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The Absolute World's Best Collection of Tips on
What to Wear for your Business Headshot.
These tips below are constructive but generic and may not apply to you or what you do. Please feel free to ignore the ones that are not "you." We want you to have an image that is the image you want to project, your "brand" if you will.
Read over the tips and suggestions, use what works, and ignore what doesn’t. We are happy to give you an opinion but in the end your opinion on how you want to be presented matters most.
Below you will find tips specific to Women, Men and Looking Thinner
Ottawa Photographer - Information, Tips and Advice on What To Wear
For Your Business Portrait and Corporate Headshots
9 Tips To Instantly Look Better In Your Business Photos
Everyone wants their website headshot to look professional, successful and of course amazing. We can help with slimming poses, and our professional retouchers can help with blemishes, lines, wrinkles, yellow teeth or double chins etc.
Here are a few suggestions that you can do to really improve your final professional images.
1: When in doubt about what to wear, a slightly conservative look is best
2: Keep jewelry simple
3: Wearing Green sends a "Don't Trust Me" message
4: Wearing Purple sends a "Cheap Image" message (Eggplant is OK)
5: Wearing Brown sends an "Unsophisticated" message
6: Wearing Black or Navy sends a "Successful and Trust Worthy" message
7: Wear lipstick or lip balm to avoid dry chapped lips
8: To appear slimmer do: wear solid dark colours that fit properly
9: To look slimmer avoid: short sleeves, bold patterns, plaids, shiny fabrics, heavy fabrics and large areas of white or pastels.
If it seems appropriate consider props, you are invited to bring in a prop or two if you are looking for a more artsy eye-catching photo. Maybe your product, an award or a symbol. We don’t charge any extra if you want to include a prop on a few extra shots. If the idea works fine, if not we have lost nothing.
Last but not least: remember to get a good night's sleep for that fresh look.
Please don’t worry: all Spencer Studio portraits include retouching for blemishes, lines, wrinkles, bags under the eyes, whitening teeth etc.
Studies show that your response rate increases by 30% if your ad/article/business card/sales letter has your photo on it. Think about the image you want to project in your portrait; conservative, friendly, artsy, approachable. I would be happy to discuss ideas with you.
A "Dress Rehearsal" is a Good Idea
Since COVID and working from home, many people are putting on their business attire for the first time in two years. Many people have lost weight or gained weight and don't realize it until they get dressed for their studio headshot. There is nothing we can do if your clothes fit too tight or too loose. Please check before you get here.
Tips For Men
What To Wear For Your Business Portrait For Men
Helpful Information, Tips and Advice
Advice on Clothes, Colours, & Shoes: When it comes to clothes, keep in mind that you want to appear professional but friendly. When in doubt about what to wear, a slightly conservative look is best. A jacket in blue, navy, grey, burgundy, and black are always safe choices. Try and avoid bold stripes, bold patterns, or anything that is too distracting, a subtle pattern is fine, solid colours are usually best. Keep in mind that dark colours are "slimming.” Business portraits are typically head and shoulders so don't worry about your shoes.
***Consider bringing something bright to add a splash of colour, like a tie, glasses or sweater etc.***
Start with clean, pressed clothes. We don't want to worry about wrinkles or mustard stains.
Bring lip balm or lipstick and a comb or brush.
Tie/Jacket/Shirt Tips: For a “trust me” conservative look, suit or blazer with a white shirt and tie. The classic “Solid, Pattern, Solid” is usually the best choice. Solid colour jacket, Pattern tie, Solid colour shirt.
Carefully consider the pros and cons of any lapel pins.
Under the lights lips tend to dry, bring some lip balm.
Shaving/Grooming/Facial Hair Tips: It's wise to get a haircut a few days before your photo shoot, not the day of.
Make sure they trim nose hair, ear hair and eyebrows. Try to shave an hour or so before your portrait, five o'clock shadows tend to photograph darker than they appear. Note that fixing hair/facial hair is not included in our included basic facial retouching service.
Moisturizer: Yes really. The ladies are way a head of us on this. I have noticed many men over 45 have red uneven skin, and small areas of white flaky skin usually around the nose, the forehead and ears. It can be fixed in Photoshop but not always 100%.
Just use any name brand moisturizer for men (as in NIVEA MEN Protect & Care Face Lotion) a few days before your photo session. It will also even out your completion and reduce age spots slightly after continued use.
These tips and other information will be emailed to you a couple of days before your booked appointment
Dressing To Look Slimmer...
Wear solid dark colours that fit properly. One colour head to toe. Vertical lines, and high heels make you appear taller and slimmer.
AVOID: Lighter colours, white, most pastels, bold patterns, plaids, shiny fabrics, heavy fabrics,
short sleeves, horizontal dividing lines like belts or a different colour. Also avoid clothes that are too tight or too loose.
IMPORTANT Tip: Avoid The Dreaded Moiré Pattern
Please avoid jackets or shirts with a very fine weave. The digital sensor in digital cameras sometimes adds unwanted colours and patterns it's called a Moiré Pattern.
Avoid Oxford Cloth shirts for this reason.
Please Avoid The "Dewy Look" for Headshots
I know that this "Dewy look" is a popular trend but we have been asking clients to avoid it when they come in for professional business headshots. Retouching small areas is simple but removing or toning down large areas of shine seldom looks right after.
Cool Quick Tip To Take Out Wrinkles
To quickly un-wrinkle (or is it de-wrinkle?) a shirt or pair of pants, throw them in the dryer with a Bounce sheet or a damp towel for about 5-10 minutes.
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