What to Wear for Professional Headshots in Houston

The most common question I get before a headshot session is "what should I wear?" It's a reasonable question — what you wear matters more than most people expect, and getting it right makes the whole session easier and the results significantly better.

Here's a practical, honest guide to headshot wardrobe based on years of photographing executives, LinkedIn profiles, personal brands and corporate teams across the Houston area and Texas Gulf Coast.

The most important thing: wear what you actually wear to work

Before we get into specifics, the most important principle is this: your headshot should look like you on a good day at work — not a version of you dressed for an occasion you never actually attend.

If you work in a creative field and wear jeans and a blazer every day, wear that. If you're an attorney in a suit, wear the suit. If you're a realtor who always works in smart casual, bring that. The goal is a photograph that represents you to the people who will actually be meeting you — not a theatrical version of corporate life.

With that said, here are the specifics.

Colours that work well for headshots

Navy blue is probably the single best colour for a professional headshot. It reads as authoritative and trustworthy, works across almost all skin tones and hair colours, and photographs beautifully in both natural light and studio settings.

Medium blues and teal also work very well — approachable, professional and flattering against a wide range of skin tones.

Jewel tones — deep greens, burgundy, plum, rich terracotta — work beautifully for personal branding and LinkedIn headshots where you want to stand out slightly while still looking polished.

Neutrals (grey, camel, cream, soft white) are safe and versatile. They don't compete with your face and work well in almost any setting.

Classic black is professional and universally flattering for most people. The only risk is that it can sometimes flatten the image slightly — a textured fabric or an interesting neckline helps counteract this.

Colours to avoid

Neon or very bright colours (hot pink, electric orange, vivid yellow) draw attention away from your face, which is the whole point of a headshot.

White can be tricky. It reflects light onto your face in a way that isn't always flattering, and in a headshot where the background is also light, you can end up looking washed out. Off-white, cream or ivory are usually better options.

Colours that closely match your skin tone can create an unintentional "naked" look in photographs. This is a common mistake — a colour that looks great in a mirror can look odd in a photograph if it's very close to your complexion.

Patterns and prints

As a general rule, avoid busy patterns for headshots. Small, fine patterns — micro-checks, subtle pinstripes, delicate textures — photograph beautifully and add visual interest without dominating the frame.

Large, bold patterns can become visually distracting, especially if you're planning to use the headshot as a thumbnail or small profile image where the pattern may appear chaotic at reduced size.

Solid colours are the safest choice. If you want texture, go for fabric texture — a woven blazer, a cashmere-look sweater, a linen shirt — rather than a printed pattern.

Necklines and collars

A headshot is typically a head-and-shoulders crop, which means your neckline is in frame. This is more important than most people realize.

For men: A suit jacket with a well-fitted dress shirt — with or without a tie — is the classic professional choice. An open collar on a well-fitted shirt also works well and reads as approachable rather than stuffy. The key is fit — a collar that's too loose or a jacket that doesn't sit properly will be visible and distracting.

For women: A V-neck, scoop neck or wider neckline is generally more flattering in headshots than a high crewneck, which can visually shorten the neck. Structured necklines — blazers, button-collared shirts, tailored jackets — read as professional and frame the face well.

Avoid very low necklines for professional headshots — they shift the focus away from your face and may not be appropriate for all the professional contexts where you'll be using the image.

Jewellery and accessories

Keep jewellery simple and classic. A watch that you actually wear, simple earrings, a necklace that sits near the collarbone — these all work well. Large statement jewellery can compete with your face, especially if it's the only thing visible below your neckline.

For glasses: wear them if you wear them in real life. Authenticity matters more than the technical challenge. If glare is an issue, we can work around it with positioning.

How many outfits to bring

For a standard Essential Headshot session (30 minutes, 2 looks), bring exactly 2 complete outfits — including jewellery and any accessories. One might be slightly more formal, one slightly more casual or in a different colour palette. This gives you options for different professional contexts when you're choosing your final images.

For a Personal Branding Session (60 minutes, 3 looks), bring 3 outfits. Think about the different contexts where your headshot might be used — corporate website, LinkedIn, Instagram, speaking bio, email signature — and bring something appropriate for each.

What to do before the session

Get your clothes pressed or steamed ahead of time — wrinkles are amplified in photographs and take time to address in retouching. Check that buttons are properly aligned, collars are sitting flat and nothing is pulling or puckering across the shoulders.

If you're getting your hair or makeup done, schedule it for the morning of the session rather than the night before. Fresh is always better.

Bring everything to the session in a garment bag and change when you arrive. This keeps things fresh and avoids the inevitable crease you get from sitting in a car for 20 minutes.

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If you have questions about what to wear for your specific session, I'm happy to look at photos you send me beforehand and give feedback. That's part of the preparation process for every headshot client I work with.

If you're ready to book your headshot session in the Houston area — serving League City, Clear Lake, Seabrook, Kemah, Galveston and the greater Houston metro — you can check availability and book directly, or reach out with any questions.