Your headshot wardrobe matters more than most people think. The wrong outfit can date your photo, distract from your face, or send a message you didn't intend. The right one disappears into the background and lets you be the subject.

This guide covers what works, what doesn't, and how to adjust based on your industry. No fashion degree required.

The Basics: What Photographs Well

A few principles hold true regardless of your profession, gender, or where the photo will be used.

Solid Colors Over Patterns

Solid colors keep the viewer's eye on your face. Patterns like stripes, plaids, florals, and small prints create visual noise in a tightly cropped headshot. Fine stripes can also cause a moire effect on camera, where the pattern appears to shimmer or vibrate. It looks terrible and you can't fix it in editing.

The best colors for headshots are mid-tones and jewel tones: navy, charcoal, emerald, burgundy, teal, plum, slate blue. These photograph cleanly against most backgrounds and work across skin tones.

Colors to approach carefully:

• Pure white tends to blow out under studio lighting and can wash out lighter skin tones
• Pure black absorbs light and loses all texture, making it hard for the photographer to create depth
• Neon or very bright colors reflect onto your skin and can tint your face
• Beige or nude tones can blend with your skin and create a floating-head effect

A good rule: hold the garment up next to your face in a mirror. If your eye goes to the clothing first, pick something less attention-grabbing.

Fit Matters More Than Style

In a headshot, the crop is tight. Your shoulders, neckline, and collar are visible. Everything else is out of frame. That means fit issues that are invisible in daily life become obvious:

• A blazer with shoulders that droop past your natural shoulder line looks sloppy
• A button-down that pulls across the chest creates tension lines the camera will catch
• A collar that gaps or curls reads as careless
• Fabric that bunches around the neckline adds visual weight

You don't need tailored clothing. You need clothing that lies flat, sits at your natural shoulder, and doesn't pull or bunch when you're sitting up straight.

Necklines That Work

The neckline frames your face. It's the most important wardrobe decision in a headshot.

Works well:

• V-neck: Elongates the neck, creates a clean frame, flattering on most body types
• Crew neck: Simple, clean, works for casual and professional settings
• Boat neck: Widens the frame slightly, good for narrower shoulders
• Open collar, unbuttoned: Relaxed but polished, good for creative industries
• Collared shirt: Classic for corporate and legal settings

Higher risk:

• Turtleneck: Can shorten the neck and feel visually heavy. Works on some people, but test it first.
• Deep V or plunging neckline: Draws attention away from the face
• Complex collars or ruffles: Compete with your face for attention
• Strapless or thin straps: Can look like you forgot to put a shirt on in a tight crop

Sleeves: Long or Three-Quarter

Bare arms pull focus. The skin tone of your arms is similar to your face, so the viewer's eye bounces between them. Long sleeves or three-quarter sleeves keep the attention where it belongs. Most photographers will position you at a slight angle, which makes your arms more prominent in the frame.

If you're wearing something sleeveless, a blazer or cardigan solves the problem.

What to Wear by Industry

"Professional" means different things in different fields. A corporate lawyer and a yoga instructor have very different headshot standards. Here's what works in specific contexts.

Corporate and Finance

The most conservative end of the spectrum. Expectations are specific:

• Blazer with a collared shirt or clean blouse
• Navy, charcoal, or dark gray as primary colors
• Minimal jewelry. A watch or simple earrings, but no statement necklaces.
• Ties are optional in most markets now, but if your company culture expects them, wear one
• Avoid anything trendy. Your headshot should still look appropriate in three years.

Read our full corporate headshot guide

Law

Similar to corporate, but even more conservative. Many law firms have specific expectations:

• Dark suit jacket in navy or charcoal, not black
• White or light blue shirt
• Conservative tie if you wear one
• Minimal accessories
• The headshot often appears on the firm's website next to your credentials. It should look like someone you'd trust with a legal matter.

Read our full lawyer headshot guide

Healthcare and Medical

Doctors and nurses have a unique consideration: the white coat. Some institutions require it, others prefer business attire underneath.

• If wearing a white coat, wear a contrasting color underneath. Navy, dark blue, or burgundy all work. White-on-white disappears.
• Without a white coat, stick to business casual: a collared shirt or structured blouse
• Avoid scrubs unless your practice specifically uses headshots in scrubs
• Patients judge trustworthiness in about three seconds. Neat, clean, and approachable wins.

Read our full doctor headshot guide

Real Estate

Real estate agents use their headshot everywhere: yard signs, business cards, MLS listings, social media. It needs to work at multiple sizes and in multiple contexts.

• Solid, vibrant colors photograph better on yard signs where the image is small
• A blazer signals professionalism without being stuffy
• Avoid overly formal looks that create distance. Clients want to see someone approachable.
• Your headshot competes with dozens of other agents on listing sites. Stand out through color, not through being the most casual.

Read our full real estate headshot guide

Tech and Startups

The most relaxed dress code in professional photography, but "relaxed" doesn't mean "sloppy."

