Your wardrobe should support the portrait; not compete with it.
What you wear plays an important role in how a portrait reads, but it does not need to be complicated. Before your session, we’ll consider where the images will be used, how you want to be perceived, and which wardrobe choices best support that.
The goal is simple: you, at your best—polished, confident, and unmistakably yourself.
Bring Options.
I always recommend bringing more than one possibility.
Clothing can look completely different once we introduce lighting, background, and the camera, so having options gives us room to refine the look as we shoot.
A few strong tops, jackets, layers, or accessories are far more useful than arriving committed to one outfit.
Sometimes the piece you almost leave at home becomes the photograph.
Dress for the Image You Want to Create.
Ask yourself less, “What should I wear for a headshot?” and more:
“What do I want this photograph to say about me?”
An executive portrait, actor headshot, editorial portrait, and creative profile each communicate something different.
Your wardrobe should feel authentic to who you are while supporting where you are going.
The right portrait should feel like you already belong in the room.
Color, Texture + Personality!
You do not need to disappear into a neutral uniform.
Rich color, beautiful texture, thoughtful layering, and subtle pattern can all photograph exceptionally well. Black and white are timeless, but I recommend bringing additional options as well.
As with great personal style, restraint usually wins.
Your clothes can have personality. Your face should still have the final word.
The Fit Matters.
A beautifully fitting garment will almost always photograph better than something expensive that does not sit correctly.
Choose pieces that allow you to move comfortably and feel like yourself. Avoid anything that requires constant adjusting or makes you overly conscious of what you are wearing.
When you feel good in what you are wearing, the camera knows.
Accessories Are Welcome.
Jewelry, watches, ties, eyewear, scarves, and other personal details can help complete a portrait when they feel natural to you.
Bring a few options rather than trying to decide everything beforehand. Small changes can completely shift the character of an image.
The smallest detail can sometimes be the thing that makes a portrait feel entirely your own.
Arrive Camera-Ready.
Please bring clothing clean, pressed, and preferably on hangers or in a garment bag.
If you are working with an agent, publicist, manager, or corporate team, it is also helpful to ask whether they have specific preferences before your session.
A little preparation gives us more freedom once you are in front of the camera.
We’ll Refine It Together!
You are not expected to arrive having solved every detail.
Wardrobe is part of the conversation leading into your session, and I am happy to review options beforehand. My job is to see what works—your wardrobe, your light, your expression, and the way all of those elements come together.
You bring the options. I bring the eye. Together, we create the photograph people remember.
