Derek runs a creative agency in Austin. He's covered in tattoos, usually wears band t-shirts to client meetings, and has built a seven-figure business doing exactly that. When he needed new headshots for his website and LinkedIn, a photographer told him to "dress more corporate" and consider covering his arm tattoos.
Derek ignored the advice. He shot his headshots in a vintage denim jacket over a black t-shirt. His tattoos were visible. He looked exactly like he does when he shows up to pitch a Fortune 500 client.
"The week after I updated my photos, I got three inbound leads from my exact target clients," he mentioned in our customer survey. "They told me my photos made them feel like I'd actually understand their brand. One said she was tired of working with agencies that looked like law firms."
Here's the thing – Derek isn't an outlier. The professionals who stand out in 2025 aren't the ones who look the most polished. They're the ones who look the most like themselves.
The Suit Industrial Complex
Somewhere along the way, we all bought into this idea that professional means interchangeable. Dark suit, neutral background, arms crossed or hands clasped, slight smile. You've seen this photo a thousand times because it's the same photo, just with different faces.
I get why it happened. Suits are safe. They signal competence and seriousness. And for decades, looking like everyone else in your industry was the smart career move.
But here's what that conventional wisdom misses: when everyone looks the same, nobody stands out. Your perfectly professional headshot becomes visual noise in a sea of identical images.
Think about the last time you scrolled through LinkedIn looking for someone to hire or connect with. Did you stop on the generic business photos? Or did you pause on the person who looked interesting, different, maybe even a little unexpected?
Why Authenticity Actually Works
There's a psychological principle at play here that goes beyond just "being yourself." When your external presentation matches who you actually are, people pick up on that alignment instantly. It reads as confidence, self-awareness, and honesty.
When there's a mismatch – when you're wearing someone else's uniform – people sense that too. It creates a subtle cognitive dissonance. Something feels off, even if they can't articulate what.
I've talked to hundreds of professionals through running ProfileMagic, and the pattern is consistent. The ones who try to look like what they think they should be? Their photos feel flat. The ones who lean into who they actually are? Their photos have energy.
A startup founder in Brooklyn told me she almost wore a blazer for her headshots because that's what she thought investors wanted to see. Then she remembered that every investor pitch she'd won, she'd been wearing her signature leather jacket and chunky vintage jewelry. That's who they were betting on. Why would she hide that in her photos?
She wore the leather jacket. Her investor deck got more responses. Coincidence? Maybe. But I don't think so.
The "Right Amount" of Personality
Now, I'm not saying show up in a Halloween costume. There's a balance here, and it depends on your industry and who you're trying to reach.
The framework I use: dress like you would for an important meeting with your ideal client or employer. Not your most casual day at home, not your most formal event ever – the version of you that shows up when it matters.
For Derek, that's the denim jacket. For a corporate attorney, that might still be a suit – but maybe it's a navy suit with an interesting pocket square instead of the standard gray. For a therapist, it could be a warm sweater in a color that makes their eyes pop. For a tech founder, it might be a well-fitted henley instead of a hoodie.
The question isn't "how do I look professional?" It's "how do I look like the best version of myself that my audience will connect with?"
As I explored in Beyond Beauty Filters: What Makes an Authentic Yet Attractive Headshot, there's a sweet spot between polished and real. You want to look good, but you also want to look like you.
What Actually Photographs Well
Let's get practical. Here's what I've learned about clothing that translates well into headshots while still letting your personality come through:
Colors that are yours. Forget the generic advice about wearing navy because it's "professional." Wear the color that makes you feel like yourself and gets you compliments in real life. If you always wear earth tones, don't suddenly show up in electric blue. If bold colors are your thing, don't mute yourself into beige.
Textures that add interest. A chunky knit sweater, a linen blazer, a leather jacket – these create visual depth that solid corporate attire doesn't. Texture photographs well and makes your image more memorable.
Accessories that mean something. Maybe it's your grandmother's ring, your signature watch, your favorite earrings. These details tell a story and give people something to remember you by. Just keep them minimal enough that they don't compete with your face.
Fit over formality. A well-fitted t-shirt will photograph better than an ill-fitting blazer every time. Clothes that actually fit your body read as confident and put-together regardless of how casual they are.
