What To Wear In A Business Headshot
Introduction: Who This Guide Is For and Why It Matters
Are you a professional, executive, or HR team member preparing for a business headshot session? Wondering how to choose the right outfit to look polished, confident, and aligned with your company’s brand? This comprehensive guide is designed for anyone facing the question of what to wear in a business headshot—whether you’re updating your LinkedIn, planning a company-wide photo day, or preparing for a press release. Bringing multiple outfits to your professional headshot session gives you flexibility and variety, helping you achieve a range of looks for your business headshot photo.
What to wear in a business headshot is one of the most common questions we receive at our NYC corporate headshot studio. This guide covers everything you need to know: from wardrobe choices and color selection to fit, fabric, and how to coordinate looks across teams. We’ll explain why your outfit matters—not just for professionalism, but for personal branding and meeting industry standards. For your business headshot photo, clothing, grooming, and styling choices are essential to convey professionalism and reinforce your personal brand.
Choosing the right headshot attire for your business headshot is crucial. The right clothing helps you project confidence, credibility, and approachability, ensuring your image stands out for all the right reasons. Dressing in a way that aligns with what your boss or higher-ups would wear (boss dress) ensures your look meets professional standards. The right headshot attire can help convey confidence and make you feel confident during your professional headshot session.
For a polished, professional look, opt for neutral colors and neutral tones such as navy, black, gray, or white, and avoid brightly colored clothing that could distract in a business headshot photo. Treat your session as both a personal branding session and a professional headshot session—an opportunity to present your best self.
Definitions: Key Terms for Business Headshots
Business Headshot: A professional photograph, typically from the chest up, used for business purposes such as LinkedIn profiles, company websites, press kits, and investor decks.
Headshot Attire: The clothing and accessories chosen specifically for a headshot session, intended to project professionalism, confidence, and authenticity. Headshot attire should fit well, feel genuine, and avoid distracting patterns or accessories.
Solid Colors: Clothing in a single, uniform color without patterns, prints, or stripes. Solid colors are recommended for headshots because they keep the focus on your face and avoid visual distractions.
Neutral Colors: Shades such as navy, black, gray, and white that create a polished, conservative look suitable for business headshots. Neutral colors help maintain a professional appearance and avoid drawing attention away from your face.
Neutral Tones: Versatile and unobtrusive shades like beige, taupe, and soft grays that work well for headshots, providing a clean and timeless look that doesn’t distract from your expression.
Brightly Colored Clothing: Garments in vivid or bold hues that can be distracting or appear unprofessional in a business headshot. It’s best to avoid brightly colored clothing to ensure the focus remains on your face.
Tailored Clothing: Well-fitting garments that skim the body without pulling or sagging. Tailored clothing is key for headshots, as it ensures a polished and professional appearance.
Multiple Outfits: Bringing various clothing options to your session allows for flexibility and versatility, helping you achieve different looks and select the best option for your professional image.
Wear for Headshots: The process of selecting appropriate, well-fitted, and wrinkle-free clothing specifically for headshot sessions. Ensuring your attire is clean, free of lint or pilling, and coordinated in color is essential for a polished result.
Boss Dress: Attire that aligns with what your boss or higher-ups would typically wear in your workplace, reflecting professional standards and helping you present yourself as a leader.
Personal Branding Session: A photoshoot focused on creating an authentic and professional image that aligns with your personal brand, where wardrobe choices and styling play a critical role in communicating your unique value and professionalism.
Professional Image: The overall impression you present in your headshot, reflecting your competence, confidence, and alignment with your industry’s standards. Choosing the right outfit—prioritizing solid, neutral-toned clothing that complements your skin tone and fits well—is crucial for presenting a professional image.
Quick Tips
Well-fitting clothing is key to a polished appearance.
Solid colors are recommended over busy patterns or plaids.
Avoid patterns, such as busy prints or thin stripes, which can distract or cause moiré effects on digital screens.
Choose colors that complement your skin tone to keep your face as the focal point.
Start With Purpose: Where Your Business Headshot Will Actually Appear
Wardrobe decisions change depending on where your images will live. A traditional headshot for an internal org chart plays differently than a press photo for a trade publication or a hero image on your company’s leadership page.
