HEADSHOT PREPARATION & STYLE GUIDE

A headshot is often your first impression to important people. Be prepared to look your best.

Preparing yourself and your clothes is the most important thing you can do to look your best for your headshots. If you look your best, you're going to feel confident, and this will come out in your headshots. Here are some tips to choose the right clothes and be prepared so you get the best results.

Grooming

Sleep

It's no secret that a good night sleep will help you look healthy and refreshed and prevent those dark circles and bags under your eyes. The number one thing we see people most critical about in their own headshot are the bags under their eyes, so we recommend getting plenty of sleep the one or two nights leading up to your headshot session.

If for some reason you didn't get much sleep and you do have bags under your eyes, applying a cold compress to the area will help reduce the swelling. If you booked our makeup artist, the makeup will help reduce the appearance of swelling or darkness, and we can further reduce it in retouching, but this shouldn't be a substitute for getting plenty of sleep.

Wash, cut, trim, shave

Wash your face before the session to remove dirt and oil from your skin and to reduce shine.
If you have dry skin, apply moisturizer the night before your session to give it time to absorb. Do not apply face lotion the day of your session - it will make your face shiny under the lights.
Acne or other skin conditions can be removed or reduced in retouching or with makeup.
A fresh hair cut is key to looking sharp; however, if you get it cut the same day as your headshot session, remember to rinse your hair and wash your face and neck so you do not have small pieces of hair on your face, neck, and ears.
Trim your ear, nose, and eyebrow hairs if needed.
If you shave daily, we recommend shaving within 4 hours of your session, before that 5 o’clock shadow starts to appear. You may want to book a morning session or bring your razor with you and shave at our studio. If you have a beard, make sure it’s neatly trimmed. If you have razor cuts or irritation, these can be removed in retouching.

Hair & Makeup

When is the last time you worried about being shiny or if you had a few hairs out of place?

Your headshot is a moment in time that will represent you and how people to perceive you, so it's a good opportunity to make sure you look your best. Hair and makeup is not just for film and television. Studio photography requires professional studio lighting similar to the lighting used for professional video, so that shine on your nose and forehead or that redness from too much sun will be noticeable.

Makeup will significantly remove shine on your face, cover up blemishes, and balance out skin tone and color so you look your absolute best. If you will not be wearing makeup, we provide oil-absorbing blotting wipes that will reduce shine on your face. Although makeup is recommended, the retouching we’ll do on your final selected images includes skin retouching that will reduce shine, balance out skin tone, correct complexion, and remove any blemishes and stray hairs.

If you plan on applying your own makeup, the most important thing is to wear a photo quality matte powder makeup that will reduce sine on your face. Also, try to balance out your skin tone and color, especially if you have red areas. Please bring your makeup with you to your session for touch-ups.

We recommend getting a hair cut within three days of your headshot session. If you have a hairstyle that requires moderate to complex styling, we recommend booking your session in the morning so your hair is still in it's best condition; this is especially important if you curl your hair or if your hair is prone to frizz later in the day. If you have a specific hair product you like to use, please bring it with you.

Clothing

FIT

Wearing proper fitting clothes is the most overlooked and one of the most important steps you can take to look your best in your headshot and in everyday life. Get that suit and those shirts tailored or buy fitted shirts and suits. For both men and women, off-the-rack shirts and jackets that are noticeably too big or too small for you will not be flattering for your body and will make slim people look slimmer and large people look larger. Overall, improper fitting clothes will result in a sloppy, unprofessional look, and there is not much we can do even in retouching to fix this.

