What to Wear for Your Headshot Session (Bergen County Guide)
After 17 years and hundreds of headshot sessions in Bergen County, the question I get asked more than any other isn't about pricing or scheduling. It's this: "What should I wear?" Here's everything I tell my clients — and a few things most photographers won't.
The one rule that overrides everything else
Before we get into colors, patterns, and necklines — there's one principle that matters more than any specific guideline: wear what feels like you.
I've photographed clients in classic navy blazers and clients in bold jewel tones. Clients who live in black and clients who wear color the way other people breathe. The sessions that produce the strongest images are always the ones where the person in front of my camera feels like themselves — confident, comfortable, and not distracted by wondering if they made the right outfit choice.
So everything that follows is a framework, not a rulebook. Use it to narrow down your options, not to talk yourself out of something you love.
Solid colors over patterns — and here's exactly why
This is the one recommendation I give every single client without exception: choose solid colors. Not because patterns are inherently bad, but because in a headshot, the goal is for the viewer's eye to go to your face — not your outfit.
A busy pattern competes. A fine stripe creates a moiré effect on camera (that strange rippling optical illusion you've probably seen in news broadcasts). Even a subtle print can draw attention away from your expression, your eyes, the thing the photo is actually supposed to be about.
A solid color, on the other hand, creates a clean frame around your face. It completes the image without competing with it. And in a professional context — a LinkedIn profile, a company website, a speaker bio — that clarity reads as authority.
The texture rule
Texture is one of the most underrated tools in headshot styling — and one of the things I get most excited about in a session. A chunky knit photographs with incredible depth and warmth. Silk and satin catch the light in a way that feels luxurious and editorial. Sequins, when used intentionally, create a beautiful shimmer that reads as confident and dynamic rather than over-the-top. Even a subtle velvet or ribbed fabric adds dimension that a flat solid simply can't. The key is that texture should still read as intentional — one textured piece, styled simply around it, rather than competing textures everywhere. If you have something with beautiful texture that you love, absolutely bring it.
Color should match your personality — not a generic guide
Most "what to wear for headshots" articles will tell you to wear navy or grey. And while those are safe, reliable choices, they're not always the right choices for you specifically.
Here's how I think about it: if you wear all black every single day and it's genuinely your uniform, then variations of black — a black blazer, a charcoal top, a deep navy — are probably exactly right for your headshots. Your wardrobe is already telling you who you are on camera.
If you love color — if you're someone who reaches for a coral blouse or a rich teal jacket without thinking about it — then your headshots should reflect that too. A color that feels like you reads as confidence. A color you chose because it felt "safe" often reads as exactly that.
The question I ask clients is simple: what do you wear when you want to feel like your best self? Start there.
Always bring both light and dark options
This is the single most practical piece of advice I can give you, and it's the one most people don't follow until they've done a session and wished they had.
Always bring at least one light option and at least one dark option. Here's why: you don't know until you're in the studio, in front of the lights, what's going to look best against the background we're working with that day. A dark top that photographs beautifully against a light background might feel heavy against a darker one. A crisp white shirt that looks clean and sharp in one setup might wash out in another.
Having both gives us flexibility. It means we're not locked into one look, one mood, one version of you. And it means that even if the first outfit isn't producing what we hoped, we have somewhere to go.
For an Express session, two outfits is plenty. For a Signature session, I'd bring three to four — with both light and dark represented, and perhaps one option that's slightly more relaxed or expressive alongside your more polished professional choices.
Specific things that photograph well
Well-fitted blazers and structured jackets. These read as authoritative and polished without feeling stiff — especially if you wear them with something softer underneath. A blazer over a simple solid top is one of the most reliable headshot combinations I know.
V-necks and open necklines. They elongate the neck and create a clean line toward your face. Crew necks can sometimes shorten the neck visually, especially on camera.
Jewel tones. Deep blues, rich greens, burgundy, emerald — these colors photograph exceptionally well and tend to look strong and confident without being aggressive. They also work across a wide range of skin tones.
