One of the most common questions we get from company contacts is what employees should wear for their headshots. The answer depends on your industry, company culture, and brand, but there are a few principles that almost always lead to stronger team photos.
The goal is not to make everyone dress exactly the same. The goal is to create images that feel consistent, professional, and aligned with your company’s brand.
Consistency in wardrobe creates a cohesive, professional look while still allowing individuals to look like themselves.
The Most Important Thing
Consistency is more important than the specific clothing.
Whether your team wears suits, company polos, business casual attire, or something more creative, the final images will be stronger when everyone follows the same general expectations for style, color palette, and level of formality.
When planning company headshots, make sure there is a conversation about wardrobe before the session. It matters far less what people wear than whether everyone is on the same page.
Clothing Should Reflect Your Culture and Brand
The way your team dresses sends a message about who you are, what you do, and what it’s like to work with your company. Great wardrobe choices help reinforce your culture, support your brand, and create the right first impression.
The best wardrobe choices feel authentic to the company and the people in it.
Traditional & Professional
Law firms, financial services companies, accounting firms, and executive teams often choose formal attire, jackets, ties, and more conservative colors.
Modern & Approachable
Healthcare organizations, technology companies, consultants, and professional service firms often lean toward polished business casual attire.
Creative & Expressive
Marketing agencies, design firms, and creative businesses may embrace more color, texture, and individual expression while still maintaining consistency.
Branded Teams
Company polos, embroidered shirts, uniforms, and branded apparel can be a great choice. Just make sure everyone has the most recent version with current logos, colors, and branding.
Make It Feel Like Your Team
The goal is not to make everyone dress exactly the same. The goal is to create images that feel cohesive, professional, and aligned with your business.
If your company brand is energetic and fun, your wardrobe can reflect that. If your business is more traditional and conservative, the clothing should support that message as well.
Practical Wardrobe Tips for Company Headshots
Once the overall direction is clear, these practical tips can help employees make better choices before headshot day.
Clean and Pressed Clothing
Make sure clothing is clean and pressed before the session. Wrinkles and stains are much easier to prevent than they are to fix later.
Avoid Distracting Patterns
Solid colors generally photograph better than busy patterns. If patterns are used, keep them subtle and not overly distracting.
Keep Accessories Simple
Accessories should complement the image rather than become the focus. Simple, professional choices tend to photograph best.
Comfort Matters
People tend to photograph better when they feel comfortable and confident in what they are wearing. Clothing that feels awkward often shows up in posture and expression.
Communicate Expectations Early
Clearly communicate the dress code and any specific wardrobe guidelines well in advance of the session so there are no surprises on headshot day.
Create a Visual Guide
A Pinterest board, mood board, or collection of example photos can make it much easier for employees to understand what you’re looking for and arrive prepared.
Helping Employees Make Good Choices
Give People Examples
Most employees want to show up prepared. They simply need a clear understanding of what prepared looks like.
Providing examples of colors, outfit choices, levels of formality, and company expectations can reduce confusion and help people feel more confident before the session.
If you’re still working through scheduling, location selection, image delivery, or other logistics, be sure to read our guide to planning company headshots.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Wear for Company Headshots
These are some of the practical wardrobe questions that come up when preparing a team for company headshots.
Are there any colors employees should avoid for company headshots?
Great question! There are definitely a few colors that deserve extra consideration.
Neon colors tend to draw attention away from the face and can be distracting in headshots. Bright white and solid black can also be challenging because they often photograph differently than people expect and may require additional planning depending on the lighting and background.
In general, solid colors tend to photograph well and create a cleaner, more professional appearance. If your company has specific brand colors, those can be a great choice too.
At the end of the day, headshots are about the people in the photos. The clothing should support the image, not compete with it.
Should employees bring more than one outfit?
If possible, yes.
It’s never a bad idea to bring a backup shirt, jacket, tie, or top if you’re unsure what will work best. Having options gives you and your photographer more flexibility and can help solve wardrobe issues that might not be obvious until you’re standing in front of the camera.
For teams planning multiple looks, the most common approach is one formal look and one more casual look. If that’s something you’re considering, be sure to discuss it with your photographer ahead of time so the schedule can be planned accordingly.
Do employees need to worry about shoes and pants if the photos are mostly from the waist up?
Yes.
While many headshots are cropped from the waist up, we always recommend dressing from head to toe. Doing so gives your photographer more flexibility and creates additional opportunities during the session.
Depending on the goals of the shoot, we may create seated portraits, three-quarter length images, environmental portraits, or even full-length photographs.
If someone arrives in shorts and flip-flops, those options disappear pretty quickly.
Should we provide professional hair and makeup for team headshots?
Professional hair and makeup is never required, but it can make a noticeable difference.
For larger groups, we typically recommend touch-up services rather than full hair and makeup appointments for every employee. Reducing shine, fixing stray hairs, and making small wardrobe adjustments can help people look polished while keeping the schedule moving efficiently.
We’re always happy to arrange professional hair and makeup services if desired.
What happens if someone shows up in the wrong outfit?
It happens more often than you might think.
We provide planning resources and wardrobe guidance to help everyone arrive prepared, but occasionally someone misunderstands the dress code or simply forgets.
In many cases, we can work around the issue on the day of the shoot. If not, reshoots are always available in our Winter Park studio. One wardrobe mistake doesn’t have to derail the entire project.
Ready To Start Planning Your Team Headshots?
Choosing what to wear is only one part of a successful team headshot project. Location selection, scheduling, image delivery, retouching, and employee communication all play a role in creating a smooth experience and a consistent final result.