What to Wear for Your Corporate Headshot in Austin
Updated: Oct 12
"What should I wear?" is the question I hear most before a headshot session. It makes sense. Your headshot ends up on your website, your LinkedIn profile, your speaker bio and your company's team page, so you want to get it right.
The good news is that a great outfit for the camera is usually simple. The tips below come from what I see work (and not work) on set every week.
Start with how you show up at work
Dress the way you would for an important meeting with your best client. If you wear a suit to court or the boardroom, wear the suit. If your office runs on button-downs and blazers, go with that.
Your headshot should look like the person people meet in real life. A lawyer and a med spa owner will dress differently, and both can look polished and approachable.
Colors that work on camera
Solid, medium to deep colors are the safest choice. Navy, charcoal, deep green, burgundy, soft blue and rich earth tones photograph well on most skin tones.
A few things to keep in mind:
Pure white can lose detail and draw the eye away from your face. Ivory or light blue under a jacket works better.
Very bright colors like neon or saturated orange can reflect color onto your skin.
All black works, though it helps to have some texture or a lighter layer near the face so you don't blend into a dark background.
Match your brand loosely. If your company colors are navy and gold, a navy jacket ties in nicely without looking like a uniform.
Patterns to skip
Small, tight patterns are the most common wardrobe problem I see. Fine stripes, small checks and tiny houndstooth can create a wavy, shimmering effect on camera called moiré.
Large logos and busy prints pull attention too. Subtle texture, like a knit, tweed or soft herringbone, adds interest without fighting your face. When in doubt, bring the solid.
Fit, collars and layers
Fit matters more than price. A well-fitted jacket looks sharp even if it came off the rack. A great jacket that is too big will bunch at the shoulders and read as sloppy in a tight crop.
Collars frame your face, so give them some attention:
Press your shirt the night before and bring it on a hanger.
Collar stays help points sit flat.
If you wear a tie, make sure it is snug to the collar with no gap.
For crew necks and blouses, pick a neckline that sits cleanly and doesn't slide around.
Layers add depth. A blazer, cardigan or structured jacket over a shirt gives the photo shape and lets me change the look quickly by taking a layer off. Sleeveless tops tend to pull focus to the arms, so I suggest a layer over them.
Glasses and jewelry
If you wear glasses every day, wear them in your headshot. People should recognize you. Clean the lenses before you arrive. Glare from lights is something I handle on set with light placement and small head angle changes, so you don't need to worry about it.
If you switch between glasses and contacts, we can do a few frames each way.
For jewelry, simple and personal works best. A watch, small earrings, a wedding band or a fine necklace all look great. Large statement pieces can compete with your face, especially in a close crop.
Grooming before your session
Haircut: Get it about a week before, so it has time to settle.
Facial hair: Shave the morning of, or trim and shape your beard a day or two ahead.
Skin: Drink water, get some sleep and keep your normal routine. This is not the week to try a new product.
Hair and makeup: Ask me about hair and makeup options when you book.
Lint roller: Bring one. Dark fabric picks up everything, and I would rather catch it on set than find it in your gallery.
You can find more tips on my session preparation page.
Bring a second look
Most professional headshot sessions run 45 minutes to an hour and cover one to two looks. I always recommend bringing at least one extra option.
A good pair is one formal look and one a little more relaxed. Think suit and tie plus an open-collar shirt, or a blazer plus a soft sweater. That gives you a photo for your bio page and one that feels more approachable for social media.
Bring everything on hangers, pressed and ready. We'll pick the strongest options together.
You'll see every outfit on screen
I shoot tethered to a monitor, so we check your outfit on screen in the first few frames, before we go any further.
If a collar is lifting, a pattern is acting up or a color isn't working against the background, we see it right away. Then we switch shirts, adjust the jacket or move on to your second look. No guessing, and no surprises when the gallery arrives.
Matching a team look for company headshots
For a company headshot day, consistency is what makes a team page look professional. Each person still looks like themselves, but the set reads as one group.
A few things to send your team ahead of time:
Pick a dress level. Everyone in jackets, or everyone in business casual. Mixing suits and T-shirts on the same page looks uneven.
Share a color palette. Two or three solid colors that fit your brand, with a "please avoid" list for white, neon and small patterns.
Keep necklines similar. If most people are in collars, let everyone know.
Bring a backup. A second top saves the day if something doesn't work on camera.
On a team headshot day I photograph each person in about 5 to 10 minutes, so a little planning keeps the day moving. My guide on how to plan a corporate headshot day in Austin walks through scheduling, space and communication.
A few notes for LinkedIn
Most of my clients use their headshot on LinkedIn, so I keep that in mind while shooting.
LinkedIn shows your profile photo inside a circle, even when you upload a square image. Leave some room around your head and shoulders so nothing gets clipped.
LinkedIn recommends a profile photo of at least 400 x 400 pixels. The files I deliver are well above that.
Solid colors read best at small sizes, since your photo often appears as a tiny thumbnail next to comments and messages.
Pick a photo that looks like you today. If your hair, glasses or beard have changed, it's time for a new one.
Keep it simple
The right outfit takes a lot of stress out of the session. Wear what you would wear to meet your most important client, keep it simple, bring a second look, and we'll check everything together on the monitor.
Edited images are delivered within two business days after each session, and your gallery stays available to download for 90 days.
If your company needs fresh photos for new hires and team updates throughout the year, a monthly retainer helps keep everyone's headshots consistent. Booking just for yourself? Send me a note through my contact page with a few dates that work, and I'll suggest the right session.
