Long Beach Headshots
What to Wear for a Professional Headshot: Colors, Necklines and Grooming
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a whole new wardrobe for your headshot. You need one outfit you love, a few backups, and someone in your corner who will help you choose.
That someone is me. I’ve been behind the camera since 2007, and my number one rule has never changed: if you don’t feel comfortable in it, you won’t photograph well in it. The best headshot outfit is the one you forget you’re wearing, because that’s when your shoulders drop, your expression relaxes, and the photograph looks like you on a good day.
Here are my five tips for what to wear and how to get camera-ready for a headshot at my Downtown Long Beach studio. If you’d like the full picture of how to get ready for your session, start with How to Prepare for Your Professional Headshot.
1. Wear Something You Love
My number one rule: you have to love it. If you don’t feel comfortable in it, you won’t photograph well wearing it.
Choose something that fits well, lets you sit, reach and breathe easily, and feels like how you show up professionally. That might be a tailored blazer, a favorite knit, a crisp collared shirt, or the dress you’d wear to your most important meeting of the year.
2. Choose Colors and Necklines That Frame Your Face
Your neckline is the frame around your face, so it does a lot of work in a headshot. A V-neck, a crew neck and an open collar each create a different look, and the one that works best depends on you. Bring a range and we’ll find the most flattering one together.
Solid colors photograph beautifully. Navy, gray and deep blue flatter almost everyone. If you love a bolder color, bring that too. A color you feel great in is worth more than a safe choice you don’t.
3. Bring Options and Layers
If you have any doubt about whether something will work, bring it along. A few colors, a few necklines, and a layer or two, like a blazer, cardigan, sweater or light jacket, give us room to find the right fit for your industry and how you want to come across. You don’t need to decide at home.
How many outfits we photograph depends on your session. Individual headshot sessions include one outfit with Essential, up to three with Signature, and up to five with Premium.
4. Keep Grooming Simple and Shine Under Control
The goal is still to look like yourself, just polished. If you don’t usually wear makeup, a little powder in your skin tone helps even out your complexion and keeps shine under control in the studio lights. You can pick one up at any department store. I recommend the MAC counter or a beauty supply store, where someone can help you match your color.
If you’d like extra polish, professional hair and makeup is available as an optional add-on for individual sessions. A professional makeup artist knows how to get you camera-ready, and it’s never required.
5. Finish With the Small Details
Press or steam everything the night before. Wrinkles show up in a close crop. Keep jewelry simple so nothing pulls attention away from your face, and skip anything that sparkles or jingles.
The Rest Is My Job
Get a good night’s sleep the night before. Rest helps you avoid dark under-eye circles and a tired look, and it makes it easier to relax in front of the camera.
Smile like you mean it. It’s always better to be the true you, especially if you want your brand to feel fun and personal.
And leave the lighting and positioning to me. What separates a great headshot from an average one is often a small change in composition and light: a slight tilt of the head, leaning forward a little, a gentle but intriguing smile. I’ll guide you through all of it.
Ready for a Headshot That Feels Like You?
Headshot sessions take place in my private Downtown Long Beach studio, with guided posing from your first outfit to your last frame. I also offer on-site corporate team headshots across Long Beach, Los Angeles and Orange County. If you’re ready to plan yours, let’s talk.
Serving Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County.
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TiffaneyAnn Photography is a luxury photography studio based in Downtown Long Beach, specializing in boudoir, corporate headshots, corporate event photography, and portraits. From commercial photography and Executive Portrait Activations to interactive event experiences, we create bold, modern imagery for individuals, professionals, and businesses throughout Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Read more…
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