What to wear for professional headshots

The camera exaggerates clothing choices. A pattern that looks subtle in the mirror vibrates on screen, and a color that flatters in person can wash you out under studio light. Here is what actually works, whether you are dressing for a photographer or picking styles for an AI headshot.

The colors that always work

• Navy: the safest choice in every industry, flattering on every skin tone
• Charcoal and mid grey: authoritative without the harshness of pure black
• Forest green, burgundy, soft blue: add personality while staying professional
• Layer white: a white shirt under a jacket frames the face, white alone can glow and lose its edges

What to avoid

• Thin stripes and small checks: they shimmer on screens
• Neon and very bright colors: they reflect onto your skin
• Large logos or slogans: dated instantly and unusable in many workplaces
• Brand-new clothes you have never worn: visible creases and stiff collars read on camera

By industry

• Law, finance, accounting: dark suit, crisp shirt, tie optional but common
• Tech and startups: smart casual, a tee or knit under an open shirt or unstructured blazer
• Healthcare: a white coat over professional attire, or clean scrubs where appropriate
• Real estate and insurance: business casual with warmth, a blazer over an open collar
• Creative fields: more freedom on color and texture, keep the silhouette simple

Necklines, jewelry and glasses

Choose a neckline that gives the crop somewhere to end: collars, crew necks and modest v-necks all work. Keep jewelry small enough that nobody remembers it. If glasses are part of your daily face, keep them on; consistency between your photo and the person who shows up to the meeting is the whole point of a headshot.

The AI advantage

With an AI headshot service you do not have to own any of this. PerfectHeadshot generates the attire with the style you pick, from charcoal suits to smart casual, so the dressing guide above becomes a menu instead of a shopping list. Your face comes from your selfies; the wardrobe comes with the style.