Preparing For Your Headshot Session: 6 Easy Tips

Booked your headshot session? 🎉 High five!

The most common question I get is: What do I wear to my headshot session?

Whether you’re getting updated headshots for your business card, LinkedIn profile, speaking gig, website bio, or company directory, your outfit plays a huge part in your confidence during the shoot and how others perceive you from the photo.

The good news? You don’t need a new wardrobe. You just need a plan.

Keep reading to the end for hair, makeup, and prep tips!

1. Choose The Clothing For Your Next Level

A solid rule of thumb when it comes to headshots: dress for the next level in your career.

• If you usually wear a T-shirt and jeans to work, try a blouse or collared shirt.
• If you’re used to business casual, take the next step up and add a tie or blazer.

The goal here is not to play dress-up, but to show up as the confident, polished version of your future self you want others to see even if you’re not exactly there…yet.

2. Know Your Style

Your outfit should reflect your personality and profession, but it should also feel like you.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to look approachable or authoritative?
• Do I want to be seen as classic, creative, or cutting-edge?

Clothing communicates. A crisp white shirt and jacket might say polished and classic. A jewel-toned top with fun accessories might feel creative and modern. A bold blazer might scream “confidence.” There’s no wrong answer here because it’s about combining your personality with your profession.

3. Color Sense

Here’s the truth: Color matters and creates emotion. It affects both how you look in your photos and how your audience feels when they see your image.

A few quick tips:

• YES – Neutrals (like cream, taupe, gray, navy, brown, black) photograph well and keep the focus on you. Neutrals are a safe bet for headshots because that photo will likely be utilized in a variety of places and in different marketing materials. You want to ensure it coordinates broadly with wherever you need to use it. Consistency is key here!
• MAYBE – Bold colors (like emerald, cobalt, or deep red) can make a strong impression, especially on lighter backgrounds. You want to make sure they coordinate well with your brand colors.
• AVOID – Super bright or neon colors can dominate a photo or cast color on your skin. If they’re not part of your brand, skip them.

If you’ve had your “colors done,” use this insight as a guide.

If not, try this DIY trick: stand in front of a mirror in natural light and hold up different items from your closet. Watch how each color affects your skin tone and eyes. If a color makes you glow—wear it. If it makes you look washed out, leave it at home and use this as your excuse to go shopping.

4. Simple & Timeless Is Key

Unless your signature pattern (leopard print CEO? I see you) is part of your brand, solid colors are your safest bet for headshots.

Avoid prints, logos, or trendy statement pieces that might date your photo in six months. Headshots should feel fresh and relevant for at least a year or two. Solids will always look more classic than patterns.

Unless bold statement pieces are a part of your personal brand, keep jewelry minimal. Small earrings or a classic necklace are perfect. You want people’s eyes to see your beautiful face and not be distracted by accessories.

Need some ideas on how to use your headshot photos? See the details with 20 Strategic Ways To Use Your Personal Brand Photos.

5. Emphasize Your Favorite Features

Let’s be honest: we all have things about ourselves we want to emphasize, and others we want to minimize.

If you have body parts that you’re particularly self conscious about, keep that in mind when you’re selecting your clothes (“nip and tuck Photoshop” is not included).

If having bare upper arms makes you feel uncomfortable, stay away from sleeveless dresses or tops.

Want to appear taller or more structured? Choose a jacket with a defined shoulder or a blazer with vertical seams.

6. Hair, Makeup, and Prep Tips

Hair: If you’re getting a haircut, try to schedule it about a week before your shoot. (Trust me on this one! Don’t get it done the night before or day of!)

Makeup: Treat makeup like your wardrobe and take it “one notch up” for your headshots. Even if you don’t wear makeup daily, consider a tinted moisturizer, mascara, blush, and a little pop of lip color to keep your features from getting washed out by the camera. If you typically wear makeup, take that next step up by adding lashes and lipstick.

Glasses: If you wear glasses daily, wear them in the photo. Please clean them beforehand. We’ll watch for glare. If you’re getting new frames soon that will be dramatically different than the ones you currently wear, try to schedule your session for a date after they arrive.

Confidence Boosters: Want to whiten your teeth? Get a facial? Plan ahead so you’re feeling fresh and confident on shoot day. Not required, but a nice mood boost!

Hydrate and Sleep: Be sure to stay hydrated and avoid foods that are high in salt or fat that can lead to feeling sluggish or bloated. Get a good night’s sleep the night before, and have a light but filling meal or snack right before the session to keep any hangriness away. 

Final Thoughts: Confidence Starts with Preparation

Your headshot should look like you on your best day, with your best smile, and your best foot forward.

You’ve got this. And I’m gonna make you look great!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Next?

Curious? Dive deeper:

→ Clothing Consignment Branding: Mercedes Designer Resale

→What Is Personal Branding Photography And Why It Matters

→Realtor Brand Photoshoot for Oxana Smirnova

(Pro tip: Bookmark these so you feel confident before we even shoot.)

Get the Brand Clarity Guide and have your clients say “She’s exactly who I’ve been searching for!”