Welcome to Part 2 of our series on Headshots. In this second part we are going to explore What to Wear for Your Headshots. This factor can really make a difference in the overall appearance of your headshots and bring attention to you.. Having the right attire depends on a few factors: what you do, what the goal of the headshot is, where the headshot is going to be placed.
What You Do/Want to Do
The first factor you should consider when choosing your attire is the job role and industry you work in. Visit LinkedIn and search for people with the same job title as you. You are more than likely to find a bunch of folks with professionally taken headshots. These are a great reference point for what to wear for your headshots. There is more than likely a good balance to be found in your industry between too dressed up or too casual.
Now I know what you are thinking: Anthony didn’t you say in Part 1, that standing out is good? Of course, but we want you to stand out for the right reasons. Use the others in your industry as a starting point. If everyone is wearing a suit of some sort, there is a reason. You should strongly consider wearing one, too. Where you can make an adjustment and stand out, would be with the colors you choose or accessories you wear! Your headshots should show your personality! It is important to speak to your photographer beforehand regarding your color choices, accessories, etc so they can be prepared with backgrounds and settings that will compliment those choices. You and your photographer can decide on using contrasting colors to make the photo POP!, or you may want to go with something a little more subdued or monochromatic. Color theory is an incredibly interesting topic which you can read more about HERE.
Take a look at the below photos. Each one uses color theory to make the image stand out in a different way, whether that be using similar colors or contrasting colors. It is up to you to decide which you like the feel of better.
What is the Goal?
The second factor of the headshot depends on the goal for the photo. Is this designed to help you get a new job? Is it for promo or advertising materials for a job/company you are already involved with? Is it for your dating profile? All of these options are just as important as the first factor and may even render that factor inconsequential if it is for personal use rather than for business. For the purposes of this article, we are going to ignore the dating profile option.
If the goal is to get a new job or just update the profile of your current position, you should dress the way you normally do and what is acceptable for the industry. Remember, you should feel comfortable with the photo as a representation of you. What would you wear if you were going to a meeting with a client or business associate? If you never wear a suit, and nobody in your industry wears a suit, it might come off as a little overdressed. Same goes if you are using these for promo materials for your company.
Let’s say you run a HVAC company and want to get shots of your team for a brochure or the website, you want to show what your team is going to look like. You would probably want your field staff to wear their uniform shirt for their headshots. You aren’t going to show them in suits or tuxedos. This isn’t Step Brothers. Hellloooooo Miss Lady.
Where is the Photo Being Placed?
Is this for your Linked In profile, email signature, or resume/cover letter? This all matters. Your Linked In or other social profiles are generally places that you can show off even a bit more personality. If you like bright colors, this would be a great place to show them.
If for your email signature or company website, there is likely a standard that your organization has that should be followed accordingly.
For a resume or cover letter, can be the “gray” area. You will obviously want to make sure to have a high quality photo that displays well, but you may not want to go too bold in this area as it can draw some attention away from the actual content. The exception here would be if you are working towards an industry that expects that. Perhaps one of the creative fields.
The biggest takeaway from this part of our series should be to be yourself while remaining true to your goal and role. You should have fun and you should like the way you are dressed. Why would you even bother with the photos otherwise? They won’t add to your confidence if you don’t feel like they represent you. So give yourself the star treatment if you want. Get your done, get your makeup done. Just remember to not go too wild with your additions when it comes to accessories or patterns, etc. You don’t want to distract from the important part of this shoot….your actual head!
Stay tuned for the next part of our series where we discuss everyone’s most dreaded portion of headshots: Posing!
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