What to Wear for Headshots by Profession and Brand

Your headshot is your digital first impression and a powerful branding tool. What you wear should do more than look polished; it should communicate your profession and brand personality at a glance. This guide breaks down wardrobe choices by industry and brand vibe—classic, modern, bold, or relaxed—so you can pick colors, fits, and textures that send the right message. You’ll learn when to lean neutral or add color, how to layer without bulk, and how to handle accessories, glasses, and grooming. We’ll also cover coordinating with backdrops and the image’s end use—LinkedIn, your website, or speaking engagements—plus what to bring so you can refine on set.

Your headshot should look like you on a great day—aligned with your industry and brand. Here’s a quick wardrobe guide by profession, plus color and pattern tips.

Photo by Pixabay

Tech

• Look: Smart-casual. Think fitted knit or open-collar shirt with optional blazer.

• Colors: Mid-tones (charcoal, navy, olive, rust). Avoid stark black on black backgrounds.

• Patterns: Subtle textures, micro-checks, or solid knits; skip loud plaids.

• Brand vibe: Friendly, competent, modern.

Law

• Look: Tailored suit or blazer; crisp shirt. Tie optional for boutique/modern firms; classic tie for BigLaw.

• Colors: Navy, charcoal, deep green; white or pale blue shirts.

• Patterns: Pinstripes fine if subtle; no bold stripes.

• Brand vibe: Trust, authority, clarity.

Medicine

• Look: Professional blouse/shirt with or without lab coat. Keep stethoscope out unless brand requires.

• Colors: Clean, calm tones—sky blue, teal, navy, soft purple.

• Patterns: Minimal. Avoid small moiré-causing prints.

• Brand vibe: Competent, caring, calm.

Real Estate

• Look: Polished but approachable—blazer with tailored top or shirt; dresses with structure work well.

• Colors: Jewel tones pop on marketing cards; navy and white for coastal/neutral brands.

• Patterns: Keep clean; textures photograph better than prints.

• Brand vibe: Trustworthy, energetic, local.

Fitness

• Look: High-quality athleisure or brand apparel; form-fitting, no worn logos.

• Colors: High-contrast with the background; brights are fine if on-brand.

• Patterns: Color blocking > busy patterns; avoid reflective fabrics.

• Brand vibe: Energetic, healthy, real.

Creative (designers, artists, music, media)

• Look: Show personality—statement jacket, textured knit, minimal jewelry with character.

• Colors: Brand palette or complementary tones; earth tones read sophisticated.

• Patterns: Graphic is okay if intentional and balanced.

• Brand vibe: Original, curated, confident.

Universal tips

• Fit is everything: Tailoring beats price. Steam/press clothes.

• Necklines: Avoid very deep V’s and extremely high necks that shorten the neck.

• Glasses: Non-glare lenses or slight angle to dodge reflections.

• Hair and grooming: Aim for your everyday best, not a totally new look.

• Jewelry: Minimal and non-distracting unless it’s part of your brand.

• Colors and skin tones: Mid-tones flatter most; pure white can blow out; matte fabrics beat shiny.

• Bring options: Two tops and one jacket gives variety in 15 minutes.

In the end, great headshots happen when clothing, brand, and context align. Choose well-fitting pieces in fabrics that photograph cleanly, select a palette that flatters you and matches your brand, keep patterns subtle, and let accessories support rather than distract. Calibrate the level of polish to your profession and the personality you want to project, then bring a couple of options to fine-tune with your photographer. With a bit of planning, your wardrobe will underscore credibility and character, giving you versatile images you can use confidently across platforms.