What to Wear for Your Headshots | New Jersey Photographer
So, you’ve decided to get some headshots done. Great decision! Now, what should you wear? Professional headshots are all about communicating with your audience. It is essential that your look matches what you want your image to convey. Here are some suggestions for you to consider for the best possible portrait.
Professional headshots are all about communicating with your audience. It is essential that your look matches what you want your image to convey. If you have agency-specific attire that is expected for your headshot, that is fine. If not, below are some suggestions for you to consider for the best possible portrait.
Consider this: Professional yet approachable, as well as trustworthy and intelligent. That may seem like a lot to fit into one photo, but a big part of your headshot is the wardrobe. Take a few minutes to think about all the things that make up your personal brand and what you want others to take away from a glance at your profile.
Keep your colors calm.
That means no neon or blindingly bright colors and especially no busy patterns. These distract from your face, which is the focus of the photo.
Instead, opt for solid, neutral colors and jewel tones (richly saturated colors), which flatter almost any complexion. Avoid flesh tones like beige or tan and keep away from bright white. If you’re looking for a neutral color, go with navy, burgundy, gray or forest green. A great way to choose your outfit color is to find a top that matches the color of your eyes and build the rest of your outfit from there.
Go for classic, instead of trendy.
Gentlemen: I suggest you go for a classic look. Pick your favorite suit that fits well and doesn't bunch up when you button it or when you sit down. Stay away from jackets with tight grids or small herringbone patterns as they can have a moiré pattern effect on camera. Ties look best when their tone lands between the suit and the shirt, so a light shirt, a dark suit, and a tie in a shade somewhere between them. Some ties are too shiny—try to stay away from really reflective, shiny, silk ties.
If you don't choose to wear a tie, wear a non-white shirt if possible. White shirts without a jacket and tie to break them up can lose detail in the color and folds. Additionally, a white shirt will be the brightest thing in the image and will draw the viewer’s eye away from your face.
If you wear a button-down shirt without a tie, it's best to wear a jacket or sweater of some kind to layer the look. If not, consider a darker color shirt to avoid looking like a head floating on a blank, boxy shirt. You might want to unbutton a button or two, but make sure your undershirt cannot be seen: think about wearing a V-neck undershirt or none.
Ladies: consider the same as the gentlemen in keeping it classic. Choose a professional suit or business-oriented outfit that is timeless: you shouldn’t be able to tell what decade it is in the photo.
V-necks accentuate the neckline and generally look best on women, but don’t choose something with too low of a neckline, as too much cleavage may also be distracting from the look you are going for. Avoid turtlenecks; they tend to make people look like they have no neck at all in photos. If the only option for a top is white, wear it under something, such as a suit jacket, cardigan, or sweater.
Executive headshots tend to look better without bare arms, so long sleeves are recommended. However, if you'd like to try showing arms in a sleeveless blouse or shift dress, we could make it work. Just bring a blazer or sweater to put over it as an additional option.
Avoid flashy jewelry.
If you’re going to wear earrings or a necklace, keep it simple. Go for small hoops or studs, and avoid loud, colorful pieces that will distract from the rest of your outfit. Statement necklaces may seem fun, but they can easily draw all the focus in an image. Additionally, they can be very reflective in studio lights.
Make sure you’re comfortable.
It’s essential that you feel at ease in whatever outfit you choose because if you’re uncomfortable, it will show in your photos. If you buy a new outfit for your session, be sure to try it on and wear it around a bit beforehand to make sure you feel comfortable in it. Your clothing reflects who you are, so don’t wear something that feels completely unnatural and unlike your everyday work wardrobe.
Don’t wear your outfit to your session.
You don’t want your chosen blouse or shirt getting wrinkled by your car seatbelt. Sometimes you are on a tight schedule, but if possible, wear some comfortable clothes to your session and bring your outfit in a garment bag or on hangers to avoid any unexpected wrinkles or stains before the session.
Wear casual bottoms and shoes.
