Every headshot session comes down to the same math: good lighting, good direction, and an outfit that doesn't fight the camera. Tony has photographed hundreds of professional headshots in London, Ontario, and the wardrobe choice is the one variable clients control completely, and the one they usually think about last.
The right outfit doesn't just look nice. It draws the eye to your face, holds up under studio lighting, and still feels like you in five years. Get it wrong and even the best photographer in the room can't save the shot. Here's exactly what to wear for headshots, no matter what the photos are for.
Why What You Wear Matters More Than You Think
A camera doesn't see clothing the way your eye does. Studio lights flatten some colours, blow out white shirts, and turn busy patterns into a strobing mess on screen. What reads as sharp in the mirror can read as distracting in a still frame. Figuring out how to dress for headshots isn't about looking fashionable, it's about looking like the sharpest, most credible version of yourself, indefinitely.
The best headshot outfit is the one nobody notices. If someone remembers your shirt before they remember your face, the outfit did too much work.
The Sharp by Tony Wardrobe Checklist
- Choose solid, muted colours over patterns or busy prints
- Pick well-fitted clothing; tailored beats trendy every time
- Bring two or three options and decide on set, not the night before
- Steam or iron everything the day of the shoot
- Skip logos, busy jewellery, and anything with a trend expiry date
- Match your outfit to how the photo will actually be used
What to Wear for Corporate and LinkedIn Headshots
Dress exactly one notch above what you'd wear to a normal day at work. A blazer or structured jacket photographs well against most backgrounds and instantly reads as professional, which is exactly what corporate headshots and LinkedIn headshots need to do. Solid navy, charcoal, and deep jewel tones are the safest bets: they hold their colour under studio lighting and won't fight with our backdrops. Avoid pure white, which can blow out, and busy stripes or checks, which shimmer under strobes, an effect called moire.
What to Wear for Professional Headshots as a Woman
Most of the rules above apply no matter who's in front of the camera, but a few extra details are worth knowing if you're deciding what to wear for professional headshots as a woman. Solid-coloured blouses or dresses in jewel tones photograph beautifully, simple jewellery won't compete with your face, and a blazer over a plain top gives you a polished, adaptable look that works for both corporate and LinkedIn headshots. Skip anything low-cut, sheer, or busy enough to pull focus from your expression.
What to Wear for Acting Headshots
Acting headshots play by different rules. Casting directors want to see the real you, not a costume, so keep wardrobe simple and let your expression carry the photo. A few well-chosen layers, like a plain tee under an open shirt or light jacket, give us options to shoot a range of looks in one session without you changing rooms.
What to Avoid
A few wardrobe choices come up in almost every session, and they rarely help.
- Bright white or pure black tops, which trick the camera's exposure
- Busy patterns, tight stripes, or small checks
- Large logos or text
- Anything so new it hasn't been worn or washed yet, fresh creases show
- Trend pieces you won't want representing you in three years
Bring More Than One Option
Even with the best planning, an outfit can look different in person than it did at home. That's why every Sharp by Tony headshot session leaves room to change looks partway through: one option for LinkedIn and internal use, one slightly more relaxed for your bio page or media kit. It costs nothing extra and gives you a set of photos that actually cover how your headshot gets used.
The best wardrobe advice is simple: dress like the most polished version of the person walking into the room, and let the photographer do the rest. If you're planning a headshot session and want a second opinion on wardrobe before the day, get in touch and we'll walk you through it as part of your booking.