Usage and Wardrobe Approach
| Usage | Wardrobe Approach |
|---|---|
| LinkedIn photos and pitch decks | Classic, clean outfits in mid-tone solids that feel current and can last two to three years without dating |
| PR, speaking, and investor decks | Slightly more formal clothing with structured blazer, polished shirt, and a bolder accent color that aligns with your color palette |
| Internal directories or Slack profiles | Relaxed smart-casual version of the same look. Remove the tie or jacket, keep the base outfit |
We ask this “where will the image live” question on every pre-production call. When planning for a personal branding session or a professional headshot session, we recommend bringing multiple outfits to ensure versatility and a range of looks for different uses. When we know the destination, wardrobe, background, and crop all line up. The final image works harder because it was built for a specific purpose.
What to Wear for Corporate Headshots NYC: Suits, Separates, and Smart Casual
This section focuses on classic corporate headshots NYC for finance, law, consulting, and larger enterprises. These industries tend toward formal clothing, but “formal” in 2024 looks cleaner and less stiff than it did a decade ago. When selecting your outfit, consider what your boss or higher-ups typically wear—aiming for a "boss dress" approach helps ensure your look aligns with professional standards and company culture.
Recommended Jacket Colors
Opt for classic, neutral colors and neutral tones such as navy, black, gray, or white for a polished, professional look. These shades are universally flattering, create a conservative appearance, and avoid distracting from your face.
Shirts and Tops
Solid colors are always a safe choice, but subtle patterns can add visual interest without being distracting. Avoid tight patterns, as they can create moiré effects on camera and screens, which detract from the professional appearance of your headshot.
Business Casual Options
If your industry allows for a more relaxed look, layering pieces and choosing textured fabrics can add visual interest and dimension to your outfit. This approach keeps your look dynamic while maintaining professionalism.
Tip: Bring multiple outfits to your session. Having a few options allows for flexibility and variety, helping you achieve both formal and casual styles during your shoot.
For Women
Women wear options like dresses, blouses, and tailored jackets, often paired with simple, professional accessories. Pay attention to neckline, fabric, and fit to ensure a polished, industry-appropriate appearance.
Recommended Jacket Colors
A tailored jacket or blazer with structure in the shoulders reads as leadership on camera. Suit jackets with defined shoulders create a crisp line that photographs well under studio lights. The following recommended jacket colors are all neutral colors and neutral tones, which are ideal for business headshots:
Navy blue
Charcoal gray
Soft black
Deep green
Shirt and Top Choices
Solid shirts and shells in white, light blue, soft blush, or muted jewel tones
Subtle patterns can add a refined contrast to your look, but avoid anything too bold or busy that might distract from your face
Avoid tiny stripes, checks, or other tight patterns, as these can create a moiré effect on screens and detract from the professional appearance of your headshot
A crisp white shirt is a reliable choice that makes eyes and smiles pop
For women, blouses or dresses with flattering necklines and appropriate fabrics, such as structured cotton or silk, help achieve a polished, professional look
Ties and Accessories
Optional tie in a simple pattern or solid
If brand red or brand blue matters to your company, keep it as an accent rather than the focal point
Business Casual Options
For business casual cultures (many NYC tech and SaaS offices), a fine-gauge knit or pressed collared shirt without tie works well. Layering with a blazer or choosing textured fabrics like tweed or knits can add visual interest and dimension to your business headshot.
Add or skip the blazer depending on how modern corporate headshots feel right for your brand.
Team Coordination Tip
On big team headshots days, we usually ask everyone to stay in the same formality band. Everyone in jackets, or everyone smart casual. This keeps the grid view cohesive on the website without forcing matching outfits.
Executive Portraits: Dialing Wardrobe Up or Down for Leadership
Executive portraits often need to work on conference stages, annual reports, and media outlets simultaneously. The wardrobe should feel slightly elevated but still human. Executive wardrobe choices should help convey confidence and make you feel confident in your professional image. Nobody wants a portrait that looks like a stock photo.
