Wardrobe Recommendations for
Professional Headshots and Portraits
Why do some people’s headshots just amazingly stand out? They knew what to wear plus how to prepare for their headshot. Stay tuned if you want to learn the 4 secrets to headshot success….And remember, we’re here to help every step of the way!
Plan Your Looks
Dress for the job you want! Whether you want to be the next one chosen to be partner at your law firm or the world’s next best artist, you’ll need to dress the part. That takes planning. So raid your closet before your shoot. If you don’t have the clothes to capture your professional or artistic interests, then don’t hesitate to hit the stores or shop online. After all, your headshot is your access pass to work.
Focus On Shirts
When it comes to headshots, your pants and shoes don’t make the cut. A no-brainer it seems, but it’s not always remembered. Because the top half matters the most, don’t forget to bring 3-5 tops. You’ll want to create your look around shirts, shirts, and more shirts. Bring in varying necklines, styles, and colors of tops. Even better if they’re easy to layer. Try to stay away from screaming bright tones or shirts without any texture. Ladies, bring varied styles of nude bras that work with different blouses.
Wash Your Clothes
We all know jeans don’t need a washing every time they’re worn, but shirts are a different ballgame. Be sure to properly wash all the tops you’ve selected. Meaning, take the time to wash lights with lights and darks with darks to prevent an unwanted tie-dye job. More formal business attire should be dry cleaned and any tops leaving the dryer wrinkled should be ironed.
Pick Your Accessories
Final touch time. Our #1 main tip is to remember LESS IS ALWAYS MORE. While accessories can add that final “pop”, YOU are still the main attraction.
Women’s Clothing
Bring a minimum of TWO additional choices of looks.
Formal business attire can be matching or separates (jacket/blazer and skirt/trouser). Best colors for matching attire are navy, grey, green, black, or brown with an understated pattern in jacket. For separates, stick with purple/eggplant, teal, coral, green, black, navy, or brown. Wear a solid, light neutral colored shirt, blouse, or shell under jacket. White, cream, or beige work best. Be sure blouse or shell is pressed.
Women’s Accessories
Jewelry should be an understated gold or silver necklace or pearls, small to medium earrings, or a brooch or pin. If a silk or cotton scarf is preferred, bring 2 or 3 choices with you. A solid colored shoe or boot with a heel is a good choice for footwear.
Men’s Clothing
Bring TWO additional choices of accessories.
Wear a solid or small print business suit (no large windowpane). Colors include navy, grey, black, or brown (2 choices). Shirt colors include off-white, cream, medium blue, and light yellow (2-3 choices). Ties with distinctive color and minimal pattern or stripe are best (2-4 choices). A pocket square is optional. A neutral colored shoe is appropriate, but may not show.
Hair Tips
Remember this photo session is all about you. We want you to feel comfortable in the way you look. On this note, it isn’t good to try a new hairstyle the day of the session to risk you feeling uncomfortable. Dry and style your hair in the usual manner, or we can arrange to have a professional hair stylist whom we have worked with before to meet us either at the studio or on location for a set fee.
Men, please schedule any haircut needed 7-10 days before your session to avoid that blunt, freshly cut look.
Makeup Tips
We want you to feel comfortable during your session. Ideally, your makeup should reflect a more polished version of your everyday self. Arrive with basic foundation, concealer, and two coats of mascara on upper and lower lashes. If applying eye shadow, do so lightly and carefully. The center point of interest in a fine portrait is the eyes. Bring your favorite lip color. Also bring your makeup with you in case a minor modification is needed. HD make-up (finishing powder) will be applied to both guys and gals just before session for professional headshots.
Prefer to have a professional do your makeup? We can arrange for a makeup artist whom we’ve worked with before to meet us either at the Studio or on location for $75.
Finally – creating a killer headshot is more than knowing what to wear. It’s also about who’s behind the camera. So why not choose Virginia Beach’s premier photographer? At Marcus Holman Photography we take you on an exclusive experience from consult to presentation of artwork where our focus is making YOU as unique as YOU are.