WHAT TO WEAR?

Overly decorative and busy patterns will take attention away from your face, camera shy people may love that concept, but headshots are about you not your clothing. Solid color tops are always a good choice.

Make sure your clothes are well fitted, try your clothing on within a few days before the session to make sure it fits correctly. Numerous times a client has shown up to a shoot with a baggy shirt that makes her look bigger. Also avoid tops that look slouchy or loose; you want your outfit to look well tailored and professional. I always recommend bringing multiple outfitss to your session.

I recommend long sleeves because short sleeve shirts often sit crumpled on your upper arm which can add volume. Also avoid low cut tops which can become a distraction from your face. 

Wear proper undergarments with your outfit so lines or straps are hidden. You also want to avoid transparent clothing; high resolution cameras and bright strobe lights show everything.

Color-wise vibrant colors stand out and darker tops are more timeless; either option is encouraged. A color tone I’d definitely avoid is one that would blend in with your hair color which can make you either look washed out or like a floating head. If you’re planning to wear a white top there's some things to consider. A white shirt works as a light bounce illuminating under your chin showcasing a double chin or neck lines. The other issue with white is that you want the subject’s face to be the brightest portion of the portrait, not the shirt. White shirts aren’t necessarily bad by any means, but I think how they can affect a headshot should be considered.

Be mindful of the jewelry you wear; it can draw away from the face and if it lays/hangs loose or off kilter can look sloppy. 

Lint and pet hair can be removed with Photoshop, but as the guy doing the Photoshop work I’d rather not spend hours cleaning up your clothing when a lint roller before the shoot will do the trick.