What Colours to Wear for Your Headshot (and What to Avoid)

Colour choice for a headshot has a greater impact on the final image than most people anticipate. The right outfit colour keeps attention on your face. The wrong one competes with it, dates the image, or creates technical problems in the editing room.

The Guiding Principle

In-person, colour is experienced with full sensory context — room lighting, textures, movement. In a photograph, you have two dimensions and fixed available light. Colours that look sophisticated in person can overpower or flatten in a photograph. Colours that seem boring in a wardrobe sometimes produce the most polished headshots.

Solid, mid-depth tones almost always work. Extremes — very bright, very pale, very patterned — require careful handling.

Colours That Work Well

Colours to Approach with Caution

Coordinating with Your Background

Background colour should be discussed before your headshot session. If you are shooting on a plain studio backdrop, ask your photographer what colour they use most frequently and choose your outfit accordingly. Common combinations:

• Light grey background: Navy, forest green, burgundy, charcoal — all work. Avoid light grey or silver clothing.
• White or cream background: Dark tones contrast cleanly. Mid-tones work. Avoid white or very pale neutrals.
• Dark or black background: Almost any colour works. This setup is particularly forgiving.
• Outdoor or location: Your surroundings provide colour context — mid-tones in navy, grey, or green tend to integrate well without competing with greenery or brick.

Bring Multiple Options

The safest approach is to bring two or three outfit options to your session. Your photographer can advise on the spot based on the actual lighting setup and background being used. Having choices also gives you flexibility if you want looks for different professional contexts — one outfit for LinkedIn, another for your company's team page.