Preparing For Your Portraits

WHAT TO WEAR

Choosing what to wear for your brand photos is one of the most challenging aspects of the experience. It can feel so overwhelming. Here are some guidelines to make it easier.

Be yourself

This is my number one rule. Choose clothing you love to wear. If you’re a minimalist, go with something low key and classic. If you’re a maximalist, don’t be afraid to be a bit extra!

Colours

Tip #1 If your portraits will be used for business, wear your brand colours! Incorporating your company’s colour palette into your clothing and accessories is always a great idea. It will instantly make your images tie into your overall brand aesthetic, as well as your website and social feeds.

If you don’t have brand colours but work in a certain field (e.g. medicine) it doesn’t hurt to bring in hints of colours that nod to your profession. Some of my favourite medical professional clients have chosen tops that subtly reference their favourite colour of scrubs, or even wear a white blazer instead of a white coat, for example.

If these portraits are just for you, wear your favourite colours!

General tips: don’t feel pressured to wear black or white. Wear colours that suit you and make your eyes sparkle! You can always ask family or friends which colours look best on you, or browse through favourite photos of yourself to see if there is a common colour that makes you look extra lovely. I do find neutrals look great in headshots, but so do jewel tones. In general I only advise folks to steer clear of neon pink and orange as they don’t play well with digital photography, but magenta, coral, peach, etc are all good. In general, all colours are welcome as long as you feel great when wearing them!

If you don’t know your colours and feel totally lost, I highly recommend colour analysis. I personally saw Saba of Ash Styles and it was an extraordinarily helpful experience.

Fabrics, prints, patterns, and fit

Avoid wearing anything with logos, text, small stripes, or detailed patterns. This includes small stripes, pinstripes, fine checks, houndstooth/herringbone pattern and plaid prints. These can actually warp on camera and be very distracting. You want to keep the focus on you! Solid colours are always best.

This might sound like common sense, but consider your comfort and confidence levels when choosing clothing items. It's best to wear items that make you feel fantastic when you wear them, and to avoid garments that are uncomfortable, just don't seem to fit right or don't seem flattering to you. In general, it’s better for something to be fitted than way too loose, especially in terms of men’s shirts and suits.

Wear a neckline that you are comfortable in and wear often. For example, if you never wear turtlenecks or low cut shirts, don’t do so for your headshots.

Quality matters. Choose your garments that are made with quality fabrics. Cotton, linen, silk, wool, leather, tweed, all photograph beautifully. I find that cotton spandex blends that have a bounce or clinginess to them are not as photogenic.

Accessories

In general, less is more. If you love jewellery, make a statement with either your earrings or necklace, but you don’t need both. Or you could do petite earrings and a more statement necklace, or vise versa. I do find metallic jewellery looks much better than other materials (hemp, shells, large beads, etc) but it is a matter of personal preference. In my opinion, the ideal accessories are a small pair of stud or hoop earrings or a sentimental necklace such as a dainty chain with or without a pendant, pearls, or nothing at all!

Align with your brand - tips for dressing as a group for team headshots

This is most relevant if you are part of a business that has a strong visual identity and defined colour palette. But even if you work for a firm or corporation, it doesn’t hurt to take your employer’s colours into account. If your company’s vibe is more conservative and neutral, by wearing classic colours, this usually creates a more uniform look when multiple peoples’ headshots are placed together in the “About Us” or “Our Team” section of a website. A cohesive look is the goal! Conversely, if you work for a company with a modern and playful vibe, wearing bright colours and accessories can help reinforce your brand. Choose thoughtfully, and if you’re feeling stuck, talk to your colleagues and perhaps even come up with a group colour or style strategy!

Dress code

If more than one team member is being photographed, I recommend getting everyone on the same page in terms of dress code for best results. Pick a level of formality and stick to it, whether it’s casual, business casual, business professional, creative, or glamourous! If you’re feeling stuck, think about the dress code of your ideal client and dress as you would to make a great impression on them or to help them feel welcomed into your space.

Prepare your garments

If the fabric you’ve chosen might wrinkle en route to your shoot, I recommend changing when you arrive and bringing your clothing along in a garment bag. Ensure everything is steamed/ironed before placing in the bag. And bringing a lint brush is always a good idea!

If you need help…

If you are struggling to decide on outfits, feel free to email me pictures of options you’re considering, or bring along more than you think you need and I will help you decide when you arrive. If you are feeling totally overwhelmed and stuck, I would recommend hiring a stylist who can help you put together the perfect look. You can find my recommended stylists in the Recommended Experts guide you received in your confirmation email.