Professional Headshots: What to Wear and How to Prepare

A professional headshot is often the first visual introduction a client, employer or business partner receives. It may appear on a company website, LinkedIn profile, proposal, speaker biography or press release. The photograph should look polished, but it should also feel credible and appropriate for the way you work. Preparation helps you arrive with a clear purpose and gives the photographer more time to focus on expression and detail.

Decide where the headshot will be used

A company directory photograph may need to match an established company style. A personal brand portrait may allow more character, environmental context or wardrobe variety. Before the session, list the places where the photograph will appear and note any technical requirements, such as a horizontal crop, space for text or a particular background colour.

If you are arranging headshots for a team, agree on the visual standard before the first person is photographed. Consistency in lighting, background, crop and clothing guidance will make the final set look intentional even when sessions take place at different times.

Wear clothing that supports your role

Choose an outfit that reflects how you want to be perceived and is appropriate for your industry. A structured jacket can communicate formality, while a well-fitted shirt, blouse or knit can feel approachable without looking casual. Solid colours and subtle textures usually photograph well. Very small checks, tight stripes and high-contrast patterns can create visual interference on camera.

Bring at least one alternative if your package allows a change. A second jacket, shirt or accessory can create a different level of formality without requiring a complete restyle. Make sure garments fit comfortably while sitting and standing, and check the neckline from the angle likely to be photographed.

Coordinate colour with the background

Ask what background will be used and whether your company has brand colours that need to be considered. Dark clothing against a dark background can look sophisticated, but separation must be created with lighting. Pale clothing on a white background may feel clean and modern. The photographer can advise which combinations will preserve shape and contrast.

Avoid relying on colours that only look correct under one type of light. Bring the actual garments rather than deciding from a phone photograph, as screens can shift colour.

Keep grooming natural and camera-ready

Plan haircuts far enough in advance for the style to settle. On the day, bring a comb or brush and any product normally used for small adjustments. Makeup should reduce unwanted shine and define features without making you feel unlike yourself. Moisturise dry skin and lips, but avoid applying a heavy reflective product immediately before the session.

Glasses are part of many people’s everyday identity and usually do not need to be removed. Clean the lenses carefully and, if you own multiple pairs, bring an alternative with an anti-reflective coating. The photographer can adjust lighting and angles to manage glare.

Practise posture, not a fixed smile

You do not need to rehearse a single expression. Instead, become aware of how you hold your shoulders and where tension collects in your face. During the session, the photographer will guide posture, chin position and eye line. Small changes can make a significant difference.

Think about the impression you want to create: confident, warm, decisive, creative or calm. This gives the photographer a useful direction. A natural expression often appears between poses, so allow yourself to breathe and respond rather than holding a smile continuously.

For teams, prepare a simple headshot brief

• State the intended background and crop.
• Give clear clothing guidance with examples.
• Explain where the images will be used.
• Create a schedule with realistic time per person.
• Identify who approves the final visual standard.
• Plan how future employees will be photographed consistently.

Update the photograph when it no longer represents you

A headshot should be recognisable and current. Consider updating it after a significant change in appearance, role or brand direction. Businesses should also review team pages regularly so that former employees are removed and new staff do not appear with mismatched photographs.

The goal is not to create an artificial version of you. A strong professional headshot combines careful lighting and direction with an expression that feels trustworthy. Preparation provides the polish; authenticity makes the image useful.

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