You’ve booked the brand photography session, signed the contract, and paid the retainer. Now what?
One of the most common questions I receive before a session is: “What should I wear?” The good news is, you don’t need a full wardrobe overhaul. Just a little intention.
Whether you’re booked for a 10-minute headshot mini or a full branding session, the goal is the same: to create images that feel like you and support how you want to show up professionally. Here’s how to prepare so your time in front of the camera is relaxed, efficient, and effective.
First: Think About Where These Images Will Live
Before choosing an outfit, ask yourself:
- Are these images for LinkedIn?
- Your website?
- Marketing materials or social media?
Your outfit should align with how you want to be perceived, not just what’s trending this season. Once you have a sense of where you’d like to use the images, let’s talk about what to wear.
1. Start With Your Brand Colors
Before you open your wardrobe, open your brand style guide. What are your brand colours? What fonts and aesthetic does your website use? Your wardrobe choices should feel like a natural extension of that visual identity.
If your brand is warm and earthy, think terracotta, cream, and olive. Those tones will create a seamless, cohesive look when your photos are used across your website and marketing materials. If your brand is bold and modern, try brighter colours, patterns, or graphic black and white. Bring that energy into your wardrobe too.
The goal is for someone to scroll your Instagram, visit your website, and immediately feel like they’re looking at the same person. That consistency is what builds recognition, and recognition is what builds trust.
2. Wear What Feels True to You
Here’s where a lot of generic styling advice gets it wrong. They’ll tell you to avoid bold colours and busy patterns. I’m going to push back on that.
If bright colours are your brand, wear them. If florals are your thing, bring them. If you’re known for showing up in maximalist, statement-making looks, your brand photos should reflect exactly that. Your clients follow you because of you. The worst thing you can do is show up in a beige blazer when your whole brand screams colour and personality.
What you do want to avoid is anything that feels random or disconnected from your brand:
- Logos or text on clothing, which can be distracting and date quickly
- Clothes that are uncomfortable or that you’d never normally wear
- Anything that makes you feel unlike yourself
3. Bring Multiple Looks
For most sessions, I recommend bringing 3 to 5 outfit options. Variety gives you so much more to work with when it comes to using your images across different platforms and contexts.
Think about it this way:
- A polished blazer look for your website homepage and LinkedIn
- A relaxed, lifestyle look for Instagram and behind-the-scenes content
- A bold, statement outfit for speaking engagements or press features
Multiple looks also mean multiple moods, and that gives your brand library real depth. You won’t be stuck using the same three photos for the next two years.
I like to think about clothing in three buckets:
Your uniform. What you wear to do the work you do. When clients meet you in your place of work, what would you have on?
Your brunch-with-girlfriends outfit. Still you, more relaxed, but still elevated.
Your “you on your best day” outfit. Perhaps a power suit, a sequinned dress, or whatever that looks like for you.
When planning your outfits, think about how they work together as a collection. They needn’t be matchy-matchy, but they should feel like they belong to the same brand world.
4. Don’t Overlook the Details
Brand photography captures everything, and I do mean everything. The details matter just as much as the main outfit.
Here’s what to consider beyond your clothes:
Accessories: Jewelry, scarves, belts, and bags can add personality and texture to your photos. If accessories are part of your signature look, bring them. If you tend to keep things minimal, a simple pair of earrings can go a long way.
Shoes: Yes, your shoes may well be in the shot, particularly for full-length photos. Make sure your footwear feels intentional and on-brand.
Hair and Makeup: Come camera-ready. I always recommend going slightly more polished than your everyday look, not because you need to look different, but because cameras can soften features. Think of it as your best everyday self, turned up just a little.
Nails: A small detail that shows up more than you’d think, especially if we’re capturing you working at your desk, holding products, or using your hands expressively. At a minimum, make sure your nails are trimmed and clean.
5. Wear Something You Love
This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Wear something you already love.
If you’re getting something new, try it on beforehand and move around in it. Your session is not the moment to debut an outfit you’ve never worn before. New clothes can feel stiff, fit differently than expected, and leave you distracted and self-conscious during your shoot.
Reach instead for pieces you already feel great in. The dress that gets compliments every time you wear it. The blazer that makes you stand up straighter the moment you put it on. The outfit that makes you feel like the most confident version of yourself.
When you feel good, it shows. Confidence is visible in every single frame, and that’s what makes a brand photo truly powerful.
Ready to Step in Front of the Camera?
Getting dressed for your brand session doesn’t have to be stressful. When you work with me, we go through all of this together during our planning process. You’ll receive wardrobe guidance, location options, and a custom shot list before you ever step on set, so you walk in feeling prepared, confident, and ready to show up fully.
If you’re ready to invest in brand photography that actually looks and feels like you, I’d love to connect. Book a consultation today and let’s start planning your session.
Ekemini Gerdel is a Chicago brand photographer specialising in imagery for women in business. Based in Evanston, she serves clients across Chicago and the North Shore.