Professional Headshot Preparation Checklist Updated for 2026: What to Wear, Grooming, and Day-Of Tips
How to Prepare for a Professional Headshot
The 2026 Complete Guide for Corporate Professionals, Executives, and Teams
Your headshot is often your first introduction—before a meeting, before a proposal, before a conversation. It represents your credibility, approachability, and professionalism across LinkedIn, company websites, and marketing materials.
Preparation is what separates an average photo from a headshot that opens doors. The right clothing, grooming, mindset, and planning ensure your image reflects the role you hold—and the one you’re growing into.
Clothing and Appearance: Align With Your Professional Brand
Start with the role you want to be cast in. Whether you’re an executive, founder, attorney, consultant, or rising leader, your clothing should match your daily “best day at work” look—not a costume, not a wedding outfit, and not what you wear to the gym.
Choose pieces that fit well in the shoulders and waist and allow you to move comfortably. If something rides up, pulls tight, wrinkles easily, or needs constant adjusting, it will show on camera. When in doubt, simpler wins: clean lines, good fit, and a polished look that doesn’t compete with your face.
Bring options if you can. A second shirt, an alternate jacket, or a different neckline can change the tone of your image dramatically without adding much time.
Color Palette: Keep the Focus on Your Face
Color is powerful. It affects how your skin tone reads, how bright your eyes look, and how confident your image feels.
Go with solid, flattering colors that complement your complexion and align with your personal brand. Jewel tones and deeper neutrals (navy, charcoal, forest, burgundy) tend to photograph beautifully and read as professional. Neutral tones, jewel colors, and classic business shades create depth and professionalism while remaining timeless.
If you’re unsure, think contrast. Your face should be the brightest, most important element in the frame. Clothing that creates clean separation from the background helps you stand out while still looking natural.
Avoid loud prints and busy patterns that compete with facial expression and can create visual distortion on camera.
Layering: Add Authority and Versatility
Layering is one of the easiest ways to elevate a headshot. A blazer, structured jacket, cardigan, or polished outer layer adds shape and authority, and it helps the photo feel “finished.”
Layers also give you flexibility. You can start with a jacket for leadership presence, then remove it for a more approachable, conversational look. Two looks. One session. More value.
Make sure layers sit smoothly at the collar and shoulders. If lapels curl or a collar buckles, it becomes a distraction fast. A quick mirror check before stepping in front of the camera goes a long way. A layered look also supports different uses—from leadership bios to social media profiles—without needing a separate photo session.
What to Avoid
Preparation includes knowing what weakens a professional image. Certain choices consistently steal attention from the one thing that matters most: your expression.
Avoid busy patterns (tight stripes, small checks, loud prints) that create visual noise on camera. Skip neon colors that reflect onto your skin. Avoid clothing with large logos, bold graphics, or distracting text—your headshot is about you, not your brand sponsorship.
Also avoid fabrics that wrinkle easily or shine under studio lighting. If it’s clingy, reflective, or unforgiving, it will be harder to make it look effortless.
And one more: don’t wear something new that you haven’t tried on. If you’re tugging, adjusting, or second-guessing, it shows in your posture and expression.
Avoid:
Ill-fitting clothing
Revealing outfits
Distracting logos or graphics
Overly shiny fabrics
Loud patterns and colors
These elements reduce credibility and draw attention away from your face and expression.
Grooming and Health: The Professional Advantage
Professional headshots reward preparation. Grooming communicates reliability and confidence before a word is spoken.
Subtle, natural grooming consistently produces the most polished results on camera. Plan your grooming so you’re not rushing the day of the shoot. The best results come from being calm, hydrated, and comfortable—not scrambling in the car, skipping meals, and hoping everything works out.
Think of it like a big presentation. You don’t wing it. You set yourself up to win.
Skin
Hydrate the day before and the morning of your session. Healthy skin photographs better, period. Avoid heavy new skincare experiments right before your headshot—especially anything that can irritate or cause redness.
If you use moisturizer, apply it earlier so it has time to settle. If you use makeup, aim for a natural, even finish that reduces shine without looking overdone. The camera loves balanced skin tone and soft texture.
A simple tip that works: bring blotting papers or a clean tissue. Even people with “dry” skin can shine under lights.
Shaving and Facial Hair
If you shave clean, do it the morning of your session with enough time to reduce irritation. Use whatever routine keeps your skin calm. If you typically get razor burn, shave the night before.
If you wear facial hair, shape and trim it a day or two ahead. The goal is crisp, intentional lines—not “I forgot and fixed it in the parking lot.”
If you’re getting a haircut, schedule it a few days before the session—not the same day. You want your hair to look like you, not like you’re testing a new identity.
If you color your hair, do it early enough to look natural and consistent. Fresh color can look great, but rushed timing can leave harsh edges or unexpected tones. Bring a small brush or comb. Little adjustments between shots can make a big difference, especially around flyaways and part lines.
Bring your basic touch-up tools if you’re able. Confidence increases when you know you can make small corrections quickly.
Sleep and Energy
Sleep matters more than people think. It affects skin tone, eye brightness, posture, and how relaxed you look.
Aim for a strong night of sleep before your headshot. If you’re tired, your expression tightens. Your eyes lose energy. Your posture collapses. You can still get great images, but you’ll work harder to get there.
Drink water. Don’t overdo alcohol the night before. Keep it simple. Your face will thank you.
Arrival and Mindset
Arrive a little early. Not “just on time.” Early enough to breathe, settle, and transition out of your day.
If you’re coming from work, give yourself time to check your collar, smooth your clothing, clean your glasses, and reset your posture. Rushing is the fastest way to carry stress directly into your expression.
When you arrive calm, you photograph calm. When you arrive confident, you look confident.
Practice the Smile That Represents You
Your expression communicates trust, credibility, and approachability. Not the outfit. Not the background. Not the lighting.
The best headshot smile isn’t forced. It’s intentional. It’s the expression people recognize when they meet you and think, “Yes—I trust this person.”
Before your session, practice in a mirror for one minute. Not ten. One. Find the version of your smile that looks approachable and capable at the same time. Try three expressions:
Warm and friendly (great for client-facing roles)
Confident and composed (great for leadership)
Bright and energetic (great for founders and speakers)
Then stop. Overthinking creates tension. Trust the process. A good photographer will coach you with small prompts to bring out natural expressions that feel real.
Your goal isn’t to “smile perfectly.” It’s to communicate: I’m credible. I’m approachable. I’m ready.
The Headshots That Open Doors—Delivered Instantly™.