It Starts Before the Camera Turns On
A great professional headshot for men is built in the preparation, not in the moment. The decisions you make in the days before your session — grooming, clothing, skin preparation — determine the ceiling of what's possible. Get these right, and everything else follows.
Grooming: The Non-Negotiables
- Haircut timing: Get a fresh cut one to two weeks before your session. The same-day cut looks stiff and unnatural; a few days of settling produces a polished, intentional result.
- Facial hair: Trim and shape meticulously. Even several days of unattended stubble reads as careless on camera.
- Glasses: Consider removing them for at least some shots — lenses frequently catch glare that is difficult to correct in post-processing.
- Skin: Hydrate well in the days before your session. Use a light moisturizer on the day itself — well-hydrated skin photographs significantly more smoothly under professional lighting.
Clothing: Simplicity and Fit Win Every Time
Your single highest-impact investment is a well-fitted blazer. It works with or without a tie, adapts to virtually every industry, and elevates even a simple shirt to a clearly professional level.
Best performing colors for men's headshots:
- Navy blue — universally flattering and authoritative
- Charcoal grey — sophisticated without being severe
- Deep burgundy — confident and warm
- Dark olive or forest green — contemporary and distinctive
Avoid: white shirts against light backgrounds (they wash out), novelty ties, large brand logos, busy patterns. Subtle textures — a fine herringbone or light weave — add visual interest without creating noise.
Expression and Posture
Men consistently make one mistake: appearing too serious or too rigid.
A relaxed, natural smile — showing teeth is entirely appropriate — combined with a slight lean toward the camera creates warmth and approachability without sacrificing authority. Angle your body slightly to one side: it's more flattering and more dynamic than facing the camera head-on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should men wear a tie in their professional headshot?
It depends on your industry and target role. In finance, law, and corporate environments, a tie remains a signal of formality and convention. In tech, healthcare, education, and most other sectors, a clean collar — shirt, blazer, or quality turtleneck — is professional in virtually every context. When in doubt, take photos both with and without a tie and compare the results.
How should I handle thinning hair or a shaved head in a headshot?
Own it with confidence. Professional lighting and a well-composed shot look excellent on shaved or closely cropped heads — clean lines can appear very polished on camera. Avoid comb-overs, which camera angles tend to reveal unflattering. For thinning hair, a short, well-groomed cut photographs more confidently than longer, thinning styles. Good posture and a strong expression matter far more than hair density.
What's the biggest grooming mistake men make before a headshot session?
Getting a haircut the day before or the same day. A brand-new cut looks too precise and unnatural, with hard lines that soften after a few days. The ideal window is 5–10 days after a fresh cut. The second most common mistake is neglecting skin preparation — moisturizing and staying well-hydrated in the days before your session makes a visible difference in how your skin photographs.