For example, when photographing a CEO, bringing multiple outfits allowed for different looks and added visual interest to the executive portraits. Layering, texture, and thoughtful fabric choices can enhance detail and dimension, making the images more dynamic and appealing.
Boardroom Look
Dark jacket
Crisp shirt
Simple jewelry or subtle earrings
Choose a "boss dress"—wear what your boss or higher-ups would typically wear to ensure your headshot projects authority and professionalism
Approachable Leader Look
No tie
Softer color
Maybe a knit under the blazer
Personal Style
Wear your real uniform. If you always wear a black turtleneck or a specific jacket cut, refine it rather than replacing it. Your personal style should show in your professional photo.
Sleeve and Neckline Choices
Choose long sleeves or three-quarter length sleeves
Covered shoulders and a V or scoop neck generally photograph best and feel timeless
Avoid showing too much skin in professional contexts
Grooming
Keep grooming simple and polished
Hair in its usual style but neatened
Wear makeup that looks like your best Tuesday, not red-carpet glam
Neutral makeup photographs cleanly
Skip the fake lashes unless they are part of your everyday look
One example from our crew: last quarter we photographed a Midtown CEO who brought three jackets and we built different executive looks for a 10-K annual report, LinkedIn, and a trade interview. Same base pieces, three distinct outcomes. She felt confident in all of them because they were variations on her existing wardrobe choices, not costumes.
On Location Headshots NYC: Dressing for Your Office, Not Just Our Lens
On location headshots NYC mean the background might be a glass conference room in Hudson Yards, a DUMBO brick wall, or a white sweep in a Brooklyn office. Your wardrobe has to work with that real environment, not fight it.
Choose colors and styles that complement the setting and your brand.
Bring multiple outfits to the session. Having a few options—like different tops, jackets, or accessories—gives you flexibility to achieve both professional and more casual looks, and ensures you have backups in case of spills or wrinkles.
Check your clothing for pet hair, especially on dark fabrics, before your session. Removing pet hair helps maintain a polished, professional appearance in your photos.
Avoid busy patterns that might clash with the background.
Make sure your clothes are clean, pressed, and fit well.
Office Environment Tips
Avoid wearing colors that match your office walls or brand feature walls. Do not put everyone in head-to-toe teal in a teal lobby.
Before shoot day, send a simple “dress code email” from HR or comms. Include two to three example photos, safe colors, and what to avoid.
Ask people to bring one backup top or jacket. Sometimes the first choice clashes with the actual background or the company’s updated brand palette.
For summer NYC shoots, remember that linen and rumpled cotton show every crease in 42-megapixel files. Light but structured fabrics photograph better and look crisp.
Comfortable shoes matter even if they will not appear. We sometimes do half-body leadership portraits and everyone has to stand for a while. Discomfort shows in expressions.
Remote Headshots: What to Wear When We Photograph You Through Your Laptop
Our remote headshots run through our guided live workflow. We guide subjects through lighting, framing, and posing so the results match our studio quality. And yes, wardrobe still matters even if the “studio” is someone’s living room in Queens. Choosing appropriate clothing to wear for headshots is key—opt for pieces that fit well, are wrinkle-free, and have colors that complement your skin tone.
Do
Solid, mid-tone tops in navy, forest, soft burgundy, or cobalt
Upgraded smart casual that photographs cleanly
One “primary” outfit plus a quick-change layer like a cardigan or jacket; bring multiple outfits for flexibility and quick changes
Avoid
Big hoodies, heavy logos, t shirts, overly casual looks
Super casual workout wear unless that is literally the company brand
Only one option with no flexibility
We send a simple wardrobe PDF with examples before remote sessions. This keeps everyone across offices and time zones in the same visual universe. Even distributed teams end up with company headshots that look coordinated.
Remote Session Tips
Keep neckline and jewelry tidy. Laptop cameras are close. A single necklace or subtle earrings is usually enough.
Skip anything that will draw attention away from your face.
Have multiple outfits ready for quick changes and to achieve different looks during your session.
Same Day Headshots NYC: Fast Wardrobe Decisions When You Have No Time
Sometimes the timeline is compressed. Last-minute press. An emergency LinkedIn update. A founder with a 45-minute opening near Times Square who needs images by that evening.
