WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY HEADSHOTS?
I’m sure you’ve come across the “rules” on what you should and should not wear for a headshot session. But why not break some rules? What you wear for your headshots should be something that makes you feel good – that confidence comes through in the images. You should feel free to express yourself. It’s your individuality and style that will get you noticed and make an impression.
BLACK AND WHITE
Yes, they can both work, you just need to combine them with appropriate background and lighting setups. The look can be very clean and simple.
PATTERNS AND COLOURS
I love bold colours and patterns and really don’t have a problem with them – if it suits your personality and style then go for it!
WHY WOULD YOU WEAR A DRESS FOR A HEADSHOT?
OK, so a traditional headshot only shows your head and shoulders, so why would you need to think about what your lower half looks like? For me, I always like to shoot some wider portraits which show more of your body. I think its good to have variety from a session and different compositions allow you to pose differently – these pictures can be used on websites and social media – its not just about your main Spotlight profile image.
Here’s Ellen in a bright red dress which she brought along specifically to do some mid-length portraits, but as you can see, it works just as well for a headshot – if you’ve got a dress with a neckline that you really like then bring it along and use it for a headshot!
And here a few more wider portraits. If you only bring along one pair of blue jeans then our options are obviously limited for these kind of pictures. Think about your footwear as well so we can do full-lengths!
DIFFERENT NECKLINES
If the pictures only show your head and shoulders then obviously the neckline of whatever you’re wearing is the most visible thing – but as mentioned above that doesn’t only mean T-shirts!
Here’s Eirlys in two very different tops, creating different moods.
LAYERS
Don’t forget the possibility of layering – think about T-shirts, shirts, jumpers, cardigans, jackets, coats, and how you can wear them in different combinations to give vastly different looks.
ACCESSORIES
Glasses, earrings, hats, scarves, necklaces – there’s a multitude of ways to change the look of a basic outfit with a few carefully chosen accessories. As long as it fits with the mood you’re going for then its worth trying!
Here’s Kate – the two images have very different vibes even though they have the same lighting and backdrop. Just a pair of glasses and a top button done up, and obviously that amazing smile!
FINAL THOUGHTS
OK, so there are a few recommendations for specific types of headshots and there are reasons for those recommendations.
If you’re a model your headshots need to be a blank slate. You need to keep them clean and natural so that clients can imagine how you would look for their project. But you can still do something more creative as well to show what you can do in front of a camera.
If you’re an actor, it’s a similar scenario, except you also need to give a bit of yourself and what you can bring to the table in terms of acting ability, individuality, and personality. By all means get a simple tight headshot as your main Spotlight profile picture, but then use your other headshots as a way to express what makes you different.
For corporate and business headshots, maybe your options are a bit more limited, but it really depends on what your business is. If you work in law or finance or politics then you probably want to keep it very professional and serious. If you work in a more creative role you can probably express your own style a bit more.
It all comes down to this – what is it you’re trying to say with your headshots? Choose your clothes accordingly…
