What Shirt To Wear For Headshots: The Ultimate Guide
Nothing is worse than struggling to find the right outfit for professional photos. You want to look professional, but you also want to wear what suits your personality.
Choosing an outfit for a professional headshot is an important decision and the field of business you plan to be in will have an impact on your clothing selections.
While a dress shirt is almost always a great option, you may want to wear something that reflects who you are as a person a bit more at the same time. But how do you find that happy medium?
This guide will show you how to choose the right top for a professional headshot session. As a first impression is everything, use this guide to help you stand out!
In this guide we’ll cover:
- The type of clothing you should wear
- How to find the right color shirt
- What kind of accessories to wear
- The clothing you should avoid wearing
The Best Shirts & Shirt Colors To Wear For Headshot Photos
Types of Tops
What type of top should you wear?
The number one goal in choosing your top is to wear something flattering but still appropriate. Your shirt should complement your features while remaining professional.
For example, the type of neckline you wear is very important. Choosing a shirt with a neckline that is too low is never ideal, but you don’t have to go full turtleneck either.
Here are a few general guidelines to help you find a neckline for your body type.
- Women with a larger chest should wear shirts with these necklines: scoop, sweetheart, square, V-neck, and asymmetric. These necklines help compliment your figure and provide coverage.
- Women with smaller chests should wear shirts with boat necklines, crew necklines, cowl necklines, or turtlenecks. These necklines help flatter your figure the most.
If you don’t want to cover your entire neck but feel better with a bit more coverage, consider a half-turtleneck shirt or a mock neck top. These are both classic and polished styles that look put together and fashionable.
If you do wear a v-neck shirt, ensure it doesn’t draw too much attention to your chest. You want to enhance your figure instead of trying to show it off.
Here are a few shirt styles that work great for headshots:
- Button up Portofino shirt
- Gathered neck balloon sleeve top
- Bow neck long sleeve top
- Mock neck long sleeve top
- Wrap front tunic top
- Suit Jacket
- Polo Shirts
- Dressy Blouse
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Colors
What is the best color shirt for headshots?
Asking your professional photographer for the background color ahead of the shoot is a great idea. This will help make the decision of what color shirt to wear much easier.
For example, if the background will be white you want to steer clear of wearing white, off-white, cream, etc., otherwise, you will blend in.
On the flip side, if you’ll be in front of a dark background, you should wear a light-colored shirt to help you stand out.
However, don’t let this stop you from choosing a neutral shirt. Neutral colors are always a great choice when deciding what color to wear. If you don’t want to wear a black or white shirt, consider wearing a grey, beige, or blue shirt.
It’s easy to style these colors as they go with anything and are universally appealing to wear. Of course, if you want to add a bit of personality, consider wearing a shirt with pops of color.
However, be cautious with bright colors. The color of your shirt should complement your skin to help bring out your undertones.
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For example, if you have red undertones, avoiding bold colors like red, yellow, and orange is best. Instead, wear shades such as teal, light blue, lavender, or lilacs. These colors help even out your complexion best.
Also, those with darker skin often find that red, dark purple, orange, or pink are most flattering. Vivid white even looks great on those with a warm undertone, which helps bring out your natural glow.
So when deciding what color shirt you should wear, first figure out the background of the photo shoot. Then, find out the best colors that match your skin’s undertone. As a general rule, solid colors are always a good choice.
Can you wear patterns?
You can wear patterns for a headshot, but you should stick to subtle patterns that don’t take away from the main subject, you! As a rule, busy patterns tend to be very distracting, so it’s been to avoid them.
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Accessories To Match Your Shirt
What type of accessories should you wear for a headshot?
When it comes to accessories, remember that less is more. You don’t want to wear anything that draws attention away from your face.
For example, it’s best not to wear a long necklace. Instead, opt for a simple necklace with earrings that don’t dangle. Pearl or stud earrings are always safe choices.
Additionally, if you’re wearing a printed top, you may want to skip the necklace, but if you’re wearing a solid shirt, a simple necklace is a great way to liven up your look a bit.
Additionally, choose jewel tones that look best for your skin’s undertone. Cooler undertones should wear white gold or platinum jewelry. For a gem, opt for Amethyst, Blue Sapphire, or Ruby.
Those with a warm undertone should wear rose or yellow gold. In addition, consider wearing emerald green, garnet, citrine, or morganite gems.
What NOT to wear for a headshot
What should you avoid wearing to a headshot?
Printed tops and vibrant colors should be off-limits as a rule of thumb. These tops often clash with the background, leaving the focus off your face. Instead, wear neutral or primary colors to avoid this issue.
Additionally, avoid wearing anything with a logo.
Lastly, don’t go to the photo shoot wearing very casual attire or worn-out clothing. You want to look and feel your best for your big day.
FAQs
Should I bring more than one outfit to the photoshoot?
It’s a great idea to be over-prepared for your photo shot. Consider bringing two extra outfits if the first one doesn’t go as planned. You never know; you might find the background to be darker or lighter than expected.
Can I layer my headshot outfit?
If you wear a white button-up shirt for your headshot, layering is certainly an option. A good idea is to wear a charcoal jacket that flatters your figure. Just be sure it is the right fit, otherwise, you’ll want to get it tailored.
What is the color theory when it comes to a professional headshot?
The color theory guides what you should wear to a photo shoot. It tells you how specific colors will affect the influence of your business headshot.
For example, lighter colors make you appear friendly and less threatening. However, darker colors make you seem more authoritative and dominant.
A high-contrast pairing conveys the message of authority and influence. So if this is the look you’re going for, consider a dark suit and a light color shirt for your picture.
Should you wear your glasses to the photoshoot?
Yes, absolutely! If you always wear glasses, then there’s no need to take them off for the headshot. Show people your true self, so they get a sense of who you are.
How should I wear my hair to a professional photoshoot?
You should wear your hair as you do in real life. So, if you always wear your hair down, wear it this way for your photo shoot.
It is best practice to not dye your hair a bold color right before your photo session. Save any new styles and colors for after your shoot in the event it doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped.
What are some makeup tips for the photoshoot?
Yes, you can wear makeup for your headshot. However, make sure to keep it as natural as possible.
Makeup has a tendency to look different when captured via a lens. Remember, you will be looking directly at the front of the camera, so there will be no hiding a poor makeup application.
Be sure to blend well and avoid overly bold eye makeup. Choose shades that complement your eye color rather than compete with it.
Additionally, camera lights are bright and may make you look a bit shiny, even if you’re not. A little bit of powder can help keep you from looking oily in your photos.
While it’s not necessary to hire a makeup artist for your headshots, if you aren’t comfortable doing your makeup n your own, it’s something to consider.
What about men’s attire for a business headshot?
Just like for women, the clothing choices for men’s headshots will be heavily dependent on the industry you plan to be in. Typically, men go for the classic look of a suit and tie.
Consider wearing a solid color shirt with a small patterned tie for corporate headshots. You can also go a bit more business casual by wearing a collared shirt with a navy blue or striped tie.
Tips for men are the same when finding the right color shirt. If the background is dark, then consider shirts in light colors. With a light background, choose a darker shirt.
Men should not wear baggy clothing, busy pattern, or wrinkled shirts.
If you wear a white button-down shirt, consider wearing a dark jacket and a dark blue tie for balance.
When should you update your headshot?
Most people update their headshots once every two years. However, if you make a major hair color change, that may be grounds for an updated headshot as well.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to obtain a headshot in which you look and feel confident. Your photos should be a good representation of who you are and in line with the position you hope to achieve.
By following these simple tips above we’re confident you’ll get the best headshots possible!
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