How To Dress For Professional Headshots

Being a professional headshot photographer, I’m often asked by my clients “What should I wear?” That’s a great question because what you wear is actually very important. Your headshots will be featured on your website, online portfolio, business cards, social media, and so on. Your headshots are your client’s first impression of you. As humans we are mostly visual, so putting in that effort to make a good first impression is very important. Gathering an outfit together the night before a photoshoot can be a tedious job but it doesn’t have to be. Thats why I put together a simple guide on how to dress for professional headshots, to help you dress for success.

Style yourself according to your industry

What is your job title? Who are your clients? Where will your headshots be featured? Is there room for growth within your company? If you’re a Realtor you should keep your look professional. If you’re in the creative industry your look can be more relaxed but it should remain clean. The aim of your headshot to tell the viewer who you are and what you’re all about.

What would you wear in a meeting with your client?

If you were to meet your client face to face what would you wear? Keep that question in mind when choosing your outfit.

Solids are a solid idea.

Patterns, lines, and stripes can be very distracting in an image, especially in an outdoor setting. That is why I always recommend that my clients come to their headshot session wearing solid colors. Solid and bold looks demand attention and look really professional.

Black and white pops!!!

Black or white is my go-to recommendation for headshots, especially for Realtors. It’s professional yet commands attention. Simple, clean, and effective. You can never go wrong with black and white as it compliments everyone and stands out against busy backgrounds.

Neutrals are a yes!

Just like black and white options, neutrals look amazing on camera too and are always a fabulous choice. Smart, professional, and straight to the point.

Wear clothes that fit well and make you feel fabulous

If you’re uncomfortable, it’s going to show on your photos and we don’t want that for you. We want you looking and most importantly feeling your best so we can have a successful photoshoot. Wear clothes that fit your body nicely, and give you confidence. Confidence translates onto photos and that’s exactly what we want for you!

Bring options

Bringing a backup outfit is recommended for any type of photoshoot but especially a headshot session. If you don’t want to change, I recommend bringing a blazer, a smart jacket, or a nice cardigan. That way you can add in and take off as you go. This will add variety to your images and give you more options.

Be true to yourself

I know I’ve guided you away from bold colors but if you’re a person who likes to command attention with color, that’s totally okay and it can still work. At the end of the day this is your headshot. Whatever you choose to wear, being true to yourself is important. I would prefer to photograph a happy, confident person over someone who is wearing something that they don’t necessarily like or feel good in.

How To Prepare Your Child For Their Photoshoot

A children’s portrait session can sound like a tedious job, especially for parents who have to go through the entire process of getting them ready and to the shoot clean, on time, and in a good mood. I have created a quick list of things you can do to make sure your entire children’s photoshoot experience runs smoothly for you, your child, and your photographer.

#1 - Feed them first

Every parent knows that a fed kid is a happy kid. To avoid the hunger monster from appearing mid-shoot, make sure to feed them a good meal before you leave the house. Portrait sessions typically last about an hour so it will be a while before they get to eat again.

#2 - Clean up those boogers

We all know that toddlers can get super snotty noses. Snot does show up on images and although your photographer can edit it out, they’d prefer not to as it’s very time consuming. Remember to bring a pack of tissues or baby wipes to clean their face up before and during the photoshoot. Your photographer will really appreciate it.

#3 - Food bribes are totally okay

As a family photographer I have met many parents who bring candy or snacks to bribe their children during their photoshoot and I completely support it. In order to get a child (or an animal) to perform, smile, or do anything but look miserable, food is a great way to peak their interest. After all, posing in front of a camera for an hour isn't really their idea of fun, is it? You want your photos to say “My kid is happy” and sometimes in order to achieve that goal, you’ve gotta whip out the candy!

#4 - Request a mental break

Your photographer is there to capture amazing shots for you and will keep shooting until your hour is up. A good children’s photographer will offer breaks, but if they don’t, don’t be shy and ask for one. Kids need mental breaks. Give them five minutes to run around and blow off some steam. We would rather have happy kids than bored kids. It’s all about give and take with them.

#5- Introduce them to their photographer

Meeting a stranger and posing in front of them might be weird for your little one. It’s the photographer’s job to introduce themselves and make your children feel safe and comfortable but if that isn’t the case with your photographer, then it might be up to you to do it. This is a good tip for other photographers too.