You get a tenth of a second to make an impression
Your headshot is booked for next week, and you're standing in front of the closet wondering if the blue shirt is too boring. It isn't. Boring is usually the right call.
Here's why. Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov found that people form an impression of a stranger's face in a tenth of a second, and longer looks don't change it much, as the Association for Psychological Science reported. Your clothes have one job in that window: frame your face without competing with it.
LinkedIn's own sales blog says members with a photo get 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. So here's what to wear, what to skip and what to pack.
Colors that photograph well, and ones that fight you
Solid, mid-to-deep tones are the safe bet: navy, charcoal, soft blue, burgundy, emerald, plum. They hold detail and suit most skin tones.
The real rule is contrast. Pick a shade that separates you from your skin tone and from the backdrop. A light-grey top on a light-grey background turns you into a floating head. Ask your photographer which background they're using before you choose.
Be careful with the extremes. Bright white can lose all its detail under studio lights, pure black can swallow the shape of your shoulders, and neon throws a colored cast up onto your chin.
Patterns, logos and textures to skip
Fine stripes, small checks, herringbone and tight houndstooth are the worst offenders. Nikon explains that subjects with a fine regular pattern, such as a woven textile, more commonly produce moiré, the new pattern that appears when a fabric's weave overlaps the camera sensor's own grid. LinkedIn's guidance also says to avoid busy textures, patterns and logos.
Texture is fine when it's matte and chunky, like a knit sweater or a wool blazer. Shiny satin creates bright hot spots, so skip it.
Necklines, fit and layers
Headshots crop at the chest, so the neckline is the outfit. Crew necks, shallow V-necks, collared shirts and boat necks all work. Very low necklines and thin straps read as bare in a tight crop.
Fit matters more than price. Check that shoulder seams sit on your shoulders, collars lie flat and nothing pulls across the chest. Steam everything the night before.
Layers add depth and shape for anyone. A blazer over a plain top, a cardigan over a collared shirt or an overshirt over a tee all work regardless of gender. LinkedIn recommends layering and keeping jewelry minimal.
Dress for the job you're photographed doing
Corporate, finance and law: a suit or blazer. Photofeeler's study of more than 60,000 ratings across 800 profile photos found formal dress raised perceived competence by 0.94 points and influence by 1.29, more than anything else it tested. Our guide to corporate headshots covers the team-day side.
Creative fields: the best version of what you wear on a good workday. One signature color or texture helps.
Healthcare: your clinical look. Michigan Medicine surveyed 4,062 patients and found formal attire with a white coat scored highest overall.
Real estate: approachable polish. A blazer over an open collar, like you'd wear to a showing.
Glasses, hair, makeup and grooming
If glasses are part of your everyday look, keep them on. Glare is the issue, not the frames. Photofeeler found eyes obscured by glare, hair or shadow cut competence scores by 0.29 and influence by 0.31, so ask your photographer to angle the lights or tilt your frames slightly down.
Get a haircut a week before. Keep makeup matte and a touch stronger than usual. Trim facial hair the day before, and bring a lint roller. Our guide to headshot poses covers expression once you're dressed.
Pack two or three options
Bring two or three outfits: one formal, one a step down and one in a different color. If you want the general version of this for other shoots, see how to pick outfits for a photoshoot.
Your pre-shoot checklist:
• Two or three steamed outfits on hangers
• A layer (blazer, cardigan or overshirt)
• Glasses, cleaned
• Lint roller, safety pins and blotting papers
• Hair tie, comb or brush
• Minimal jewelry
Book the shoot, then pick the shirt
A good professional headshot photographer will tell you which outfit is working after a few frames. With Snappr, you can book with as little as 2 hours' notice and get edited photos within 48 hours. Book a headshot session with Snappr and bring the blue shirt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors should I wear for professional headshots?
Solid, mid-to-deep colors like navy, charcoal, soft blue, burgundy and emerald photograph well. Choose a shade that contrasts with both your skin tone and the backdrop, and avoid bright white, pure black and neon.
What should you not wear for headshots?
Skip fine stripes, small checks, logos, shiny fabrics, very low necklines and busy jewelry. Fine patterns can create moiré on camera, and anything loud pulls attention away from your face.
Should I wear glasses in my headshot?
Yes, if you wear them every day, since the headshot should look like you. Ask the photographer to angle the lights or tilt your frames slightly to avoid glare on the lenses.
How many outfits should I bring to a headshot session?
Two or three: one formal, one a step down and one in a different color.
Sources
1. Association for Psychological Science, "How Many Seconds to a First Impression?": Willis and Todorov, impressions from a face in a tenth of a second
2. LinkedIn Sales Blog, "Picture Perfect: Make A Great First Impression with Your LinkedIn Profile Photo": 21x profile views, 9x connection requests, wardrobe, layering and jewelry guidance
3. Nikon USA, "Moiré & False Color": fine regular patterns such as woven textiles and moiré
4. Photofeeler, "New Research Study Breaks Down The Perfect Profile Photo": 60,000 ratings of 800 photos, formal dress and eye-obstruction effects
5. Michigan Medicine via ScienceDaily, "What doctors wear really does matter, study finds": 4,062-patient survey, formal attire with white coat rated highest