What To Wear

Dress the Part: Consider the industry you work in and dress appropriately. For example, if you work in a creative field, you may have more flexibility in your attire, while a more traditional business may require a more formal look.
Consider choosing clothing and accessories with a timeless style, not trendy fashion that will be out of style in the near future and that will date your headshot, unless you plan on keeping it updated.
Your face should be the focus in the photograph. Clothing should be non-distracting, so avoid distracting patterns and bold colors.
Pants and shoes do not matter if you’re only getting headshots; headshots are waist-up. If you’re getting a full-body portrait, wear well-fitting and wrinkle-free pants or skirt and consider cleaning/polishing your shoes prior to your session.
It's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed, and bring more clothes than you’ll need so you have options.
Suits are common for most business headshots and a suit will definitely make you appear more confident and professional. Even if you don't wear a suit for your daily work attire, if you own a well-fitting suit, we recommend bringing it and taking at least a few photos in it so you will have a more formal headshot if you ever need one.
Layers: Depending on the lighting, a solid color shirt or blouse can blend in with the background, so we highly recommend wearing a jacket or sweater in a contrasting color to add interest to your headshot. Jackets are designed to give your body a flattering shape and frame your face. Jackets add a defined structure around your shoulders and arms and create flattering vertical lines, framing the body to make it look neatly proportional. Solid suit jackets will be the most formal option, patterned suit jackets are semi-formal, and textured or patterned blazers and sport coats will look more business-casual.
For jackets, especially women's jackets, choose one where the lapels create a 'V' shaped front, which is much more flattering than the straight up and down front (known as mandarin collars).
Ladies, avoid blouses and jackets that have loose hanging fabric in the sleeves and around the torso. Also, avoid tops that are too revealing or low-cut, as they can detract from the professional image you want to project.
Gentlemen, if you are wearing a button-down shirt without a tie for a more casual look, do not wear a crew neck under shirt as it will be visible. We recommend wearing a v-neck under shirt so that it is not visible.
Keep accessories to a minimum and choose simple and understated pieces that complement your outfit. Jewelry should be simple and professional. Necklaces are always a great addition, especially if you are wearing a low-cut top or deep V jacket. Thin chains are okay but can get lost in a small photo. Thick or multi-strand necklaces, especially pearls, have proven to work well in headshots.
Professional outfits for gentlemen: Suit with tie, suit without tie, dress shirt with tie, dress shirt without tie, sport coat with dress shirt, dress shirt with tie under v-neck sweater, dress shirt without tie under v-neck sweater.
Professional outfits for ladies: Suit jacket with button-up shirt, button-up shirt alone, suit jacket with blouse (silk shirt, bow-tie blouse, cowl neck blouse), cardigan with blouse, blouse alone, suit jacket with professional dress, cardigan with dress, dress alone.
Consider browsing high-end clothing catalogs or websites for inspiration. The models in catalogs are professionally styled and you'll get a good visual of clothing and color combinations.
Make sure your clothes are wrinkle and lint free before arriving. We do have a clothes steamer and lint rollers on hand if you need to use them, but keep in mind, the more time we spend preparing your clothes, the less time we have to create.
If your current wardrobe is out of style, showing signs of wear and tear, or ill-fitting, it may be a good opportunity to treat yourself to some new clothes and invest in items that flatter your figure and make you feel confident. Consider keeping the tags on until after your photo shoot just in case you reconsider your choices after seeing the photos.

Colors and tones

Do wear colors but don’t overdo it. Solid colors and tones always work best.
You cannot go wrong with matching colors in your outfit with the color of your eyes.
Blue looks great on almost everybody. If you have blue, bring it. Blue suits look modern and sharp and are a great way to stand out in the crowd.
Earth tones such as brown, beige, and olive green can add depth and dimension to a photo and are great choices for a natural, understated look.
Avoid bold colors: Bright and vibrant colors such as red, orange, green, and yellow can draw attention and be too distracting. They can also clash with skin tone and hair color. Muted colors and color shades are less dominating and more complimentary.
Steer clear of multi-colored items and wearing too many colorful pieces together. Stick to one or two colors at most for a harmonious look.
For jackets neutral hues such as black, navy, blue, brown, and gray are always a secure option. They give a timeless and professional look and won't dominate the photo. Then incorporating a pop of color with a tie, shirt, or pocket square adds a touch of flair to your outfit.
It’s good to have contrast between dark and light tones.
A medium to dark jacket and a light shirt is a classic and safe choice. A blue jacket with a white or light blue shirt is modern and versatile. Charcoal to medium gray jackets are versatile and pair well with most colors. A navy jacket and white shirt is timeless and classic. Light gray jackets are more casual and standout for those with lighter hair. Black jackets are formal but can sometimes appear too formal for most people.
The human eye is drawn to the brightest part of a photo, so avoid wearing a white or bright color shirt without a jacket. If you will not be wearing a jacket, go with a medium to dark color shirt.
Ties should always be darker than your shirt.

Matching Colors

The color wheel below will help you match multiple pieces of colored clothing, which will create a balance and contrast in your outfit.

