What Should I Wear for a Headshot
From the chest up: what to wear for a headshot, part by part.
All 57 things to wear
Tops and necklines
Colors
Jackets and layers
Glasses, jewelry and makeup
For actors
Leave off
Tops and necklines 16
Collared button-down shirt What one Alabama university asks the men on its staff to wear, or a polo-style shirt. Comfortable pants and shoes They are usually out of the frame, a Pennsylvania career center says, so be comfortable. Crew-neck sweater or fitted button-down, for tech A headshot company’s pick for people who wear T-shirts to work. Lint roller in your bag A Pennsylvania career center suggests bringing one. Dark solids show every hair. Long or three-quarter sleeves Two portrait photographers prefer them. One finds that bare arms take attention off the face. One notch dressier than your workday A Pittsburgh photographer’s rule for everyone. A headshot company gives it to tech workers. Pockets emptied of phone, keys and wallet A Florida university’s tip for a neat look once the camera is ready. Pressed shirt Wrinkles are hard to edit out afterwards, a Pennsylvania career center warns. Iron the night before. Quarter-zip or clean crewneck, for engineers One studio says engineering and product roles can wear either, if the fit is sharp. Shirt carried on a hanger, put on when you arrive Two photographers suggest it for any fabric that creases in the car. Simple shirt or blouse to build on A Pennsylvania career center says to start simple, then add a scarf or a jacket. Subtle pattern, kept to a tie or an accent Universities in Michigan and Florida allow a quiet pattern as an accent, such as a tie. Top with sleeves The same Alabama university asks women for sleeves and tells all staff to skip sleeveless tops. Undershirt that stays out of sight A T-shirt showing at the collar undercuts a sharp shirt, a Pittsburgh photographer says. Well-fitted top that does not gap at the neck Photo guides at universities in Michigan and Florida ask for clothes that neither wrinkle nor gap. Your usual work clothes One Illinois university’s marketing office starts here: look approachable and true to your field.
Colors 8
Color that contrasts with the backdrop A Kansas career center’s booth has a white backdrop, so it asks for a color that stands out. Darker color An Illinois university recommends a darker shade, so that you stand out. Jewel tones Named by university photo guides in Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin. Muted tones The recommendation of university photo offices in North Carolina and Alabama. Navy or charcoal Several studios call these the dependable pair for a corporate headshot. Pastel or pale color Listed beside jewel tones by universities in Michigan and Florida. Pop of color under a black blazer A Wisconsin university department’s suggestion, since it advises against a lot of black. Solid color Eight university guides ask for it. It is the one point they all agree on.
Jackets and layers 7
Blazer over a solid T-shirt, for tech Two studios name a blazer over a clean tee as the look for tech and startups. Business jacket or sport coat It adds a nice touch for men and women alike, one Alabama university tells its staff. Dark suit, for finance or law Still expected in those fields, studios say. Navy and charcoal are the usual colors. Jacket borrowed from a career closet One New York university lends students a business jacket for its photo booth. Ask yours. Spare jacket, sweater or scarf to swap A Wisconsin university department leaves time in each session to try a second option. Tie, where your field still wears one Optional in most industries now, a Pittsburgh photographer says. Finance and law are exceptions. White or light blue shirt under a jacket The usual shirt under a suit in finance and law, three studios say.
Glasses, jewelry and makeup 6
Delicate necklace Fine by two studios, as long as it is modest. The glasses people know you in Keep them on if you wear them every day, two studios say. The photo should look like you. Neutral makeup, if you wear any Advice from a university graduate school’s blog. A British casting directory says: you on a good day. Simple watch On one studio’s short list of jewelry that works, with studs and a fine necklace. Spare pair of glasses One New York studio asks for a second pair, if you have one. Stud earrings, kept small The earrings three photographers suggest: small enough not to catch the light.
For actors 8
Backup top in another color A British casting directory suggests spare clothes, in case a color is not working on camera. Beard for half the shoot, a shave for the rest A British casting directory suggests it, so you leave with both looks. Clothes you have already worn A New Jersey photographer’s first rule for actors: things that fit you now and feel familiar. Four to six simple outfits What a photographer writing for a British casting directory suggests bringing, if you can. Mid-tone solid such as olive, burgundy or forest green A New Jersey photographer finds mid-tones set an actor apart from the background. Neutral colors that suit you The same British casting directory’s advice on color for an actor’s shoot. Outfit that hints at your casting, not a costume Several guides for actors draw the same line: suggest the kind of role, do not dress up as it. Plain black T-shirt and plain white T-shirt Must-brings for an actor’s session, a Pittsburgh photographer says, cut well enough to wear alone.
Leave off 12
No baggy or flowy clothes Listed under avoid by universities in Michigan and Florida. No bright white top on its own Six university guides steer you away from it. It can wash out or vanish into a white backdrop. No fitness tracker or wristband in the frame One studio asks you to skip anything on the wrist that would show. No hat or props A British casting directory rules both out for an actor’s headshot. No large earrings or statement necklace A post on a university graduate school’s blog calls them distracting. Studios say the same. No low-cut neckline Universities in Michigan and Florida list low-cut tops under avoid. No neon or fluorescent colors Ruled out by university guides in Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin. No sunglasses or name tag Both can reflect the lights, a Florida university’s guide says. No thin or horizontal stripes They can shimmer on camera, an effect called moiré, a Michigan university’s guide says. No tie, for a tech headshot A headshot company says a tie feels like a costume in tech. Two studios agree it is not needed. No turtleneck On the avoid list at universities in Michigan and Florida. No words or logos Three universities and a British casting directory all say the same.