One thing to avoid: wearing something you've never worn before just for the photo. You'll feel uncomfortable, and it'll show. If you don't own a blazer and never wear one, your headshot shouldn't be the first time you try one on.
Industry Context Matters (But Not As Much As You Think)
Yes, some industries have stronger dress codes than others. If you're a litigator who appears in court, you probably need to look the part. If you're a financial advisor managing people's life savings, you want to project stability and trust.
But even within conservative industries, there's more room for personality than people assume. The lawyer can have an interesting tie or a distinctive pair of glasses. The financial advisor can wear a color that isn't gray or navy. The accountant can skip the jacket if they never actually wear one in client meetings.
The creative fields have obviously moved way past suits. If you're a designer, photographer, marketer, or consultant in the startup world, dressing corporate can actually work against you. It signals that you might not understand the modern, casual, move-fast culture your clients operate in.
According to Indeed's guide on business headshots, your headshot should reflect your industry standards – but with enough personal style that you feel comfortable and authentic.
Real Examples That Work
A product designer I know did her headshots in a bright orange blazer over a simple white t-shirt. Orange is her signature color – her portfolio, her website, even her apartment are all anchored by it. When clients see her photos, they immediately get a sense of her bold, confident design sensibility. The color is doing half the communication for her.
A leadership coach shot his headshots outdoors, in a casual button-down with the sleeves rolled up. He works with executives on authentic leadership and emotional intelligence. A stiff studio shot in a suit would've directly contradicted his entire message. His photos needed to feel approachable, warm, and human. They do.
A software engineer went with a simple black t-shirt against a clean background. No blazer, no collared shirt. Just him, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. He told me that every job interview he's gotten, people have commented on how his photo made him seem like someone they'd actually want to work with. "Not like a stock photo of a developer," he said. "Like a real person."
The Connection Between Clothes and Confidence
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough: when you're wearing something that feels like you, your entire demeanor changes. Your shoulders relax. Your face softens. You stop performing and start just... being.
That shift shows up in photos. The difference between a forced smile and a genuine one, between a stiff posture and a relaxed one – these micro-expressions and body language cues are what make a headshot feel alive or feel dead.
When someone's wearing an outfit they're uncomfortable in, they tend to look uncomfortable. Their smile gets tight. Their eyes look uncertain. The whole image feels like they're trying to convince you of something rather than just showing you who they are.
That's why I always tell people: wear something you'd actually be happy to be photographed in without warning. If someone pulled out a camera right now, would you be glad you're wearing what you're wearing? If not, that's not your headshot outfit.
Standing Out vs. Fitting In
There's a career strategy that says you should fit in until you've made it, then you can stand out. Dress like everyone else, conform to expectations, and once you're established, you can start showing personality.
I think that's backwards.
In a world where everyone's competing for attention – on LinkedIn, on company websites, in email signatures – looking like everyone else is actually the risky move. You're choosing to be forgettable.
The people who build strong personal brands early are the ones who figure out their unique angle and lean into it. Part of that is their expertise and perspective, sure. But part of it is also visual. How you present yourself is part of your brand, whether you're intentional about it or not.
So why not be intentional? Why not use your headshot as an opportunity to communicate something about who you are and how you work?
As I discussed in The Halo Effect and Your Headshot: How One Photo Shapes Your Entire Brand, first impressions cascade. The initial feeling someone gets from your photo influences how they interpret everything else about you. Make that first impression count by making it authentically yours.
Making the Shift
If you've been using a generic corporate headshot and you're ready for something that actually represents you, here's how to think about it:
Start by looking at photos of yourself that you actually like. Not professional photos necessarily – just any photos where you think "yeah, that looks like me." What are you wearing? What colors? What's your vibe? Use that as a starting point.
Then think about your audience. Who do you want to attract? What would make them feel like you're their kind of person? The goal isn't to appeal to everyone – it's to strongly appeal to your people.
Finally, give yourself permission to break the "rules." The rules were made for a different era, when conformity was rewarded and standing out was risky. That's not the world we live in anymore.
Your headshot should make someone think "I want to know more about this person" or "I bet they'd get what we're trying to do" or "this is someone I'd trust." Those reactions don't come from looking like everyone else. They come from looking like you.
The professionals winning in 2025 aren't hiding behind corporate uniforms. They're showing up as themselves – in their photos and everywhere else.
Maybe it's time you did too.