• A well-fitted solid-color t-shirt or henley works
• A casual blazer over a t-shirt bridges casual and polished
• Dark jeans or chinos won't be visible in a headshot, but wearing them helps you feel like yourself
• Avoid graphic tees, logos, and branded clothing
• The goal: you look like someone who builds things, not someone who just rolled out of bed

Read our full engineer headshot guide

Creative Fields (Actors, Artists, Designers)

More latitude here, but with an important caveat: the headshot still needs to serve a professional purpose.

• Actors: casting directors want to see YOU, not your wardrobe. Simple, solid colors. No logos, no graphics, nothing that dates the photo. The outfit should be forgettable.
• Designers and creatives: you can push further with color and style, but keep it simple in structure. A bold color in a clean silhouette says "creative" better than an elaborate outfit.
• Musicians: more freedom, but avoid costumes. The headshot is for press kits and bios, not album covers.

Read our full actor headshot guide

Therapy and Counseling

Therapists need to convey warmth and approachability. The headshot often appears on psychology directories where potential clients are choosing who to trust with personal struggles.

• Soft, warm colors: teal, sage, warm gray, soft blue
• Avoid stark contrasts or very dark colors that can feel intimidating
• Natural fabrics with visible texture photograph well and feel inviting
• Skip the blazer if it's not how you'd dress in a session. Authenticity matters here.

Read our full therapist headshot guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors photograph best for professional headshots?

Mid-tones and jewel tones work best: navy, charcoal, emerald, burgundy, teal, plum, and slate blue. These photograph cleanly against backgrounds and work across skin tones. Avoid pure white (blows out under lighting), pure black (loses texture), neon colors (reflect onto skin), and beige (blends with skin tones creating floating-head effect).

Should I wear a suit jacket for my headshot?

Depends on your industry. Corporate, finance, and law: yes, blazer expected. Healthcare: optional, white coat or business casual. Tech/startups: casual blazer over t-shirt or solid crew neck. Real estate: blazer for approachability without stuffiness. Actors/creatives: simple tops, no jackets unless character-specific. Match your actual professional context.

Can I use AI to try different outfits for headshots?

Yes. AI headshot generators like Narkis.ai let you generate headshots in any outfit, color, or formality level without owning the clothes or changing during sessions. Try navy blazer, casual button-down, medical white coat, or crew neck from one set of upload photos. At $29 for 200 headshots, experimenting with wardrobe costs nothing.

What necklines work best in professional headshots?

V-necks elongate the neck and create clean frames. Crew necks work for casual/professional settings. Boat necks widen frames for narrow shoulders. Open collars and collared shirts suit business contexts. Avoid: turtlenecks (shorten neck), deep V/plunging (distracts from face), complex ruffles (compete for attention), strapless/thin straps (looks incomplete in tight crops).

Should I bring multiple outfit options to a headshot session?

Bring 2-3 options. What looks good in your mirror may look wrong under studio lighting. Most photographers help you choose what works best with their setup. Having backups costs nothing. Wear your options beforehand to ensure they fit comfortably when sitting, standing, and turning. Avoid brand new unworn clothes with packaging creases.

Common Mistakes

Bringing only one outfit. Bring 2-3 options. Your photographer can help you choose what works best under their lighting and against their backgrounds. One outfit might look great in your mirror and wrong under studio lights. Most sessions include at least one outfit change, and if yours doesn't, having a backup costs nothing.

Wearing brand new clothes. New clothes sometimes fit differently than you expect and may have visible creases from packaging. Wear your headshot outfit at least once before the session. Make sure it's comfortable when you're sitting, standing, and turning slightly.

Over-accessorizing. Jewelry, scarves, and accessories should complement, not compete. In a tight headshot crop, a large necklace or dangly earrings become the focal point. When in doubt, less is more.

Dressing for the trend, not the timeline. Your headshot will be in use for 2-5 years. What's trendy now might look dated in 18 months. Classic silhouettes and timeless colors age better than fashion-forward choices.

Ignoring your industry. The outfit should match where the photo will be used. A creative director can wear something a tax attorney can't. Know your audience.

The AI Headshot Advantage: Unlimited Outfits

One of the practical advantages of AI headshot generators like Narkis.ai is that wardrobe becomes a non-issue. You can generate headshots in any outfit, any color, any level of formality, without owning the clothes or spending time changing during a session.

A single set of upload photos can produce headshots in a navy blazer, a casual button-down, a medical white coat, or a simple crew neck. Try multiple options and see what works before committing to one. At $29 for a full set of AI headshots, the cost of experimenting with wardrobe is zero.

This doesn't replace the value of owning clothes that photograph well. You'll still need them for video calls, in-person meetings, and life in general. But for the specific problem of "what should I wear in my headshot," AI removes the anxiety entirely.

Quick Reference

Always works: Navy blazer, solid-color blouse or button-down, jewel tones, V-neck or crew neck, long sleeves

Depends on context: Black (fine for creative/corporate, risky for studio), white (can work with the right lighting), turtleneck (test first), casual t-shirt (tech/creative only)

Almost never works: Busy patterns, neon colors, graphic tees, logos, deep necklines, strapless tops, brand-new unworn clothes

For more on headshot preparation, see our guides to all types of professional headshots and how much professional headshots cost.