Dressing For Your Corpoate Portrait

We get this question all the time: How does one dress for a corporate headshot?

Our answer: Dress like you are going to meet your best client.

What does this mean? It can mean many things.

A lawyer or financial services professional might wear a suit or blazer to signals a coherence with industry norms.

A therapist might choose a well-styled blouse or sweater for their business portrait to signal competence, warmth and comfort.

A graphic designer might lean into a sharp pair of glasses and shirt with a creative flair to signal a link between their personal/professional style.

General rules:

Start with something that is clean and free of wrinkles. You want your best client to think you are professional in every way. Looking well kept is a baseline signal.
Avoid branding and logos. Logos limit you. You might not always want your company name (or someone else's) in your headshot.
Solids colors work well but stay away from all black and/or all white. Patterns are okay, but remember, a pattern that looks great full length can be distracting or it might not read well when it's cropped down to a headshot view.
Avoid sleevless looks. Short or long sleeves are more neutral for all seasons.
A well-fitted boatneck or button up always looks great, but you know your body. Wear what looks good on your shape.
Consider structured clothes (suits, blazers, clothes with clean lines). They hang straight and look polished.
Avoid drapy clothes that need to be styled in a specific way. They might look great in a room, but our photographers are moving you around to get your best on-camera angles. This could create awkward fabric bunching. Bulked up and awkward creases are never the best look.
Jewelry and Accessories. As Coco Chanel said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Less is more.

Most importantly, if you feel good in it, wear it. You will come feeling confident, which alway looks great in a photo!