What to Wear for Professional Headshots: The Complete Guide

What to wear for professional headshots is one of the most common questions Ryan Dunbar at ATX Headshots hears before a session – and with 21 years photographing professionals across North America, the answer is always the same: solid colors, well-fitted clothing, and nothing that competes with your face. Get those three things right and your wardrobe will not be the reason your headshot falls short.

This guide covers exactly what to wear for professional headshots, what to avoid, and how to make sure your images work across LinkedIn, company websites, and any other platform where your headshot appears.

The Core Principle: Your Face Is the Subject

Every wardrobe decision for a professional headshot should serve one goal – keeping the viewer’s eye on your face. Clothing that draws attention to itself works against the purpose of the image. The best headshot wardrobe is one the viewer does not consciously notice at all.

This means avoiding anything busy, distracting, or visually loud. It means choosing colors and fits that frame your face rather than compete with it. And it means dressing for the professional context you want to be seen in – not the one you are currently in.

Best Colors to Wear for Professional Headshots

Solid colors are the foundation of a strong headshot wardrobe. Patterns, prints, and textures draw the eye away from your face and can cause visual interference under studio lighting that is not visible in person.

Colors that consistently work well:

Navy blue is the most reliable choice across all professional contexts. It photographs cleanly against both light and dark backgrounds, reads as authoritative and trustworthy, and works for men and women across every industry. When in doubt, navy is the answer.

Charcoal and medium grey are strong neutral options that give the image a clean, modern look. Avoid very light grey if you are being photographed against a light grey background – there will not be enough contrast between you and the backdrop.

Deep teal and blue-green tones work well for professionals who want something slightly less expected than navy. They read as confident and approachable and photograph exceptionally well under studio lighting.

Burgundy and deep wine tones work particularly well for professionals with warmer skin tones. They convey confidence without the severity that some darker tones can carry.

Soft white and warm cream work well for professionals with darker skin tones and for sessions where a warmer, more approachable look is the goal. Avoid bright white – it causes exposure challenges and tends to look stark rather than polished.

Black is a common choice but requires care. It works well for executives and professionals in formal industries but can look flat or severe if the background is also dark. If you wear black, make sure there is enough contrast with your background choice.

The full color breakdown is in this post on best colors to wear for a headshot.

What Clothing Styles Work Best

The right clothing style depends on your industry and how you want to be perceived – but a few principles apply across virtually every professional context.

A blazer or structured jacket is the single most reliable choice for professional headshots. It adds structure and authority to the image without looking overly formal, works for both men and women, and photographs well in every studio setting. If you are unsure what to wear, a well-fitted blazer in one of the colors above is the correct answer.

For corporate and executive contexts – attorneys, executives, finance professionals, and others in formal industries – lean toward the more formal end. A structured jacket, clean lines, and minimal accessories signal the level of seriousness those roles require.

For professionals in client-facing service roles – realtors, consultants, healthcare professionals – a polished but slightly less formal look often works better. The goal is professional and approachable rather than authoritative, and wardrobe should reflect that.

For creative and tech professionals – the range is wider, but the core principles still apply. Solid colors, good fit, nothing distracting. A well-fitted dark top or a smart casual jacket works well for most creative contexts.

What to Avoid

A few wardrobe choices consistently cause problems in professional headshot sessions:

Patterns and prints. Stripes, florals, geometric prints, plaids, and busy textures all draw attention away from your face. They can also cause visual interference called moire under studio lighting that is not visible to the eye in person. Solid colors in every case.

Very bright colors. Bright red, orange, and yellow are difficult to expose correctly alongside skin tones and tend to dominate the image. If you want a warmer tone, opt for a deeper, more muted version – burgundy rather than red, burnt orange rather than bright orange.

Logos and branding. Company-branded clothing dates your headshot and limits where it can be used. Plain professional clothing with no visible branding is always more versatile.

Distracting accessories. Large statement earrings, chunky necklaces, bold scarves, and novelty ties all pull attention away from your face. Simple, classic accessories are fine – the test is whether anything in the frame competes with your expression.

Clothing that does not fit well. Ill-fitting clothing looks ill-fitting in photos, and the camera makes it more obvious than the eye does in person. A well-fitted outfit in a less expensive fabric will photograph better than a premium fabric in the wrong size. If something does not fit perfectly, do not bring it to the session.

Sheer or low-cut tops. These create retouching complications and can look unprofessional depending on the context the headshot is used in. Err on the side of conservative – a headshot that works in every context is more valuable than one that only works in some.

The complete avoidance guide is in this post on what to avoid wearing for a headshot.

Bring Two Outfit Options

Even if you plan to use only one look, bring a second outfit option to your session. Colors that look great in natural light sometimes read differently under controlled studio lighting, and having an alternative means a wardrobe issue does not derail the session.

Most Professional session clients at ATX Headshots end up with usable images from both outfits, which gives them options for different platforms and contexts – a slightly more formal look for their firm website, a slightly more approachable look for LinkedIn.

Hair, Grooming, and Finishing Details

Hair and grooming should reflect how you look on a typical professional day – not a special occasion, and not a casual day. The version a client or colleague would expect to see in a meeting.

For makeup, natural and polished is the goal. The camera picks up shine more readily than the eye does in person – a light matte finish helps. Avoid anything dramatically different from your everyday look.

Get a good night’s sleep before your session. It shows in the final images more than most people expect, particularly around the eyes.

The complete preparation guide is in this post on how to prepare for a headshot session.

For session options and booking, visit the Austin headshot photographer page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best color to wear for a professional headshot?

Navy blue is the most reliable choice across all professional contexts – it photographs cleanly, reads as trustworthy and authoritative, and works for men and women across every industry. Charcoal, teal, burgundy, and warm grey are also strong options. Solid colors in every case – patterns draw attention away from your face.

Should I wear a blazer for my professional headshot?

A blazer or structured jacket is the strongest single wardrobe choice for professional headshots. It adds structure and authority without looking overly formal and works across virtually every professional context. If you are unsure what to wear, a well-fitted blazer in a solid professional color is the correct answer.

Can I wear black for my professional headshot?

Yes, with care. Black works well for executives and professionals in formal industries but can look flat if the background is also dark. Make sure there is enough contrast between your clothing and your background. It is a strong choice when used intentionally.

How many outfits should I bring to a headshot session?

Bring two options even if you plan to use one look. Colors can read differently under studio lighting than in natural light, and having an alternative means a wardrobe issue does not derail the session. Many clients end up using images from both outfits for different contexts.

What should men wear for a professional headshot?

A well-fitted blazer or sport coat over a solid-colored dress shirt is the most reliable choice for men. A tie is appropriate for formal industries – law, finance, executive roles – and optional for most others. Avoid patterns on both the shirt and tie simultaneously. Solid colors, good fit, nothing distracting.

What should women wear for a professional headshot?

A structured blazer or jacket in a solid professional tone is the strongest choice. A well-fitted top in a solid color also works well, particularly for less formal industries. Avoid busy patterns, very bright colors, sheer fabrics, and large statement accessories. Simple, classic choices photograph best.

Does what I wear matter if the headshot is just for LinkedIn?

Yes – wardrobe matters regardless of where the headshot will be used. LinkedIn profiles are often the first impression a potential client, employer, or partner has of you. A headshot that looks polished and professional on LinkedIn communicates the same thing your CV and experience communicate. A casual or poorly chosen wardrobe undermines everything else on the profile.