What to Wear to Your Corporate Headshot Session in Seattle

Your outfit is one of the most important decisions you'll make before your headshot session. The right clothing can make you look polished, confident, and professional — the wrong choice can distract from your face and undermine the whole image.

Here's a straightforward guide to help you walk into your session feeling prepared.

Solid colors almost always photograph better than patterns. They keep the focus on your face rather than your clothing.

Colors that work well:

• Navy blue — universally flattering and reads as confident
• Charcoal grey — clean and professional
• Deep burgundy or forest green — adds personality without being distracting
• White or light grey — works well if you have darker skin tones or hair

Colors to avoid:

• Neon or very bright colors — they can cast color onto your face
• All-white if you have a very fair complexion — can wash you out
• Patterns, stripes, or busy prints — they compress oddly on camera and draw the eye away from your face

Think about how you want to be perceived by the people who will see your headshot. If you're in finance, law, or corporate management, a blazer or suit jacket almost always works. If you're in a creative field, you have more flexibility — but "professional casual" still photographs better than overly casual.

A blazer is one of the safest choices you can make. It adds structure, frames your shoulders, and instantly elevates any outfit.

A well-fitted outfit from a mid-range store will always look better on camera than an expensive outfit that doesn't fit properly. Avoid anything too baggy or too tight. Clothes that fit well communicate that you pay attention to detail — which is exactly the impression you want to make.

I always recommend bringing two or three outfit options to your session. This gives us flexibility to try different looks and find what photographs best on you specifically. Lighting, your skin tone, and the background we use can all affect how a color reads on camera.

• Hair: Style it the way you would for an important meeting. Avoid trying a brand-new style the day of your session.
• Makeup: Natural and polished works best. Heavy contouring or dramatic looks can appear overdone in a professional headshot.
• Jewelry: Keep it minimal. Simple earrings or a watch are fine. Avoid anything that jangles or catches the light in a distracting way.
• Glasses: If you wear glasses daily, bring them. We can shoot with and without and see what you prefer.

• Steam or iron your outfit — wrinkles show up clearly on camera
• Get a good night's sleep — it shows in your eyes
• Avoid salty foods or alcohol the night before — both can cause puffiness

If you're in the Seattle area and need a professional corporate headshot, I'd love to work with you. Sessions are available in Mountlake Terrace, WA and are typically completed in under an hour.

Book your headshot session or view headshot packages and pricing.