouse

• Simple dress

• Business suit

• Sweater or structured top

• Company-branded clothing when appropriate

Necklines are especially important because professional headshots are typically cropped relatively tightly.

Choose a neckline that will still look intentional when the photograph is cropped around your shoulders and upper body.

Simple jewelry usually works best. Statement pieces can work if they're part of your normal style, but remember that your face should remain the focus of the photograph.

What Should I Wear for a Headshot Based on My Industry?

There isn't one universal "professional headshot outfit."

Different professions have different expectations and needs.

Here's how Seth Michael Media generally recommends approaching some of the most common industries.

Real Estate Agents & Realtors

Real estate professionals usually benefit from looking professional yet approachable.

Your clients are trusting you with one of the largest financial decisions they'll ever make, but they also want someone they feel comfortable calling and spending time with.

Good options include:

• Blazer with an open-collar shirt

• Blouse with a jacket

• Professional dress

• Button-down shirt without a tie

• Sport coat with a more relaxed shirt

Attorneys & Legal Professionals

Legal professionals typically benefit from a more traditional and polished appearance in their headshots.

Consider:

• Suit and tie

• Dark suit with an open-collar shirt

• Blazer with a professional blouse

• Neutral or darker colors

• Minimal accessories

Navy, charcoal, black, white and subtle blues are dependable choices.

Your headshot should communicate professionalism, confidence and trust.

Financial Advisors, CPAs & Banking Professionals

Financial professionals often fall somewhere between traditional corporate and approachable.

Good choices include:

• Navy or charcoal suit

• Blazer with dress shirt

• Blouse and jacket

• Open-collar dress shirt

• Conservative patterns and colors

Because financial professionals are often asking clients to trust them with major financial decisions, your clothing should help reinforce credibility without making you appear unapproachable.

Doctors, Dentists & Medical Professionals

Healthcare professionals have several good options depending on how the images will be used.

Consider bringing:

• Professional business attire

• Lab coat

• Scrubs

• Branded medical attire

For physicians and medical teams, we can often photograph multiple variations during the same session.

As an example, a doctor might take one photograph wearing a jacket and dress shirt and another wearing a lab coat.

This provides different options for websites, medical directories, LinkedIn, speaking engagements and marketing materials.

Contractors, Construction & Home Service Professionals

Professional doesn't always mean wearing a suit.

For contractors, plumbers, electricians, builders, HVAC companies, roofers and other trades, a suit may actually feel disconnected from how customers normally see you.

Consider wearing:

• Clean company polo

• Branded button-down shirt

• Quarter-zip

• Clean work shirt

• Business casual attire

If you own the company, you might also consider capturing one slightly more formal look along with your branded company clothing.

Your headshot should still look polished, but it should also look like you.

Executives & Corporate Professionals

For executives and corporate leadership, always consider how your company presents itself.

Traditional industries may call for:

• Suit and tie

• Business suit

• Blazer

• Professional blouse

• Neutral corporate colors

Modern companies may be better represented by:

• Open-collar shirt

• Sport coat

• Sweater

• Polo

• Elevated business casual clothing

A CEO of a construction company doesn't necessarily need the same headshot style as the CEO of a financial institution.

Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners

Small business owners have more freedom because your headshot is often part of your personal brand.

Instead of asking, "What looks corporate?" ask:

"How do my customers normally see me?"

Your clothing should reflect your business and personality while still looking intentional and professional.

This could mean:

• Blazer and T-shirt

• Polo

• Button-down shirt

• Dress

• Blouse

• Branded company clothing

• Business casual attire

For entrepreneurs, capturing multiple looks can be especially useful because the images may eventually be used across websites, social media, advertising, speaking engagements and marketing campaigns. Ask about our full Branding Photography Sessions!

Should I Wear Glasses in My Headshot?

If you normally wear glasses, you should generally wear them in your professional headshot.

Your headshot should look like YOU!

Make sure your glasses are clean before the session. If you have multiple pairs, you're also welcome to bring options.

Professional lighting can be adjusted to help minimize distracting reflections.

What About Jewelry and Accessories?

Keep accessories intentional.

Consider:

• Simple earrings

• Watches

• Necklaces

• Wedding rings

• Professional accessories you normally wear

Avoid anything that will pull attention away from your face unless that accessory is an important part of your personal style. YOU’RE the start, not your jewelry.

Hair, Makeup & Grooming Tips

You don't need to completely change how you normally look for your headshot.

Instead, think of it like:

You on your best day at work.

Before your session:

• Schedule haircuts several days before the session rather than immediately beforehand

• Style your hair how you normally wear it professionally

• Check facial hair and clean up stray hairs

• Keep makeup natural unless your profession or personal brand calls for something different

• Bring a comb or brush

• Bring makeup or powder for touch-ups

• Check teeth before stepping in front of the camera

• Bring lip balm if needed

What Should I Bring to My Headshot Session?

If you're unsure about what to wear, reach out to Seth Michael Media to help choose what fits you best. 727-744-3244

A great headshot session bag might include:

• Two or three shirts or tops

• Blazer or jacket

• Tie

• Alternate jewelry

• Comb or brush

• Makeup for touch-ups

• Lint roller

• Glasses if you have multiple pairs

It's much easier to decide between two outfits when we can actually see how they look under professional lighting.

What Should I Avoid Wearing for a Professional Headshot?

Try to avoid wearing these things for your headshot session:

• Very busy patterns

• Extremely thin stripes that may photograph strangely

• Large logos unless they're intentionally part of your company branding

• Wrinkled clothing

• Clothing that doesn't fit properly

• Distracting jewelry

• Clothing you're uncomfortable wearing

• Trendy pieces that you may dislike six months from now

Remember that a great professional headshot may be used for several years.

Timeless usually wins.

One Final Tip: Don't Overthink It!

One of the biggest mistakes people make before a professional headshot session is stressing too much about what they're going to wear.

If your unsure, just bring a few options.

We can figure out what photographs best during your shoot.

Professional headshot photography isn't simply about taking a technically good photograph. Lighting, posing, expression, body position, wardrobe, background and coaching all work together to create an image that feels natural and professional.

You don't need to know how to pose.

You don't need to know your "good side."

And you don't need to walk in knowing exactly what to do in front of the camera.

That’s what Seth Michael Media does! We’ll guide you every step of the way to ensure you walk away with a photo you’re proud to show off!

Professional Headshot Photography in Pinellas County & Tampa Bay

Seth Michael Media provides professional headshot photography for individuals, businesses, executives, real estate professionals, medical professionals, attorneys, contractors and corporate teams throughout Pinellas County.

As a mobile headshot photographer, I bring the professional studio lighting and photography setup directly to your office, business or location. This makes it possible to create consistent, professional headshots without requiring your entire team to travel to a photography studio.

Whether you need a single updated LinkedIn headshot or consistent professional headshots for an entire company, the goal is the same:

Create a professional image that still looks and feels like you.

Ready to update your headshot or your company's team photos? Contact Seth Michael Media to schedule your professional headshot session! 727-744-3244