A business headshot has a job to do before anyone reads your bio, visits your website, or calls your office. It should make you look credible, approachable, and ready for the work you do. The good news: when you prepare business headshots thoughtfully, you do not need to become a professional model overnight. You just need a little planning and a photographer who knows how to guide you.
Whether your photo is headed to LinkedIn, a company website, a speaker profile, or a real estate sign, the goal is the same: people should see a capable professional who looks like themselves on a very good day. Not stiff. Not overdone. And not like a different person Grandma would have trouble recognizing.
Start With Where the Headshot Will Be Used
Before choosing a shirt or booking a haircut, think about the purpose of the photograph. A polished attorney, a restaurant owner, a real estate agent, and a creative professional may all need business headshots, but they do not need to project exactly the same thing.
Ask yourself what you want a potential client, employer, or colleague to feel when they see your photo. Reassured? Energized? Interested? Comfortable enough to call you? Your answer helps shape the clothing, background, expression, and overall style.
A formal industry may call for a jacket, clean lines, and a more classic look. If your business is personal and client-facing, a warmer expression and slightly more relaxed wardrobe may serve you better. There is room for personality, but it should support your professional image instead of competing with it.
If the image will be used across several places, such as your website, social profiles, and marketing materials, aim for something timeless rather than chasing a quick trend. You want a photograph that still feels right when you look at it next year.
Choose Clothes That Keep the Focus on You
The best headshot wardrobe is usually simple, well-fitted, and comfortable. You should feel like yourself in it. If you never wear a tie, forcing one into the session can show in your face. If a blazer makes you stand a little taller and feel ready for business, that is useful information too.
Solid colors tend to photograph well because they keep attention on your expression. Mid-tone blues, greens, burgundy, charcoal, cream, and soft earth tones are often reliable choices. The right color depends on your complexion and the background, so bring an option or two if you are unsure.
Try to avoid clothing with very small checks, tight stripes, large logos, or distracting graphics. Those patterns can pull attention away from your face and may not reproduce well on every screen. A good headshot is about connection, not the brand name on your chest.
Fit matters as much as color. A shirt that pulls at the buttons or a jacket that hangs too loosely can make you feel uncomfortable, even if you do not notice it at first. Wear clothes that fit your body now, not clothes you are hoping to fit into after a few more trips to the gym. The camera is honest, but it does not need to be cruel.
Bring a Backup Option
A second shirt, blouse, jacket, or top gives us choices without turning the session into a fashion show. A small wardrobe change can create a more formal and a more relaxed version of your headshot, which is helpful when you need images for different uses.
Keep jewelry and accessories purposeful. A watch, simple earrings, or a meaningful piece can add personality. Anything that constantly twists, clinks, shines brightly, or demands attention is probably better left in the car.
Plan Grooming a Few Days Ahead
Do not save every grooming decision for the morning of your session. A fresh haircut can look great, but scheduling it a few days beforehand gives it time to settle naturally. The same goes for beard trims, brow shaping, and any skincare appointment that might leave temporary redness.
For makeup, the goal is not to look heavily made up. It is to look rested, even-toned, and camera-ready. A little more definition than you wear day to day often photographs well, but you should still look like you. If you work with a makeup artist, tell them this is a professional headshot and share how you normally present yourself at work.
People of all genders can benefit from a few basic details: moisturized skin, tidy facial hair, clean glasses, and lips that are not dry. Bring lip balm, powder or blotting papers if you use them, a comb or brush, and any product you rely on to keep your hair in place. South Louisiana humidity is not known for asking permission.
If you wear glasses every day, wear them in your headshot. They are part of how people recognize you. I can position you and adjust the lighting to help manage reflections. If you have more than one pair, bring your favorites and make sure the lenses are clean.
Get Rested, Hydrated, and On Time
No one needs a perfect week before a headshot, but a little common sense goes a long way. Get a decent night’s sleep, drink water, and give yourself enough time to arrive without rushing. Walking in stressed, sweaty, or annoyed at traffic is not the energy you want in your first frame.
Eat something light before the session. You do not want to be distracted by hunger, but you also do not need a heavy meal that leaves you feeling sluggish. If coffee is part of your normal routine, have it as you usually would. This is not the day to test whether three extra cups make you more productive.
Arrive in a way that keeps your clothes looking fresh. If you are traveling from an office, consider bringing your headshot outfit on a hanger and changing when you arrive. That can be especially useful for light-colored shirts and jackets on a hot Louisiana day.
You Do Not Need to Know How to Pose
This is where many professionals worry too much. You may be excellent at your job and still feel awkward when a camera points your way. That is normal. It is also not your responsibility to solve.
A strong headshot is built from small adjustments: how you stand, where your shoulders turn, the angle of your chin, where you place your hands, and when you relax your expression. These details make a real difference, but you should not have to memorize them beforehand. I will direct you clearly, show you what to do, and make adjustments as we go.
Your only job is to stay open to direction and let your expression settle. Do not force a huge smile if it does not fit your personality. A confident, natural expression often has more impact than a grin that feels pasted on. We can create a range of looks, from friendly and welcoming to focused and executive, then choose what serves your brand.
Let Your Personality Show Up
Professional does not mean personality-free. A thoughtful smile, a favorite color, or a setting that reflects your work can make a headshot feel more memorable. The key is balance. You want someone to notice you first and the creative details second.
For an on-location business headshot, choose a space that supports your message. An office, storefront, outdoor setting, or workplace can add context when it is clean, uncluttered, and relevant. A simple studio background may be the better choice when consistency matters across a team or when the image needs to work almost anywhere.
Give Yourself Permission to Update Your Photo
If your current headshot is several years old, taken from across a dinner table, or cropped from a group photo, it is probably time. Your image should reflect the professional clients will meet when they walk through your door or join a video call.
An updated headshot is especially worthwhile after a career change, a new business launch, a significant change in appearance, or a move into a public-facing role. It is not vanity. It is practical communication. People like knowing who they are about to meet.
At Kirk Voclain Photography, I have spent more than 45 years helping people relax in front of a camera. The preparation helps, but the real difference comes from being guided through the session instead of being left to guess what to do.
When you are ready, plan a business headshot session with a clear purpose, clothes that feel right, and enough time to breathe. Then let the camera show the capable, approachable professional your clients are looking for.