For quick wardrobe decisions, bring multiple outfits to your session. Having multiple outfits allows for quick changes and gives you a range of professional and casual looks, increasing the versatility of your business headshot. Before your session, check all clothing for pet hair, especially on dark fabrics, to ensure a clean and polished appearance in your photos.
Quick Wardrobe Steps
Wear the outfit you would choose to meet an important client that same day. A pressed jacket or crisp knit, simple jewelry, polished but natural grooming.
Bring one extra shirt or top in a different color in a garment bag. We can shoot two quick variations and pick the stronger one for rush delivery.
Our Times Square studio keeps lint rollers, clips, and a steamer on hand. But please do not pull a shirt out of a backpack five minutes before your slot.
Realistic Turnaround
For true same day headshots NYC we typically deliver a small, retouched selection by end of day or early next morning. Wardrobe has to be clean and timeless enough to live on a company site immediately.
Color, Patterns, and Brand: How to Look Like Your Company Without Wearing the Logo
In corporate headshots NYC we often work with brand or comms teams who have specific hex codes. The wardrobe should nod to those colors without turning everyone into a billboard.
For a polished and professional look, opt for neutral colors and neutral tones such as navy, black, gray, and white. These shades are versatile, create a conservative appearance, and help avoid distraction. Navy blue, in particular, is universally associated with trust and stability in corporate settings.
If you want to add visual interest, consider incorporating subtle patterns or textured fabrics—these can add dimension and detail to your outfit without being distracting. However, avoid tight patterns, as they can create moiré effects on camera and detract from your face.
Avoid brightly colored clothing and neon colors, as they can reflect light onto your face and create an unflattering glow. Bright colors can work in headshots, but make sure they do not overpower your features or distract from your face.
Choose colors that contrast with your skin complexion to avoid looking washed out. Darker colors are often more flattering and can create a slimming effect in headshots.
Recommended Colors vs. Colors to Avoid
| Recommended Colors (Solid, Mid-Tone, Jewel) | Colors/Patterns to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Deep blues, emerald, aubergine | Busy patterns, tight stripes |
| Chocolate brown, rust, soft teal | Tight checks, loud plaids, neons |
| Navy, charcoal, soft black | Very pale beiges, shiny fabrics |
Color Guidance
Use brand color as an accent (tie, blouse, shell, or pocket square under a neutral jacket).
Navy plus brand teal, charcoal plus brand red—accents create visual interest without overwhelming.
Avoid busy patterns, including tight stripes, tight checks, and loud plaids, as they can strobe on screens and fight with web layouts.
Jewel tones and mid-tones work for most skin tones.
Send us your brand guidelines ahead of time. We recommend three to four “safe” color families and provide sample looks in a short PDF for internal distribution.
The goal is a professional appearance that feels consistent across your team without overly trendy styles that will date within a year.
Fit, Fabric, and the Fine Print: Little Wardrobe Details That Show Up Big on Camera
Selecting the right headshot attire is crucial—what you wear for headshots should project professionalism, confidence, and authenticity. The right outfit helps you look polished and ensures your photos align with your personal or company brand.
Camera and NYC studio lighting exaggerate wrinkles, stains, and fit problems. Details matter more than people expect.
Fit & Fabric
Choose professional, well-tailored, and timeless clothing in solid colors that flatter your skin tone. Well-fitted outfits look sharp and help you appear confident.
Layering and textured fabrics can add visual interest and depth to your headshot attire, making your photos more dynamic without being overpowering.
Preparation
Before your session, check your clothing for pet hair, especially on dark fabrics, and remove any lint or pilling.
Visible wrinkles on clothing are highlighted by cameras—high-resolution images can magnify even minor creases.
Always iron or steam your outfit before a photo shoot to ensure a crisp, polished appearance.
Fit
Clothing should skim the body, not pull at buttons or swamp the frame.
Tailored shoulders and a defined neckline nearly always look more senior and more polished.
Ill-fitting clothes make people look uncomfortable; baggy clothing can overwhelm body shape.
