Preparing for a personal branding session can sometimes feel overwhelming! After all, you are (wisely) batching months of content into one afternoon – there’s a lot to think about!

In this post, I’m going to break down how to quickly and easily choose your outfits for your next personal branding session.

Choose Confidence and Comfort

When it comes to choosing your outfits, I always tell my clients to prioritize feeling CONFIDENT and COMFORTABLE above all else. If you don’t feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, it will show in your posture and facial expressions in your photos! Use this as a screening tool when you’re putting your outfits together.

Dress for Your Profession

The outfits I suggest for my clients vary slightly depending on their profession, but in general, there are three types of outfits you should consider.

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01 Lifestyle Outfit

This is the most cozy and casual outfit you’ll wear for everyday lifestyle photos. Think reading on the couch, running errands, coffee on the porch, etc.

If fitness is a big part of your brand (health coach, nutritionist, etc.), a workout outfit would fit well here! 

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02 Semi-Casual Outfit

In the days of work from home, this is a semi-casual, semi-professional outfit that I have my clients use for both lifestyle photos and behind the scenes photos of their work life.

Jeans and a dressed up top or sweater is a good option here. I also tell my clients to bring a couple of jackets and accessory options (I love hats!) to play with so we can get a lot of variety with each outfit change!

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03 Professional Outfit
What do you wear on the days when you need to look the MOST professional? This is probably the best outfit for your modern headshots if you need new ones. If you dress professionally most of the time, this outfit can also be used for your behind the scenes photos.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Know that there are no hard and fast rules here! The outfits I outlined are simply guidelines to help you bring the variety you will need for your brand.

For example, if you’re a business consultant, you’ll probably bring several professional outfits and opt out of leisure wear. If you’re a work from home creative entrepreneur, you’ll probably lean towards a more casual looks and leave the blazer at home.

Ask For Help If You Need It

And lastly, if the thought of putting outfits together is stressing you out, don’t hesitate to ask for help! I love talking through wardrobe options with my clients, and I will always give my honest opinion of what will photograph best.

I also have a list of wardrobe experts that I refer my clients to if they need 1:1 assistance to shop around for new looks or to pick what works from their closet. If you don’t have a local wardrobe consultant, another great option is shopping at a local boutique or department store that offers great customer service. You might be surprised by the items they find for you, but give it a shot!

Last Tips

Lastly, make sure you take these things into consideration as you curate your outfits.

• Dress for the season when you’ll be USING the photos. Even if you’re shooting your brand photos in the summer, you’ll want to bring jeans or a sweater if you want to use the photos in the fall/winter and vice versa.
• Pick solid, neutral, earthy colors that will make your skin tones look better on camera. Steer clear of all neons, and don’t forget to incorporate your brand colors!
• This may seem obvious, but don’t forget to iron. 🙂
• These tips are also summed up in this Instagram Post that you can save for later: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFcalEXnD4v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. 

More Inspiration

And lastly, if you’re in need of more inspiration for your branding photoshoot, you can follow one of my Brand Photography boards on Pinterest or follow me on Instagram!

As always, I can’t wait to see what you create my friend!