Headshot guide · Melbourne

What to wear for a professional headshot.

The right outfit is the one nobody notices. It should add to the photograph, never compete with it, because the photograph is your expression, not your clothes. Here is the simple version, from forty years of putting people in front of a lens.

Not sure? Bring two options. We choose together on the day.
Professional headshot of a businesswoman in a simple, well-fitted blazer
A simple, well-fitted blazer reads instantly professional
40
Years behind the lens
6,300
Faces photographed
4.7
Average client rating
The short version

If you read nothing else.

Wear a solid colour that is not pure white or pure black: navy, charcoal, burgundy, plum, emerald and muted blues all photograph beautifully, and soft off-whites and pastels work well too. Keep patterns simple, choose a clean fit with longer sleeves, and skip anything that shimmers or jangles. Comfortable is key, and it should flatter your figure and look like you at your best.

Colour

The colours that photograph best. And the ones to skip.

Mid-tone solids, soft off-whites and pastels all work. The ones to avoid are pure white, which blows out, and pure black, which flattens, along with anything bright or busy that pulls the eye away from your expression.

Wear these
Navy
Charcoal
Burgundy
Plum
Emerald
Muted blue
Off white
Soft pastels
Pure white
Pure black
Neon
Busy stripe
Pattern, fit and comfort

Simple, clean and comfortable wins.

Layers and detail

The finishing touches.

A quick word for each

For women, for men.

The one rule

Your attire adds to the proposition. Never distracts from it.

Simple, clean, unassuming, crisp, professional. Your expression is the photograph, so your clothes should quietly support it and look like you on your best working day. Bring two options, and we guide everyone on the day, so nobody gets it wrong. There is more in the full guide to professional headshots in Melbourne.

Good questions

What people ask before a shoot.

What colour should I wear for a professional headshot?

Solid, mid-tone colours photograph best: navy, charcoal, burgundy, plum, emerald and muted blues, plus soft off-whites and pastels. They support your face instead of competing with it. Avoid pure white, which blows out under studio light, and pure black, which flattens and loses the shape of your shoulders.

What should I not wear for a headshot?

Skip stripes, spots and anything too busy, along with fine pinstripes and tight checks that shimmer on camera. Avoid pure white and pure black and bright neons, and large or shiny jewellery that pulls the eye off your face. Nothing baggy or bulging.

What should a woman wear for a professional headshot?

Mid-tone solid colours, a blazer or structured top, and simple jewellery. Longer or three-quarter sleeves read more professional than sleeveless. Choose something that flatters your figure and feels comfortable, so it looks like you at your best.

Should I wear a blazer or jacket?

A blazer or structured layer adds shape and instant polish, and it suits most corporate and executive headshots. It is not essential for creative or tech roles, where smart-casual is genuinely fine. Wear what matches your real working wardrobe.

Can I wear glasses or patterns?

Glasses are fine, we manage the glare on the day. Patterns are riskier: fine stripes, pinstripes and tight checks shimmer on camera, and busy prints distract. A solid colour or a very subtle texture is the safer choice.

What should I wear for a LinkedIn photo?

The same rules apply: a solid, mid-tone colour, a clean professional fit and a simple background. A blazer or smart top works well. Keep it simple and comfortable, and make sure it looks like the real you, since that is who people meet. See professional headshots in Melbourne.

Dressed and ready?

Two ways to start.

Just you

Book your own headshot

Choose a time online and select your tier, from $349. We send you the wardrobe guidance before the day.

Choose a time
Your whole team

Request a team quote

Tell us your headcount and we will come back with a tailored day and a fixed price, usually the same business day.

Request a quote
Rather just talk to a person?

Call Simon. You will get the photographer himself, happy to talk it through.

Prefer to email? Send a note here.