Journal · September 22, 2026
What to wear for your branding session (so you look like you, on your best day)
Outfit guidance for branding photos and headshots: colors that photograph well, what to avoid, how many looks to bring, and how to plan for web and social.
The goal of a branding session isn't to look like a model. It's to look like the version of you a client meets on a great day. Clothes are a big part of that, and the rules are simple.
Plan three looks
- Polished. The headshot outfit. Something you'd wear to meet your most important client. This becomes your LinkedIn, your bio, your listing photo.
- Everyday you. What you actually wear when you work. Apron, boots, blazer, scrubs, whatever is true. These are the photos that build trust.
- Brand color. One look that carries your brand color so your photos and your website feel like the same business.
Colors and fabrics that photograph well
Solids over patterns. Earth tones, soft neutrals, deep blues and greens, and one accent color. Fabrics with a little structure (denim, linen, wool, leather) read better than thin jersey. Steer clear of tiny checks and stripes (they shimmer on camera), neon, and big third-party logos.
Details that matter more than you think
- Iron everything. Wrinkles are the first thing the camera finds.
- Bring the tools of your trade: the laptop, the drill, the shears, the signature product.
- Hair and makeup: how you wear it on a good day, not a new look you're trying for the first time.
- Shoes show up in full-length shots. Choose on purpose.
Think about where the photos will live
Website hero images need room on one side for text, so we'll shoot wide and leave space. Social posts want vertical. Headshots want clean backgrounds. We'll walk your shot list before the session so every outfit has a job.
Want help with your list? See branding sessions or start an inquiry.
