Get your best headshot - Re Bastien Photography

An image that represents you and your story is important. Preparing for it does not have to be stressful. Here are a few tips on planning for the best outfits to wear.

For headshots, the most important clothing item is the shirt that you are wearing, because it needs to convey the right message, flatter you and not distract from your face. The goal is to make you appear confident, and emphasize/direct the gaze to your face and your eyes. Your clothing should also reflect the reason you are using your images. For example, your professional uniform (if applicable) – such as athletes in sportswear, lawyers in corporate suits, professionals in button up shirts, actors in casual clothing, models in trendy fashion.

DO CHOOSE:

Timless and classic styles, such as button up shirts or sweaters
Blazers, jackets or cardigans to cover sleeveless shirts
Colours that flatter your skin tone, hair or eye colour
Clothing appropriate for your industry if applicable
Clean, wrinkle free tops without pet hair, rips, tears or missing buttons
Simplicity, minimal accessories
Simple hairstyles unless it is specific to your theme/look

AVOID:

Patterns, especially large, busy or bright ones
Shirts with text/logos/graphics on them
Short sleeves or sleeveless shirts (unless you work in an industry where it is important to showcase your shoulders and arms)
If you wear long hair and wear it down, avoid shirts in the same colour as your hair. (For example, avoid white tops if you have long white that is not styled away from your shoulders)
Trendy clothing/jewlery that will make your image appear dated
Too much jewelry, keep it simple
Colours similar to your skin tone

A great way for group and large group portraits to look balanced (but not too matchy) is to choose one or two colours, and have everyone wear at one piece of clothing in that colour.

For example, if you choose ‘blue and grey’, each person would wear an item of clothing clothing in blue and/or grey. It can be very hard to coordinate large groups to be perfectly coordinated, so this leaves some flexibility for each person to choose their outfit without having to go shopping just for one photoshoot.

Whichever colours you choose – it will unify the whole group without making everyone look like they are in uniform.

See examples below.

How to prepare for your Portraits

Plan your clothing & look

Planning Headshot Outfits

Think classic and timeless so your portraits last

How to plan outfits for GROUP Portraits

Coordinate your look with large groups for best results

Examples of Coordinated (yet not all the same colour) group outfits

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