The best thing about headshots is that you don’t have to create a full outfit. Ordinarily a headshot is only head, shoulders, and sometimes a bit of chest; so if this is your casual day, jeans or any other kind of casual bottoms will be fine. Choose comfortable shoes, as they won’t appear in your images. Of course, those who want a ¾ pose might want to wear a dress/suit trousers as well. Please advise your photographer in advance if you need something other than a traditional headshot.
Putting together an outfit for your headshots may seem a little overwhelming at first, but just think about how you want to present yourself to the world. You do this every day in your choice of clothes for work, so put the same thought into your outfit for your session!
Don’t Forget Your Personal Appearance
Haircuts: Unless you are going to a hair stylist just before your session, it’s best to get haircuts about a week in advance. (I’ve had clients use a stylist before a session and ended up asking for a retake session because they didn’t like the results.)
Face: Ladies, unless there is a specific reason for doing so, don’t apply an extreme amount of makeup; the lens will pick up everything; Gentlemen, make sure you have a nice, close shave and/or neat trim of facial hair.
Teeth: Make sure you have brushed those pearly whites. Consider when you will be eating when you schedule your session.
What to Wear to Your Family Portrait Session | New Jersey Photographer
One of the most common questions clients ask once they book their family portrait session is, “What should we wear?” You’re in luck - here are a few tips on dressing everyone in your family for your portraits!
One of the most common questions clients ask once they book their family portrait session is, “What should we wear?” Dressing your family members for their photos can be a challenge, because you want everyone to look good together without matching completely. Not only that, you want your kids to be comfortable, or they’re sure to complain and lose patience. It’s a lot for parents to figure out! You’re in luck — here are a few tips on dressing everyone in your family for your portraits.
Avoid bright colors and obvious patterns
Even if you love to wear bright colors, they don’t look good on everyone, they’re incredibly hard to match, and they pull the eye away from the important part of the photo — your faces! To ensure your family is all dressed in the same color palette, stick with neutral colors that mesh well together. Neutrals offer a more timeless look and help you avoid the potential issue of bright colors clashing with one another and distracting from your faces. Large or bright patterns will have the same affect, and if one person is wearing patterns and others are not, that person will stand out. And believe it or not, white has the same effect, unless your portrait is going to be at the beach. I have found that various shades of blue work pretty well in this situation, but that is not cast in stone.
Play with layers
A great way to “stay neutral” and at the same time to spice up everyone’s outfits is by adding layers. This has the added benefit of allowing you to remove pieces for different looks without trying to get everyone changed. Go for jackets, cardigans, or even accessories like scarves and hats that can be easily taken on and off.
Try on your clothes ahead of time
Be sure to have everyone try on their outfits well before your family portrait session, especially if they’re new clothes. Make sure that everything looks good together and each style is suited to each member of your family. You can all wear different fits as long as it’s flattering to your body types. A fitted outfit looks much better than a loose one, as long as it’s still comfortable, which bring us to the next point…
Consider comfort and movement
Yes, you want everyone to look as good as possible, and you especially want your kids to look cute — but you definitely want them to be comfortable. If your kids hate wearing their outfits, they’re more likely to throw a fit or refuse to smile, and that’s the last thing you want! Keep it simple with a nice shirt and jeans or a comfortable dress — something that allows your child to move around easily, so they can play and have fun during your family portrait session.
Stay away from graphics and logos
It can sometimes be a challenge to talk your child out of their favorite shirt, but you want to stay away from graphic tees and other clothing with logos or brand names on them. Like patterns and bright colors, these designs distract from your smiling faces and take the focus in your photos away from you.
Make sure you’re comfortable, too
Don’t focus so much on your children’s comfort that you forget about your own! Ladies, if you choose to wear a dress or skirt, make sure it’s long enough so that you can move and pose comfortably. Try on your outfit beforehand as well and move around the house in it to make sure you have the full range of motion. Avoid itchy fabrics or anything that will be irritating throughout your session.
It takes a little planning, but you can choose outfits that make your whole family look amazing, ensuring you get photos you’ll love and cherish for years to come!