What to Wear for Corporate Headshots & Portraits: The Ultimate Guide

Wondering ‘What do I wear for my corporate photo shoot?’ Our ultimate guide provides expert tips and examples on choosing the best outfits for your business portraits.

Your business portrait is often the first impression you make online. It’s a vital tool- representing you on your company website, LinkedIn profile, email signature, Teams, Slack and everywhere else! It communicates your confidence, approachability, and credibility before you’ve even said a word. But once you’ve booked your session, the big question inevitably follows: ‘What should I wear?’

Choosing the right outfit can feel daunting, but it’s one of the most important factors in creating a business portrait you’ll be proud of. The right attire ensures the focus remains on you, aligns with your professional brand, and helps you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. It will complement the overall image you convey, so it’s important to put some thought into it. 

That’s where this guide comes in, but first, a practical tip for those visiting us in our studio: we have a private changing room and actively encourage you to bring a good few of your favourite options along. Having a choice allows us to offer advice on the day and select the look that works best for you and the image you want to create. Lot’s of clients will bring a suitcase full, so don’t be shy!

Now, for everyone, let’s dive into the details. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about selecting the perfect outfit, from colours and styles to accessories and common mistakes to avoid. Let’s get you ready!

The 3 Golden Rules: Your Starting Point

Before you start grabbing garments from your wardrobe, let’s establish three foundational principles. If you keep these rules in mind, all the other decisions about colour, style, and accessories will become much simpler.

1. Represent Your Professional Brand

First and foremost, your corporate portrait needs to look like you at your professional best. Think about your industry, your role, and the culture of your company. Are you in a formal corporate environment like law or finance, or a more relaxed, creative field like design or marketing? The goal is to create an image that is authentic and aligns with how your clients and colleagues see you. A great question to ask yourself is: “What would I wear to meet an important new client?” The answer to that question is usually the perfect starting point.

2. Prioritise Comfort & Confidence

If you feel uncomfortable, it will show on camera. An outfit that’s too tight, a fabric that’s scratchy, or a style that just doesn’t feel like ‘you’ can lead to a stiff and unnatural posture. The best business portraits come from a place of confidence, and that starts with being comfortable in what you’re wearing. Choose well-fitting clothes that allow you to move easily, and opt for familiar favourites that you know you look and feel great in. When you feel good, you’ll look good.

3. Aim for a Timeless Look

Your business portrait is an investment that should serve you well for at least a few years. While it’s important to look current, you should avoid anything that is too trendy. Loud patterns, of-the-moment colours, or statement pieces that are part of a fleeting fashion cycle can quickly date your photograph. By choosing classic styles, simple necklines, and solid colours, you ensure your professional image remains relevant and effective for much longer.

Choosing Your Colours & Patterns

With our core principles in mind, let’s talk about the two most impactful visual elements of your outfit: colour and pattern. Getting these right will ensure the focus of the portrait stays exactly where it should be—on you.

The Power of Solid Colours

When in doubt, choose a solid colour. It’s the safest and most effective choice for a professional portrait. Solid-coloured clothing doesn’t distract the viewer’s eye, ensuring that your face and expression remain the focal point.

Here are some of the best colour groups to consider:

• Jewel Tones: Deep, rich colours like sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red, and amethyst purple are universally flattering. They add a touch of sophisticated colour that helps you stand out without being overpowering.
• Classic Neutrals: You can never go wrong with shades of grey, navy blue, and muted earth tones. These colours convey professionalism and are timeless staples of corporate wear.
• A Note on Black & White: While classic, pure black can sometimes lose detail in photos, and pure white can risk looking too bright and washing out some skin tones. If you love these, consider alternatives like charcoal grey, off-white, or cream for a softer, more nuanced look.

Ultimately, the best colour for you is one that complements your skin tone and eye colour, and most importantly, makes you feel great.

Patterns: Use with Caution

This is an area where we advise clients to be very careful. While you may love a patterned shirt or blouse in person, patterns can create problems on camera.

• They Can Be Distracting: The goal is for people to look at your face, not your clothes. Loud, busy, or high-contrast patterns will pull the viewer’s attention away from what matters most.
• They Can Date Your Photo: Bold patterns are often tied to specific trends, which can make your portrait look dated very quickly.
• They Can Create Moiré: Tight, repeating patterns like fine stripes, small checks, or herringbone can create a distracting visual distortion on digital screens called a ‘moiré effect’.

If you do want to incorporate a pattern, the key is subtlety. A very low-contrast, muted pattern can sometimes add a touch of texture or personality. However, if you are unsure, a solid colour is always the superior choice.

Getting the Fit and Style Right

Now that you have some colours in mind, let’s focus on the structure of your outfit. A perfectly chosen colour on a poorly fitting garment will still look unprofessional, so getting the fit, neckline, and sleeves right is a critical step.

Fit is Everything

This might be the single most important piece of advice in this guide. An outfit that fits you perfectly looks polished, professional, and sharp.

• Avoid Baggy Clothes: Garments that are too loose can look sloppy and add visual bulk to your frame.
• Avoid Tight Clothes: Clothing that is too tight can create unflattering pulling or wrinkling and, more importantly, will make you feel constricted and uncomfortable.
• The ‘Just Right’ Fit: Your clothes should follow your natural silhouette without being restrictive. If you have a favourite suit jacket or blouse that doesn’t fit quite right, investing in a few simple alterations from a tailor can make a world of difference.

Necklines & Collars Matter

The neckline of your top is very close to your face, so it plays a big role in framing your portrait.