Soft neutrals with texture. Camel, warm grey, dusty rose, sage — these feel approachable and professional simultaneously. They work especially well for personal branding sessions where you want to feel relatable as well as credible.
Classic black. It never fails. A well-fitted black blazer or black top creates a clean, strong frame. It's not boring — it's intentional. Some of my most striking headshots have been in nothing but black.
Dresses. An often-overlooked option — and one that works beautifully. A dress with a strong neckline or interesting top detail photographs just as well as a separate top, and in tighter crops it reads simply as a beautiful blouse. If you have a dress you love but worried it wasn't "headshot appropriate," bring it. We can often frame it as a top and get stunning results.
Don't forget — pants matter too
This surprises a lot of clients: depending on your session and the shots we're going for, your full outfit may be visible — not just from the waist up. Full-length shots, seated portraits, and personal branding images that incorporate your environment will show everything you're wearing.
So the same principles apply below the waist. Well-fitted trousers, tailored pants, or a clean skirt in a solid color complete the look and give us flexibility in how we shoot.
And here's one of my favorite styling tricks: a great pair of jeans under a sharp, tailored jacket is one of the most versatile combinations you can bring to a session. The jacket reads as polished and professional from the waist up. The jeans bring it down to earth — approachable, real, human. It's the perfect semi-formal look for personal branding, LinkedIn, or anyone whose brand lives somewhere between boardroom and creative.
For personal branding sessions especially, think of your outfit as a complete look from head to toe — not just what will show in a close crop.
Specific things that tend not to photograph well
Busy patterns. As discussed — stripes, florals, geometric prints, anything with significant visual activity. They pull attention from your face and can create technical issues on camera.
Very trendy pieces. A headshot is a professional asset that you'll use for years. Something that feels very of-the-moment right now might date the photo quickly. Classic, well-fitted pieces tend to age better.
Logos and graphics. They're distracting, they can cause licensing issues if the photo is published, and they anchor the image to a specific brand that isn't yours.
Anything uncomfortable. If you spend the whole session pulling at your collar or adjusting a strap, it shows. Comfort isn't separate from how you photograph — it's directly connected to it.
Hair and makeup note
For most headshot sessions, I recommend coming with your hair and makeup done the way you'd wear it to an important meeting — polished but recognizably you. The goal is never to look like someone else. It's to look like the best version of yourself. If you're unsure, I'm always happy to advise in advance — just reach out before your session.
Think in outfits — not just looks
Here's something most people don't consider when preparing for a headshot session: you probably need more than one kind of photo. Not just more than one image — more than one feeling.
Think about where your photos will actually live. Your LinkedIn profile needs something polished and authoritative — the version of you that walks into a boardroom and commands immediate respect. Your website's About page might want something warmer and more approachable — the version that says "I'm someone you'd actually enjoy working with." Your Instagram or personal branding content might want something more relaxed and expressive — the version that shows personality.
These are different outfits with different energy. I think about it in three tiers:
Formal or power look. A sharp blazer, structured jacket, or tailored suit. This is your LinkedIn portrait, your speaker bio, your firm or company website photo. It communicates authority, expertise, and seriousness. Every professional needs at least one image in this register.
Semi-formal or smart casual look. A well-fitted top or blouse, perhaps layered with something softer than a full blazer. This is your "I'm approachable and talented" image — the one you use on your About page, in email signatures, or for networking contexts where you want to feel warm without losing professionalism.
Relaxed or expressive look. Something that reflects your personality more than your title. A color you love, a texture that feels like you, something slightly unexpected. This is your social media content, your personal branding touchpoints, the image that makes someone feel like they already know you before they've met you.
For a Signature session, I'd plan one outfit for each tier. For an Express session, choose the tier that matters most right now — and note what you'd want to come back for.
The real point of all of this
Outfit choice matters — but it matters a lot less than most people think it does going in. I've seen stunning headshots in simple black tees and I've seen mediocre ones in expensive designer pieces.
What actually makes the difference is direction, lighting, timing, and the relationship between the photographer and the person being photographed. The outfit is the frame. You're the painting.
So choose something that makes you feel confident, bring a few options, and then let go of the rest. That's what the session is for.
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