Complimentary colors directly across the wheel from each other will create a vivid contrast, draw attention, and will stand out.

Triad colors create the most balanced form of contrast and work well for matching three or more colored items including shirt, jackets, ties, pocket squares, and jewelry.

Analogous colors are directly adjacent on the color wheel. This creates a minimized contrast, giving a very consistent and restrained look.

Shirt/tie color combo ideas: white shirt/red or navy tie; light blue shirt/red tie; light blue shirt/dark blue tie; light blue shirt/yellow, orange, beige, or brown tie; gray shirt/black tie; violet shirt/yellow tie; dark-green shirt/violet tie; white shirt/black tie (formal/secret agent look). Any color or pattern tie will match with a white shirt.

Color Psychology

Research has shown certain colors can have a psychological impact our behavior and feelings, and if worn in moderation, can help you subconsciously influence what you want people to think or feel about you.

Here are some psychological characteristics associated with common colors:

Red: Draws attention and creates a visual impact. It evokes strength, power, and is persuasive, but may also come off as assertive or aggressive. Bright red ties are commonly known as the classic power tie, popular for its psychological influence.

Blue: The safest color and most popular among both men and women. Blue is a calming color associated with intelligence, focus, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Navy blues suggest more power and authority than lighter blues.

Green: A relaxing color associated with nature, balance, generosity, and peace. Dark green is associated with wealth.

Purple: The color of royalty. Purple evokes wealth, luxury, sophistication, mystery, and wisdom. Use in moderation.

Pink: A soothing color seen as innocent on women. Men who wear pink are seen as bold, assertive, in control and confident.

Yellow: Cheerful and evokes friendliness and optimism. Should be used in moderation and is overpowering if too vibrant.

Orange: Possesses the energy of red without the seriousness. Orange is associated with fun, ambition, and enthusiasm.

Black: Formal, sophisticated, powerful, and elegant. Use in moderation and pair with other tones and colors.

Gray: A neutral color that is a great base to pair with other colors. Gray alone can come across as low energy or boring.

White: Purity, innocence, cleanliness, and simplicity. White draws attention and is a stark contrast for other tones.

TEXTURES

Textures work well to evoke a casual, soft, warm, and approachable feeling. Textures can be incorporated into your outfit with fabrics such as wool, flannel, tweed, corduroy, linen, silk, suede, leather, velvet, or even a coarse oxford shirt or knit tie.

Textured accents can spice up an outfit that’s otherwise smooth and simple.
Textured clothing is almost always more casual in appearance.
Typically, coarse or rough textures are seen as masculine and soft textures like silk and satin are seen as feminine. Both men and women can “soften” or “harden” their look by adding fabric that is more soft or coarse.
Textures work great for tall and skinny people. These body-types benefit from the little extra weight and bulk of the fabric, while shorter and wider body types may benefit from a sleeker look with less bulk and texture.
Textures are found in blazers and sport coats, shirts, blouses, ties, pocket squares, and of course sweaters.

Patterns

Patterns are a great way to add interesting elements to your wardrobe, but if not carefully selected they can demand attention and be distracting.

Patterns work best on ties, pocket squares, and shirts that will be covered with a jacket. Patterns on sport coats and suit jackets are good for a less formal look.
Dense and simple repeating patterns are less distracting and work best.
Pin stripe shirts and jackets are slimming and flattering for larger body types.
We don't recommend matching more than two patterns. When matching patterns, it is crucial the size and density of patterns are not similar. You can match any style of patterns, even similar ones, just as long as they are different sizes and densities.

What to bring

Bring a few ties, dress shirts, blouses, and jackets to choose from. Keep in mind, headshots are usually cropped above the waist so pants and shoes should not be a concern unless you require a full-body portrait.
Bring any jewelry or accessories you wish to wear.
Bring any makeup and hair products you prefer to use.
We recommend photographing no more than 3 or 4 outfits, but feel free to bring as many clothes as you want to select from. We're happy to help you select outfits at the studio.
If you need to shave, feel free to bring your razor with you and shave at our studio.
If your company has specifications for your headshots, please bring those or upload them when you book your appointment online.

If you have any questions about how to prepare that were not answered on this page, please contact us.

Graphics and most style tips courtesy of realmenrealstyle.com