Headshots are taken for professional social networking sites like LinkedIn, digital marketing and business materials, affiliate websites, printed material, even professional security badges.
What to wear for your best Professional headshot photography session
1. Skip the busy prints and writing on shirts wild animal prints and detailed patterns will draw the eye away from your face.
Busy prints – avoid these in head shots
Keep the focus on YOU with a simple pattern or solid color.
2. Wear a shirt (or dress) with sleeves to create a continuous line from neck down. Sleeveless tops exaggerate a color break between skin and clothes that can look awkward in head shots. Also be aware of Peek a Bo shoulders.
3. Avoid too many layers, much like a busy pattern too many layers can be distracting. Shirt and jacket are appropriate for formal pictures, while multiple sweater layers can create bulk and look more casual.
4. Professional photo head shots should be slightly more formal than regular work clothes. Casual Friday attire may be too dressed down for school or professional photos. Look at what other people in your profession (or school) wear to get more ideas of what looks good to you, and what you definitely want to avoid.
5. Select color(s) that will compliment your hair and skin tone. Avoid colors that blend into your skin tone or match your hair resulting in a bland, washed out photo. Create contrast between your natural coloring and your shirt to draw attention to you face for a memorable head shot.
6. Neckline – Men should wear a shirt with collar, polo style or button down shirts (with or without tie). Women have more variety and can wear collar shirts, round neck (my favorite), square neck, and vee neck.
Suggested colors to compliment hair and skin tone:
- Fair to medium skin brunettes: Light & medium blues, olive to medium greens, teals and blue-greens, medium to dark reds, light to medium purples
- Fair to medium skin blondes: Medium to dark blues, grays, medium to dark reds, medium to dark greens, medium to dark purples
- Medium to dark skin brunettes: Yellows, light browns & gold, whites & ivory, light to medium pink, light to medium blues, light to medium greens, light to medium purples
- Red heads: Medium to dark greens, browns, gold, medium blues, grays
School photos (especially high school) should follow these same guidelines. Wild prints and big hair bows should be left behind for kindergarten, try a head band or simple hair clip. Experiment with bright colors and simple patterns to keep the school photos youthful.
Take test photos – Great idea! Test photos are an easy way to compare different shades of blue, or to determine if a texture fabric will look good in pictures, or even if the shirt buttons are too reflective with a flash. Double check undergarments to make sure undershirts or bras are not visible. Try out different jewelry, and keep it simple.
Ready, set, SMILE! A nice smile is a fantastic accessory to a great outfit.
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