Fabric
Smooth woven fabrics and fine knits photograph cleanly.
Textured fabrics can add dimension, but avoid heavy ribbed sweaters, bulky cable knits, and shiny synthetics that catch specular highlights.
A dark jacket in matte wool or cotton looks better than shiny polyester.
Preparation
Iron or steam your headshot outfits.
Use a lint roller on dark pieces.
Keep everything lint free.
Bring clothes on hangers for on location and studio shoots.
Our crew travels with emergency tape and a mini steamer, but we cannot fix deep wrinkles in five minutes.
Grooming
Keep hair in its usual style but neatened.
Moisturize skin.
If you wear makeup, keep it matte where possible.
If you normally wear glasses, wear glasses—just clean them well and consider non-reflective coating for studio sessions.
A professional makeup artist can help on larger photo shoot days, but the goal is always your best self, not a stranger.
Coordinating Wardrobe Across a Team or Entire Company
For HR and employer brand teams rolling out new websites, rebrands, or large hiring pushes, consistency matters. You need 20 to 200 people to look like they belong on the same site, even if shot on different days. Encourage team members to bring multiple outfits to the session—this allows for flexibility in achieving a consistent look across the group and provides options for both professional and casual styles.
Team Coordination Steps
Choose one formality level: business formal, business casual, or elevated casual.
Pick a narrow color palette. Employees have freedom within boundaries, and pages still read as one brand.
Create a short “what to wear” deck with example photos, do/avoid slide, and timing notes for haircuts, shaving, and grooming. Share it internally a week before shoot day.
Build staggered scheduling: ten-minute slots across a full day with buffer time for adjustments.
For globally distributed teams, match lighting and framing from our Times Square studio to remote headshots.
Real-World Example: One NYC Headshot Day, Three Different Wardrobe Needs
This is a typical production day from our crew, anonymized but accurate.
| Session | Wardrobe Approach |
|---|---|
| Founder | Two distinct jacket looks. One dark suit for 10-K and investor materials, one softer blazer for LinkedIn and press |
| Leadership | Coordinated dark blazers with subtle brand-color shells underneath. Cohesive but not matching |
| Team | Smart-casual tops within a set color range. No ties, solid colors only, avoid overly casual pieces |
We pre-briefed all of this, including a reminder to bring multiple outfits for quick swaps and to provide flexibility in achieving both professional and more casual looks. A few quick swaps for clashing prints on shoot day, but no drama. No lost time. Having multiple outfits on hand ensured everyone looked their best in the final images. The final gallery showed everyone looking cohesive without matching like uniforms. Marketing had usable images for website, LinkedIn, and decks within a realistic delivery window. One coordinated production day, three tiers of professional headshots.
How We Help You Plan Wardrobe For Corporate Headshots NYC
Wardrobe is part of our production process at Match Production. It is not an afterthought left to chance, and it is not a generic PDF we send to everyone.
When planning for your personal branding session or professional headshot session, we provide tailored guidance on headshot attire to ensure you project professionalism, confidence, and authenticity. We recommend you bring multiple outfits to your session, allowing for a variety of looks that can range from formal to more casual, and help align your images with your brand message. Our team will help you select clothing that fits well, avoids distracting patterns, and feels genuine, so your headshots reflect your best self.
Our Pre-Production Steps
Discovery call about brand, industry, and where images will be used
Review of existing photos on your site or LinkedIn
Quick visual moodboard showing direction for your personal branding photoshoot or team day
Simple dress code guide tailored to your company, with color families and headshot photoshoot examples
Our Offerings
On location headshots NYC at your office anywhere in Manhattan and the boroughs
Remote headshots for distributed teams with consistent wardrobe and lighting guidance
For small business owner sessions or individual executives, our in-studio headshot sessions start at USD 449. For larger team productions, we custom-quote based on headcount, locations, and complexity. Whether you need black and white headshots for a minimalist site or color portraits against a dark background, we plan the wardrobe to match.
Send us your headcount, timing, and how the photos will be used. Email hello@match-production.com and we will send back a tailored wardrobe and scheduling plan. Creative professionals interested in joining our team can explore career opportunities at Match Production.
