New Year, New You: 3 Essentials to Nailing the Perfect Headshot Outfit

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Are you feeling overwhelmed about what to wear for your headshots? No worries, we’re here to assist you with every step of the way. We know that getting ready for your shoot can be nerve-wrecking, but we will do everything we can to make sure this day goes as smooth as possible for you. Here are 3 essentials to nailing the perfect headshot outfit:

Define your Style

To start off you want to think about your style and the image that will represent your persona. Be careful to choose colors that best suit you skin tone. For instance, if you have fair skin, avoid super light colors, if you have medium, or dark skin tones stay away from colors that resemble your skin tone too closely because this too can cause some clashing in camera.

Keep it Simple

You know what they say sometimes less is more. With this in mind, keep it simple. Patterns and textured items tend to be distracting and take away from the main attraction, which is you. Bold is okay, but you don’t want your clothing to distract from your face. Jewel tones do compliment all skin tones. Wearing V-necks are a great way to show off your décolleté. If you want to keep your neckline slim and simple, try pairing a collarless shirt underneath a jacket. Wearing just an ironed shirt frames the face very well. By pairing statement pieces like earrings and necklaces this will add a nice touch to your headshot, however you don’t want to wear jewelry that’s too flashy.

Look the Part

It is very important to look the part, this can make or break your shoot. Men should take care of any grooming needs such as hair cut and shaving. If your skin gets irritated easily it would be best to find a professional barber to assist or shave the night before using a fresh sharp razor. Ladies make sure your hair and makeup represent the best version of yourself you would like to display to new clients and contacts. Your headshot session is not the time to play with fire by trying new looks. Color matching your foundation to match your neck is important. Avoid make up that has SPF because this can reflect with the studio lights. We want your natural beauty to radiate through your headshot and not be all about your makeup. If you need assistance with hair and makeup, we have trusted professionals available to assist with your look.

Bonus

The Dont’s of Headshots

-Avoid baggy or bulky attire even, if it’s in style

-Stay away from patterns or stripes that are too busy

-Leave the Logos out (unless it represents your business)

-Wrinkled, stained, or torn clothing

-Light-reflecting clothing and accessories including but not limited to metallics, sequins, sparkles and glitter. If you do wear them, remember to keep them to a minimum.

The Do’s of Headshots

-Make sure to get plenty of rest the night before your shoot

-Arrive early so you wont look rushed in your photos

-Iron your clothes the night before so that they are ready to go for your shoot

-Always remember: Relax and have fun

-Eating beforehand is good to keep your energy up

-Bring water and snacks to stay well-nourished if needed

-Bring extra attire to have a few different options

Now that you are Engaged: How to coordinate outfits to get the best look in your photos

How to Coordinate Outfits for Your Engagement Session

Not sure what to wear to your engagement session? We’re here to help! You should bring two to three outfits to your session so we can get a variety of different looks for you. We suggest the following:

• Bring a ‘Dressy’ Outfit

It’s not every day you get to get all dressed up with your sweetheart and take photos together. Use this session as an excuse to really go all out and get fancied up! I’m not saying you have to wear a gown and tux (unless you want to), but maybe a dress or skirt for you, and a suit or nice slacks and a button up shirt for your fiancé. This outfit will be great for save the date cards, or the announcement in your local newspaper.

• Go Casual

We also suggest you bring a more casual outfit. This outfit is ideal for your more fun, relaxed photos. Tailored jeans and a nice shirt are always a great choice, especially if we are going to be walking around in nature a lot. Make sure to bring shoes specifically for this outfit, too.

• Coordination is Key

The most important thing to remember is to coordinate. You don’t want to be matchy-matchy, but you want to coordinate. Choose similar colors and styles that photograph well together. For example, you don’t want to wear jeans if your fiancé is wearing a suit and tie in the same photo. Also remember to dress for the location. For example, if you are doing a natural, rustic or vintage session, you’ll want to stay away from bright colors and opt for neutrals instead. 

• Things to Avoid

- Logos, unless we’re doing a sports session and you’re wearing jerseys, etc.

- Patterns – Try to stick with solid colors or minimal patterns. Plaid shirts are fine as long as your fiancé isn’t wearing stripes or polka dots. It’s a good rule of thumb to only have one partner wearing a pattern at a time. 

- Fluorescent colors – These don’t photograph well and also can cast bright color tones on your skin.

If you have any further questions or want to discuss your outfits, you can contact us at smartshot757@gmail.com