What to wear for a portrait shoot in NYC

Most people booking a portrait shoot in NYC send me this email on the morning of the session: “Should I wear the gray sweater or the blue blazer?” The answer is usually “yes.” But here is the longer version, because the right answer is sometimes neither.

Bring options. Two or three is plenty.

Wear what you actually wear. Skip anything brand new. Skip anything you bought specifically for the shoot unless it has been in your closet long enough that it feels like yours.

If you bring two or three outfits to a 90-minute session, we will shoot two of them. The third stays in the bag and you go home with the freedom of having had options. If you bring eight, we will shoot two of them and you will be exhausted.

What works on camera

Solid colors and small patterns photograph cleanly. Big logos and busy graphics fight your face for attention. The eye should land on the eyes.

Texture beats sheen. Wool, knit, and brushed cotton hold light beautifully. Polyester satin and synthetic shine show every wrinkle and bounce hot spots. If you have a beautiful silk shirt, bring it. If you have a polyester shirt that is trying to be a silk shirt, leave it home.

Fit matters more than brand. A $40 t-shirt that fits is doing more work than a $400 jacket that is one size off.

Color: think about the wall. If the backdrop is dark, light clothing pops. If we are shooting against a brick wall in soft afternoon light, a saturated color (real red, real green, deep mustard) reads well. White can blow out unless we manage exposure for it.

Glasses, watches, jewelry

If you wear glasses every day, wear them. They are part of you. If you can borrow an empty pair from your optometrist (no lenses), bring them along. We can use the empty pair for any shot where lens glare is killing the eyes, then switch back.

Watches and rings are fine. Statement jewelry is fine. The rule is the same as clothing: it should be something you wear, not something you put on for the camera.

Faces, briefly

Don’t get a haircut the day before. Get it a week before, give it time to settle.

Skip aggressive new skincare in the 48 hours before the shoot. A breakout is more retouchable than a chemical reaction.

For corporate headshots, men: shave or don’t, but commit. A 36-hour shadow looks like you forgot to shave for the shoot, not a lifestyle choice.

For makeup: a touch more than your daily, not a lot more. Mattifying powder on the forehead and nose helps under the lights. If you have a makeup artist for an editorial shoot, they have already covered this.

What to bring on the day

Coffee, water, the outfits, lint roller, mints. That is the whole list.

I will have a steamer, a fitting mirror, and a backup of every cable I own. You handle the version of yourself you want photographed; I handle everything else.

If you are doing a corporate headshot session

For team headshots, send your team this same advice in advance. Consistent guidance produces a consistent edit. If everybody comes in solid colors with intentional fit, the deck looks like a brand. If half the team came from “casual Friday” and the other half came from a boardroom, the deck looks like a group text.

For more on the session itself, see what to expect from a portrait session. Pricing notes are on the FAQ.