Getting a professional headshot can be stressful, especially when you don’t know what to wear. You want to make sure your outfit represents you but doesn’t draw attention away from your face. When choosing your outfit for your headshot, there are things you should wear and things you shouldn’t wear.

Does What You Wear in Your Headshot Matter?

Yes! What you throw on for a headshot absolutely matters. The fabric draped over your frame can shift the entire vibe of the photo. While some advice crosses gender lines, other pointers are tailored to fit.

For men, the eternal question is: what to don for that professional photo op? Most gents gravitate toward the classic business getup—a crisp button-up, perhaps a suit, maybe even a necktie. But a word of caution on ties: don’t go too wild with bold prints or kaleidoscopic designs. You don’t want your tie upstaging your face..

Now, what to wear for professional headshots as a woman? Most women wear a blouse and/or suit that compliments but doesn’t directly match their skin tone. They avoid bold patterns and too-bright colors and opt for more neutrals or gemstone colors.

For a more casual look, both men and women should avoid graphics on their clothing, opting for solid colors or subtle patterns. More on that later.

What to Wear for a Headshot

What you wear in your professional headshot speaks volumes about who you are. You’ll want something that’s polished and professional, yet still makes you pop in the eyes of potential employers. Here are a few ideas to help you nail the perfect look for your headshot.

1. Solid Colors

Wearing solid colors in your headshot keeps the focus squarely on your face, giving off that polished, professional look. Dark shades like black, gray, or navy are go-to favorites for this reason. If you’re thinking of spicing it up with a bright shirt or blouse, make sure it plays nice with the other tones in the photo and doesn’t drain the life out of your complexion.

Brightly colored clothing is typically more fitting for casual headshots, where vibrant colors fit in better. For a highly professional and flattering look, darker colors or maybe lighter neutrals in solid colors work best.

2. Nice Fitting Clothing

You want your headshot to focus on your face. Having nicely fitted clothing will help do that. Men might wear suits fitted nicely around the shoulders and arms. Women wearing a blouse should also have a fitted ensemble without bulges or creases.

While a fitted outfit is important, you don’t want it to be too tight. That can be as distracting as baggy clothes.

3. Know Your Field of Choice

The outfit you choose for your headshot should vibe with the job you’re chasing or the one you already have. If you’re aiming to be a doctor, for instance, showing up in a headshot wearing your paint-splattered weekend clothes isn’t exactly the move you’d want to make. You may want it to be of you in your white coat.

When you try to tie your outfit with your profession, it creates the impression that you’re serious about your work.

4. Accessories

Adding accessories can be the little thing your headshot needs to help it stand out. Just avoid adding too many distracting accessories.

Take a woman in a plain blouse—she can sprinkle in some pizzazz with a bold, brightly-colored necklace or a pair of eye-catching, yet refined earrings. But beware: if the jewelry gets too loud and flashy, it’s bound to hijack the attention. Instead, a dash of vibrant, subtle jewelry can give your headshot that extra splash of color without turning it into a circus act.

5. Makeup

Makeup for both women and men can sprinkle a bit of zest onto your headshot. While some might scoff at the idea, it actually works magic by taming those harsh photographer lights and breathing a bit of life and vibrancy into your features.

If you’re going for it, the trick is to slap on just enough color so the lighting doesn’t leave you looking like a ghost, but beware—too much or an explosion of bold eyeshadow, blush, or lipstick might steal the spotlight in a way that feels more chaotic than professional. The sweet spot lies in finding that delicate middle ground.

What Not to Wear for a Headshot

While there are many good things to wear for a headshot, there are a few things you should avoid when deciding what to wear. Here are some things to be cautious of when choosing clothing options.

1. Patterns and Bright Colors

Bright colors and bold patterns draw attention away from your face. They could also wash out your skin tone so you look pale. There’s also the issue of them clashing with other colors in your background.

Wear clothing that lets the viewers focus on you, not what you’re wearing.

2. All White Clothing

White clothing may not be the worst idea for a headshot, but it’s not the best either, especially for those with lighter skin tones. It can wash out the features of those with lighter skin tones. It can also be distracting because it may interfere with the lighting.

You can, however, wear white as part of a more colorful outfit. For example, a white shirt and tie under a suit can be very professional. Women could wear a tastefully colored sweater over a white blouse to maintain a professional appearance. It can help compliment and bring attention to your face.

3. Baggy Clothes

Nothing says unprofessional like someone who doesn’t invest in their wardrobe. Baggy and ill-fitting clothing seem unprofessional at best. It may give the appearance that you don’t care about your work. That’s the last impression you want your headshot to give!

4. Logos

It seems like a no-brainer that you shouldn’t wear logos in your headshot, but it’s worth stating. It’s best to keep your clothing neutral to avoid the appearance of promoting a brand. Even small logos, such as a two-inch Under Armour logo on the left breast, can be unprofessional. Solids and un-branded subtle patterns are always best.

What You Wear Matters

To obtain a professional appearance, think about how an employer or potential client would see you. Professional-looking headshots with tasteful, non-distracting clothing will certainly do the trick. Those who put thought into their clothing choices appear to be serious about their work. You should emulate this thought pattern.

You want to be that person who has thought about what to wear for their headshot and not the one who quite literally looks like they just rolled out of bed on picture day. Follow these clothing tips to be best represented, and you raise your chances of getting an impressive headshot by a huge percentage. 

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