General Advice
You should like and feel confident in the clothes you wear in a headshot session. What do you wear to auditions? or that important business deal? Chances are you should wear the same type of outfit for your headshot.
Bring shirts in a variety of collars or necklines. The picture may be cropped pretty tight, and some collars and sleeves look funny when cut off. Ladies, don’t forget to bring bras that match your tops’ colors and necklines.
Solid colors are usually better. Patterns and busy prints distract from your face. The same goes for clothes with big buttons or other features that might take away attention from that beautiful mug of yours. Fine textures and weaves often look nice in pictures.
Make sure your clothes are pressed and clean.
Colors
Choose clothes that complement your skin tone and eye color. Try blues, pinks and grays if your fair skin and blue eyed. Try browns, oranges, or greens if you are green eyed. Medium or dark skin and brown eyes? You can probably wear most colors, but avoid those that closely match your skin tone.
Clothing for Commercial Headshots
For women: stretchy tops, sweaters, velvet, satin, scoop necks, and v-necks. Also business suits and other professional clothing.
For men: Dress shirts, crew necks, textured sweaters, v-neck, and turtle necks. Also suits and blazers. You can create contrast by layering a t-shirt, collared shirt, and/or leather jacket.
Consider layering light and dark clothes for contrast.
Clothing for Non Commercial Headshots:
For women: t-shirts, tank tops, sweater sets, denim/leather jackets, textured sweaters.
For men: t-shirts, hoodies/sweatshirts, work shirts, polo shirts, denim/leather jackets, textured sweaters.