HEADSHOT TIPS
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WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR MY CORPORATE HEADSHOT – MEN'S EDITION
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(This guide is specifically for Men. To view our Women's guide, click here.)
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Perhaps the most common question we receive from male Business clients is 'What should I wear for my Business Portrait?" And we're so happy you ask because your wardrobe plays a large part in your business portrait's first impression to your potential employers.
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We've compiled a list of quick tips to help you prepare and make sure you leave your photo session with new business portraits that you'll love. And if you need more ideas, we've included some style inspiration.
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Tip 1: Dress like the person you want to become.
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Think about how you want to be perceived by your clients or future employer. We suggest dressing like the kind of person who gets the opportunities you are after. For example, if you want a promotion to Senior Manager, then dress like a Senior Manager. On the other hand, if you want your clients to see you as approachable, then dress less formally (or have a friendlier smile – we can help you to find that balance).
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Tip 2: Don't let your clothes take all the attention.
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While your wardrobe choice is vital in setting the first impression, research has shown that other factors, namely body language, eye contact, and your smile, are more critical.
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Suppose you're getting your new corporate portrait taken by a specialist portrait photographer. In that case, they will know exactly how to guide and direct you through the session to ensure your body language, eye contact, and smile give off a confident, friendly, and approachable vibe.
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Tip 3: Bring these essentials to achieve a variety of looks.
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In general, we find that a casual business style works best for most of our clients who choose our corporate portrait packages (of course, if your dream job requires you to dress more casually or formally, dress suitably for the role).
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Essentials: For a business casual look, we recommend bringing a suit jacket, some shirts (in different colors), a tie, smart trousers, and shoes. With these essentials, we can create several looks, from casual (shirt-with-rolled-up-sleeves and no tie) to formal (shirt, tie, and suit jacket).
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Colors: In general, we recommend keeping the colors darker than your skin tone as this helps the attention stay on your face. We suggest bringing a variety of colors that suit you best. (Guys, I know – sometimes it's hard to know what colors suit you best – ask a friend for their advice or check our Colour Matching cheat sheets here!) It's best to avoid pure black and white shirts when going for a 'no jacket casual look. However, white shirts are okay for a more formal look (complete with a tie and jacket).
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Patterns: In general, plain solid, color clothes work best, as patterns are usually a distraction (remember that we want the focus of the portrait to be on your face, not the clothes). The same applies to logos; avoid anything with a large, distracting logo.
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Fit: Here is a hard truth: If the clothes don't look good on you because they don't fit well, they won't look good in your photo - this is especially important with the shirt's fit. A shirt that is too small and causes your neck to bulge out of the top won't be flattering.
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Glasses: Many clients who wear eyeglasses ask if they should wear them or not. We recommend looking at how you would at work. So if you wear glasses all the time, then wear them in the photo. If you wear glasses sometimes, we recommend taking some business portraits without or with them on. Make sure you take off your glasses 15-30 minutes before you start taking photos so that the red mark on your nose has time to disappear.
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Accessories: We believe in keeping things simple. Often our executive clients wear a watch (something classy will work, but avoid a colorful Fitbit). Excessive jewelry is usually distracting, and we recommend taking it off for your photoshoot. (Extra expert tip: For half or full-body shots, ensure you remove everything from your pockets during your photoshoot – a phone bulging out of your pocket is a big no-no).
We recommend bringing multiple options (in different colors), as your photographer can help you decide which works best with the rest of your outfit and the background.
Whatever you bring, make sure you feel good wearing it. You'll probably look awkward in the photo if you feel uncomfortable wearing it.
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Check out our Style Inspiration Pinterest board here if you need more inspiration!
Tip 4: Don't forget to iron.
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Please ensure your clothes are neatly ironed and pressed before the shoot. If your shirt is wrinkled in real life, it will appear wrinkled in the photo.
We recommend our clients get changed once they arrive at our studio to avoid any unnecessary creasing that can happen in transit.
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Tip 5: A little grooming goes a long way
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While not exactly a wardrobe tip, being well groomed is essential preparation for your photo.
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Drink plenty of water in the days leading to your business portrait session.
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Get lots of sleep the night before your shoot to avoid dark bags under your eyes.
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Moisturise like your life depends on it – ideally twice a day for the past 10 years. But if that never happened, twice a day in the days leading up to your shoot will help.
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A fresh haircut always looks good. And this doesn't just apply to the hair on the top of your head. Check those eyebrows and nose hairs to make sure everything is in check!
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If you're clean-shaven, we recommend shaving the day before the session because shaving on the day of the shoot can leave skin irritation you want to avoid.
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What should I wear for my Business Portrait? – that's a wrap
We hope this guide has helped prepare you for your business portrait session. The most important thing to bring to your session is a positive attitude, which looks great on everyone!
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ARTICLE REFERENCE: RETRATOS BARCELONA