Clients often arrive with a bag of options and an apology: I was not sure what photographs well. The better question is what looks like you when you are not thinking about the camera. Stock-photo dressing — generic blazer, forced casualness, jewellery that never normally appears — reads instantly as costume.
Wardrobe should support the job of the image, not fight your personality. A therapist might need soft texture. A founder might need structure without armour. An actor might need neutrals that do not compete with expression. The through-line is recognisability.
Start in your closet, not the shops
Bring two or three outfits you already wear to work or events where you feel capable. Try them on at home, sit down, cross your arms, laugh in the mirror. If the collar fights your neck when you turn, the camera will notice.
- Solid colours usually outperform busy patterns on small crops.
- Layering adds depth without loud logos.
- Avoid brand-new shoes you have not walked in.
- Glasses wearers: clean lenses and expect a few extra frames.
Colour and background: simple pairs work
We will confirm background options when you book. As a rule, mid-tone clothing photographs kindly against both light and dark setups. Pure white shirts on white seamless can glow harshly; pure black on black can lose separation. Navy, charcoal, forest, cream, and rust are reliable friends.
If you would not wear it to a conversation you care about, do not wear it to a portrait that has to represent you for years.
Headshots vs portraits: small changes, big effect
Headshots often need cleaner lines — lapels that sit flat, necklines that frame the face. Portraits can carry more texture: knitwear, a coat worn open, a chair lean that shows sleeve detail. If you are doing both in one session, bring one sharper look and one softer look.
Hair and makeup: you, slightly rested
We are not looking for a makeover. Light grooming so you feel like yourself on a good day is enough. Heavy makeup that changes bone structure can jar when clients meet you in person. If you work with a makeup artist regularly, bring them; if you do not, skip the panic hire.
When we will suggest a change
Sometimes we ask you to swap a shirt because the collar is glowing under the lights, not because your taste is wrong. The goal is never to dress you like someone else. It is to remove small technical distractions so expression carries the frame.
If wardrobe stress has delayed your London portraits, simplify: one outfit you trust, one backup, and a conversation about where the images will live. The right clothes are the ones that let you forget them once the session starts.
Still unsure? Photograph the outfit on your phone in daylight. If you flinch at the result, leave it at home. If you shrug and think that will do, bring it — that reaction is more reliable than any blog list.
We would rather you arrive comfortable than fashionable. Comfort reads on camera long after trends fade.
For team shoots, agree a palette rather than an identical outfit. Navy, charcoal, and soft neutrals photograph well together without turning the About page into a uniform catalogue.
When in doubt, email us a phone photo of what you plan to wear. We would rather answer a quick question than watch you wrestle a stiff collar for forty minutes.