What to Wear for Men’s Professional Headshots
Preparing for your professional headshot session does not need to be complicated.
For men’s headshots, clothing and grooming should create structure, clean up distractions, and keep attention on your face. The goal is not to look overdressed, stiff, or fake. The goal is to look current, credible, and like yourself on your best day.
Whether you’re preparing for LinkedIn headshots in San Francisco, corporate headshots, personal branding photos, or a professional website portrait, these recommendations will help you choose clothing and grooming details that photograph well.
Every EMS Headshots session is guided from start to finish, so you do not need to figure everything out on your own.
On This Page
• What to Expect During Your Session
• What Clothing Looks Best
• Business & Corporate Headshot Clothing
• Grooming & Shaving Tips
• Beard & Hair Preparation
• What Colors Work Best
• What NOT to Wear
• Bring Multiple Outfit Options
What to Expect During Your Headshot Session
This is a relaxed, guided professional headshot session designed to help you look natural and confident on camera. We take our time during the session and review images together throughout the shoot so we can make adjustments as needed.
You’ll see your images immediately on the monitor during the session. Together we’ll review your expressions, posture, wardrobe choices, and lighting to select the strongest photos.
Sessions are designed to create confident, approachable images for LinkedIn profiles, executive portraits, personal branding, and corporate headshots in San Francisco.
You can view our full professional headshot pricing before scheduling your session.
What Clothing Looks Best for Men’s Professional Headshots
Recommended Clothing Choices
• Solid color shirts
• Minimal patterns
• Layered outfits
• Sport coats
• V-neck sweaters
• Crew neck sweaters
• Henley shirts
• Oxford button-up shirts
• Turtlenecks
• Fitted t-shirts / garments
One-color clothing and minimal patterns typically photograph best. Clean, simple wardrobe choices help keep attention on your face and expression instead of distractions in the clothing.
Layering jackets, sweaters, and coats adds depth and character to professional headshots while maintaining a polished appearance.
The camera naturally emphasizes details, textures, and contrast, so keeping clothing clean and simple creates a more polished and timeless look.
If you’re unsure what photographs best, every session includes guided direction throughout the process. You can also contact EMS Headshots before your session with wardrobe questions.
What to Avoid Wearing
Some clothing styles can become visually distracting in professional headshots. Avoid clothing that looks wrinkled, overly casual, too tight, too loose, shiny, heavily patterned, or distracting.
It’s also best to avoid:
• busy patterns
• oversized clothing
• wrinkled jackets or shirts
• neon colors
• graphic tees (unless brand specific)
Simple, timeless wardrobe choices consistently create stronger professional headshots.
Business & Corporate Headshot Clothing
For business and corporate headshots, the safest choice is usually a jacket or structured layer that gives the image shape.
For more corporate or executive headshots, bring:
• 2–3 button-up shirts
• Several ties
• Sport coats or blazers
• Neutral color combinations
• Layered business casual options
Professional corporate headshots and executive portraits generally benefit from clean styling, fitted clothing, and minimal distractions.
If you’re preparing for LinkedIn headshots in San Francisco, polished wardrobe choices help create a stronger first impression online.
Grooming & Shaving Tips for Men’s Headshots
Small grooming details matter in a headshot because the image is usually cropped close.
Preparing your skin and grooming before the session can dramatically improve your final images.
Recommended:
• shave the night before
• trim facial hair evenly
• moisturize lightly the night before
• bring chapstick or lip balm
• get a haircut several days beforehand if possible
Avoid:
• excessive sun exposure
• heavy skin products immediately before session
• shaving immediately before photos
• glossy skincare products
Dry lips and irritated skin are extremely common in men’s headshots and can become difficult to retouch naturally. Simple preparation beforehand helps produce cleaner, more professional results.
Beard & Hair Preparation
Facial hair should look intentional and well-maintained. Whether you prefer a clean shave, stubble, or a full beard, consistency and grooming matter most.
Hair should generally reflect how you normally appear professionally day to day. Avoid dramatic last-minute hairstyle changes immediately before your session.
Best practice:
• light haircut 5–7 days before
• clean beard lines
• natural styling
• minimal product shine
Bring Multiple Outfit Options
Bringing multiple outfit choices gives us flexibility during the session. Different colors, layers, and textures photograph differently depending on lighting and background choices.
We can always remove layers or simplify an outfit, but we cannot add additional wardrobe choices if they are not available during the session.
I recommend:
• casual option
• business casual option
• formal option
• layered outfit option
This is especially important for professional LinkedIn headshots and executive portraits where subtle wardrobe adjustments can completely change the final look.
Most Important: Wear Something That Feels Like You
The strongest headshot usually comes from clothing that fits well, feels natural, and matches how you want to be seen professionally.
You do not need to dress like someone else. You need clothing that supports your face, your posture, and the kind of image you need for LinkedIn, business websites, company profiles, or personal branding.
Have Questions Before Booking?
View our Professional Headshot FAQs for answers about wardrobe, retouching, image delivery, session preparation, and what to expect during your session.
👉 Professional Headshot FAQs
Ready to Schedule Your Session?
Professional headshot sessions in San Francisco start at $495 and include one professionally retouched image.
Book a guided men’s professional headshot session designed to help you look current, credible, and like yourself — without overthinking every detail before you arrive.
Looking for more information?
Visit our About EMS Headshots page or contact us directly with questions before booking.
Whether you need LinkedIn headshots, executive portraits, or corporate headshots, EMS Headshots provides guided sessions designed to create confident, polished images.
View full headshot pricing for teams and individuals
Related Resources
Learn more about professional headshots, pricing, and preparation below.
• What to Wear for Women’s Professional Headshots
• LinkedIn Headshots in San Francisco
• Corporate Headshots for Teams
• Professional Headshot Pricing