• Classic Choices: Simple, classic necklines like V-necks, crew necks, and collared shirts are all excellent options. A V-neck can help visually elongate the neck, while a crisp, well-pressed collar neatly frames the face.
• What to Be Mindful Of: We recommend avoiding anything too low-cut for a professional context. Similarly, overly complex or dramatic necklines like large cowls or turtlenecks can sometimes be distracting or create awkward shadows under the chin.

Don’t Forget Your Sleeves

For a standard business headshot where the focus is on your face and upper body, what you do with your sleeves is important.

• Long Sleeves are Safest: Long or three-quarter length sleeves are nearly always the most effective choice. They create clean, simple lines and keep the attention on your expression.
• A Note on Sleeveless Tops: While you may wear sleeveless tops regularly, be aware that they can sometimes draw more attention to your arms and shoulders than you might intend in a professional portrait. For a timeless and focused headshot, we generally recommend opting for sleeves.

Perfecting the Look with Accessories

With your main outfit sorted, it’s time to consider the small details that complete your look. The right accessories can add a touch of personality and polish, but the guiding principle here is always “less is more.” That said, a striking accessory like in the image above may actually complement your overall personal brand and the message you’re trying to convey.

Jewellery

The goal of jewellery in a professional portrait is to complement your look, not to become the main event. Again, if we’re using a striking piece, it has to be done thoughtfully, and there shouldn’t be any other distracting elements in the image. 

• Keep it Simple: Opt for classic, understated pieces. Small stud or pearl earrings, a delicate necklace, or a classic watch are all excellent choices that add a touch of elegance without distracting.
• Avoid Distractions: We recommend avoiding large, dangly earrings, chunky necklaces, or anything overly shiny or noisy. These can catch the light in unpredictable ways and pull the viewer’s focus away from your face.

Ties, Scarves & Pocket Squares

For those wearing a suit or jacket, these are the perfect tools to inject a bit of colour and personality.

• Ties: A solid-coloured silk tie in a jewel tone or a classic neutral is a can’t-fail option. If you prefer a pattern, choose something simple and classic, like a subtle pin-dot or a simple diagonal stripe. Ensure your tie is neatly knotted.
• Scarves: A light, simple scarf can add a sophisticated pop of colour. Avoid anything too bulky or heavily patterned that might clutter the neckline and look too casual.
• Pocket Squares: A pocket square is a refined finishing touch. It doesn’t need to perfectly match the tie, but it should be in a complementary colour or a simple, clean white.

A Note on Glasses

‘Should I take my glasses off?’ question we get all the time. The answer is simple: if you wear glasses every day, you should absolutely wear them in your portrait. We want the photo to look like you! If it’s an occasional thing, and it’s not how people recognise you, leave them to the side. 

• Clean Your Lenses: Please make sure your glasses are spotlessly clean before the session. Smudges, dust, and fingerprints are very noticeable under studio lighting. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you about this!
• Don’t Worry About Glare: As professional photographers, we are skilled at positioning our lights to minimise reflections on your lenses. If you have glasses with an anti-reflective coating, that’s a great bonus, but either way, we will guide you on the day to get a clear, fantastic shot.

The “What to Avoid” Checklist

First a quick note, the image above isn’t something to avoid, turtle necks work great for close up corporate headshots- we just couldn’t find an example of what not to wear in our portfolio! We’ve covered a lot of ‘dos’, but sometimes a quick checklist of ‘don’ts’ can be the most helpful tool. Run your eye over your chosen outfit and check it against this list to avoid any common pitfalls.

• Avoid: Busy Patterns & Loud Prints. This is the number one rule. High-contrast patterns, tight stripes, small checks, and loud prints are distracting and draw attention away from your face. Stick to solids or very subtle textures.
• Avoid: Large Logos & Branding. Unless it’s your own company’s uniform or branding, avoid clothing with visible logos. You’re promoting yourself, not another brand.
• Avoid: Neon Colours. Extremely bright and fluorescent colours can create strange colour casts on your skin under studio lights and are very distracting.
• Avoid: Ill-Fitting Clothes. Anything that is obviously too tight or too baggy will look unprofessional. A good fit is paramount.
• Avoid: Overly Trendy Styles. That super-fashionable item might look great now, but it could make your professional portrait look dated in just a year or two. You’ll get more value from your session if you stick with a classic look.
• Avoid: Creases and Wrinkles. Ensure your outfit is clean and neatly pressed. Wrinkles and creases are amplified by studio lighting and look unprofessional. 
• Avoid: Distracting Jewellery. Leave the large, shiny, or dangly pieces at home. Opt for simple, classic accessories that don’t steal the show.

Final Preparations for Photo Day

You’ve chosen your perfect outfit and you know what to avoid. Excellent! Here are just a few final tips to ensure you arrive at your session feeling completely prepared, relaxed, and confident.

• Prepare Your Outfit the Night Before. Don’t leave it until the morning of your shoot. Make sure everything is clean, and most importantly, neatly pressed and ready to go. Hang it up carefully to avoid any travel creases.
• Pack a Small ‘Go-Bag’. It’s always a good idea to bring a few small items for last-minute touch-ups, such as a hairbrush or comb, a lint roller, and any makeup you might want to reapply.
• Bring Your Options. As we mentioned in the intro, our studio has a private changing room, so please feel free to bring a second choice of top, jacket, or tie. It’s always better to have options, and we can give you our expert opinion on the day.
• Get a Good Night’s Sleep. This isn’t wardrobe advice, but it’s just as important! Arriving well-rested will help you feel your best and it really does show on camera.

Choosing what to wear for your business portrait doesn’t have to be stressful. As we’ve covered in this guide, it all comes down to a few key principles: representing your professional brand, aiming for a timeless look, and most importantly, choosing an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Your clothing is there to complement you, not compete with you.

If you have any more questions or you’re ready to book a session to create a powerful new business portrait, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!