How this list was compiled
The 57 things to wear or to leave off, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-13; no list was copied. Each row follows what a university photo office, a career center, a casting directory or a headshot studio publishes for the people it photographs, read on 2026-10-13. Universities: Grand Valley State University, Michigan, What to wear to a photo or video shoot (https://www.gvsu.edu/ucomm/what-to-wear-to-a-photovideo-shoot-26 ); University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, What to wear factsheet (https://branding.ifas.ufl.edu/media/brandingifasufledu/guidelines-and-assets/What-to-Wear-Factsheet.pdf ); Northwestern University, Illinois, Student Affairs Marketing, Photo tips and guidelines (https://www.northwestern.edu/studentaffairs/marketing/resources/photovideo-resources/photo-tips-and-guidelines.html ); Appalachian State University, North Carolina, University Communications, Photography (https://uc.appstate.edu/brand-identity-guide/photography ); The University of Alabama, Faculty and staff headshots (https://stratcomm.ua.edu/photography/faculty-and-staff-headshots/ ); University of Wisconsin, School of Human Ecology, Headshot photo, what to wear (https://kb.wisc.edu/sohe/120578 ); University of Kansas, University Career Center, Professional headshots (https://career.ku.edu/professional-headshots ); Villanova University, Pennsylvania, Career Center, Professional headshots (https://www.villanova.edu/university/career-professional/career-center/resources/headshots.html ); New York University, Wasserman Center, Headshot photo booth (https://wasserman.nyu.edu/headshot-photo-booth/ ); Duke University, The Graduate School, a doctoral student’s post, How to take a professional photo (https://gradschool.duke.edu/professional-development/blog/managing-your-online-presence-how-take-professional-photo/ ). For actors: Spotlight, the British casting directory, two advice pages (https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/the-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-headshot/ , https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/the-essentials/how-to-get-the-perfect-headshot/ ); Alex Kaplan Photo, New Jersey (https://alexkaplanphoto.com/what-to-wear-actor-headshots/ ); Marc Cartwright Headshots, Los Angeles (https://www.marccartwrightheadshots.com/guides/wardrobe-for-actor-headshots ); Casting Companion (https://castingcompanion.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-acting-headshots ). Studios, named in the rows as studios or photographers: Capturely, a headshot company (https://capturely.com/what-to-wear-professional-headshots/ ); Chad Isaiah, Pittsburgh (https://www.chadisaiah.com/articles/what-to-wear-for-a-headshot ); Tov Studio (https://tovstudiophoto.com/what-to-wear-for-headshots/ ); Fuentes Studio, New York (https://www.fuentesstudio.com/headshot-wardrobe-guide ); Janelle Rose Photography (https://www.janellerosephotography.com/commercial/headshots-what-to-wear/ ); Austen Hunter (https://www.austenhunter.com/post/what-to-wear-for-headshots ). The guides disagree on black, on dark against bright colors and on coated lenses; where they do, the page gives both views in an answer and no row. Left out on purpose: brands, prices, and every line in these guides about body shape, size or skin tone. Licence: own work
How it works What should I wear for a headshot? A solid-colored top that fits, one notch dressier than your workday. These 57 things follow what university photo offices, career centers and headshot studios tell their sitters, with a row for actors.
Read the full guide
Only the top of the outfit is in the picture
A headshot is cropped near the chest, so the collar, the shoulders and the color do all the work. Two universities’ photo guides put turtlenecks, low-cut tops and sleeveless tops on their avoid lists and ask for clothes that do not gap at the neck. Below the frame, a Pennsylvania career center’s advice is short: be comfortable.
Photograph each option from the chest up by a window. Keep the one where you notice your face first.
Questions and answers
What should I wear for a professional headshot?
A solid top with sleeves and, if you own one, a jacket. University photo offices ask for muted or jewel tones and warn against bright white, neon, logos and thin stripes.
What should I wear for tech headshots?
Not a suit. A headshot company’s rule is one level above what you wear to work: a fitted button-down or a crew-neck sweater if you live in T-shirts, a blazer if you already wear button-downs. It says to leave the tie at home.
What should I wear for a professional photo?
Your normal work clothes, in a solid color, says one university’s marketing office. Its tips are written for an online profile photo, and it adds that they apply to any professional shot.
What color should I wear for my headshots?
A solid one. Past that the guides split: some universities like darker or muted tones, others jewel tones or pastels, and one Wisconsin department advises against a lot of black. Contrast with the backdrop is a safe test.
Should I wear glasses for a headshot?
If you wear them daily, yes, two studios say. On lenses they split: one photographer asks for little or no coating, because its purple tint shows, and a New York studio says anti-glare coating helps. A career center suggests trying some frames without them.