Updated October 2026 · By Alex Kemp, founder & lead photographer, Kemp Photography
Your company booked a headshot day. You have about 2–3 minutes in front of the camera. Here's what to wear so you look like yourself on a good day, and so nobody has to edit your sweater.
Key takeaways
- Wear solid colors in mid-tones that contrast with the background.
- Fit matters more than price. Sit, lift your arms, check the collar.
- Bring one backup top. Seriously.
- Keep glasses if you wear them daily. Check for glare.
- Dress to your industry's norm. Aim for "client meeting," not "wedding."
What should I wear for a corporate headshot?
Wear what you'd put on for an important client meeting: a solid-color top that fits well, in a mid-tone that contrasts with the background. Pick clothes you're comfortable sitting and standing in. Skip busy patterns, heavy logos and anything that needs constant adjusting. Bring a backup top.
Your organizer will tell you which background the team is shooting against. If you're not sure, ask. Clothes that blend into the backdrop make you look like a floating head.
What colors look best against the background?
Choose colors that contrast with the backdrop and flatter your skin tone. Against a light or white background, deeper tones like navy, charcoal, forest green and burgundy pop. Against a darker background, medium and lighter tones read better. Avoid colors that match the backdrop exactly. Kemp Photography can shoot against any background color, so your organizer will tell you which one your team chose.
| Background | Wear | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light / white | Navy, charcoal, deep green, burgundy, medium blue | White, cream, very pale grey |
| Mid grey | Deeper or brighter solids, jewel tones | Mid grey, silver |
| Dark | Mid-tones, lighter solids, a pop of color | Black, very dark navy |
General color rules:
- Solids beat patterns. Fine stripes, small checks and herringbone can shimmer on camera.
- Skip neon. It reflects onto skin.
- Mind the jewelry. Simple and small. Dangling earrings and noisy bracelets are better left in the car.
- Watch your undershirt. Visible logos and straps show through.
What about fit, necklines and layers?
Fit is the biggest upgrade you can make. Clothes that pull, bunch or gap look worse on camera than they do in the mirror. A jacket or blazer adds structure. A V-neck or open collar tends to look balanced on most people. Do a sitting test: sit, lean forward and raise your arms.
- Collars: press them, and check that they lie flat.
- Jackets: try buttoning and unbuttoning to see which looks better. Bring both options if you're unsure.
- Layers: add a blazer, cardigan or vest to add shape.
- Wrinkles: steam or iron the night before. Retouching is not a laundry service.
- Backup: bring one alternate top in a different color. The one you thought was perfect might not be.
Should I wear glasses?
If you wear glasses every day, wear them in your headshot. Colleagues should recognize you. Check for glare and bring a clean cloth. If your lenses have anti-glare coating, great. If glare is a problem, tell the photographer; small adjustments help.
- Bring a microfiber cloth.
- Tinted lenses that darken indoors can hide your eyes. Bring the clear pair if you have it.
- Heavy frames can be a feature. Choose frames you actually wear.
- If you only wear glasses sometimes, you can take a second look. Participation is unlimited, but a second look is its own slot so nobody else gets held up. Book a second slot.
How should I handle hair, grooming and makeup?
Keep it close to your normal look, just tidier. Get a haircut a week early, not the day before. Shave or trim the day of or the night before. Keep makeup natural; it should look like you on a good day. Hair and makeup service is available through Kemp Photography if your company books it, so ask when you book.
- Hair: tidy flyaways, keep the style you normally wear.
- Facial hair: trimmed, with a clean neckline.
- Makeup: matte over shiny; avoid heavy glitter and metallic shades.
- Skin: moisturize the night before, drink water, sleep.
- Nails and hands: usually out of frame, but they come into play for some crops.
- Bring: lip balm, a comb or brush, and touch-up basics.
What should I wear by industry or dress code?
Match your industry's norms. Finance and law lean formal: a suit or blazer in navy, charcoal or black. Tech leans relaxed: a clean crew neck or a casual blazer. Healthcare depends on the team: scrubs or a white coat if that's what patients see. When in doubt, ask your manager.
Finance, law and professional services
- Suit jacket or tailored blazer, in navy or charcoal
- Collared shirt or a structured blouse
- A tie is optional. Follow your company's convention.
- Simple jewelry, conservative colors
Tech, creative and startups
- Clean crew neck, quarter-zip or a casual blazer
- Solid colors; a pop of color is welcome
- Skip graphic tees and big logos, even if they're your own
- Smart casual is fine. Wrinkled is not.
Healthcare
- Scrubs in your team's standard color, clean and pressed, if that's what patients see
- White coat over professional attire, worn the way your employer's uniform policy describes
- Remove lanyards, pens and stethoscopes from the frame unless your employer wants them in
- Check with your department lead about uniform standards
Everyone else
- Retail, hospitality, trades and nonprofits: wear what clients see you in, but cleaner. Branded uniform shirts are fine if your employer requests them.
- Branded clothing: coordinate with your marketing team before wearing logos.
What should I do the night before and the morning of?
Get sleep, drink water and eat a normal breakfast. Lay out your outfit the night before and check it in a mirror. Arrive a few minutes early, take a breath and loosen your shoulders. You'll be on camera for about 2–3 minutes. The whole thing is quicker than your last meeting.
Checklist:
- Press the outfit; pack a backup.
- Clean your glasses.
- Skip the new haircut and the new face cream.
- Check your teeth and your collar.
- Check the schedule: your slot, the room.
- Smile like you're about to hear good news.
Organizing the day for your team? Send them this page along with the planning guide.