What to wear
What to wear for a corporate headshot photoshoot
Solid mid-tone colours. Avoid white against a light background and black against a dark one — at thumbnail size the shoulders vanish and the head…
What to wear
Solid mid-tone colours. Avoid white against a light background and black against a dark one — at thumbnail size the shoulders vanish and the head…
In short: Solid mid-tone colours. Avoid white against a light background and black against a dark one — at thumbnail size the shoulders vanish and the head floats. No logos, because they date the photograph the moment someone changes role. Send the brief to the team a week ahead, not the morning of.
Colour. Solid mid-tones. Avoid white against a light background and black against a dark one — at the display size a LinkedIn photograph actually appears, the shoulders vanish and the head floats.
Fabric. Structure at the shoulder does more for a headshot than anything else in the wardrobe. Fine stripes and small checks produce moiré on screens and should be avoided entirely.
Footwear. Never in frame, which is worth telling the team so nobody worries about it.
The thing that ruins frames. Company logos. They date the photograph the moment someone changes role, and a headshot set should outlast the org chart.
Teams that need thirty consistent headshots in one day, and individuals who need one that does not look like it was taken against a grey gradient in 2011.
Location changes the answer: A room with one large window and space to put the subject two metres from the background. Meeting rooms with glass walls are the hardest — reflections everywhere and no control. Book a corner, not a boardroom.
Planning pressure to account for: Photographing thirty people against whatever wall is free, so the set does not match. Allowing two minutes each, which guarantees stiff frames. And using overhead office lighting, which is the least flattering light in the building.
Bring each proposed outfit as a complete look, including its shoes and accessories. The final choice is made against the actual background and light rather than from a generic colour rule.
Solid mid-tone colours. Avoid white against a light background and black against a dark one — at thumbnail size the shoulders vanish and the head floats. No logos, because they date the photograph the moment someone changes role. Send the brief to the team a week ahead, not the morning of.
For a one-hour session, plan one complete look and one quick variation such as a jacket, shoe or jewellery change. Two hours can normally support two or three resolved looks. More changes reduce shooting time, so photograph the most important outfit first and treat extras as options rather than promises.
Choose colours that separate clearly from the location and suit the intended use of the pictures. Solid tones and controlled texture are reliable; very fine checks, tiny stripes and reflective logos can distract or produce moiré. Send phone photographs of the options with the brief if you want a decision before the shoot.
Bring the garments on proper hangers, matching underwear, the shoes for every full-length look, a lint roller and simple touch-up products. Pack one neutral backup layer. Steam everything beforehand, but keep a small steamer nearby for travel creases and final adjustments on set.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.