When planning group headshots for your company, marketing team, or leadership board, one crucial decision often gets overlooked: what to wear. Wardrobe choices may seem like a minor detail, but when coordinated correctly, they have a major impact on the professionalism, unity, and overall visual appeal of your final image. At St Louis Photographers, we’ve produced countless successful group headshots, and we’ve learned that wardrobe coordination can elevate your brand and create a polished, memorable impression.
Why Clothing Choice Matters in Group Headshots
Group headshots are more than just photos—they’re visual representations of your company culture and brand. Coordinated clothing helps:
- Establish visual unity without forcing uniformity
- Avoid visual distractions so the focus stays on the people
- Reinforce brand aesthetics, especially when integrated with other marketing visuals
- Ensure consistency across platforms such as your website, press kits, and social media
Key Considerations When Dressing for a Group Headshot
1. Coordinate, Don’t Match
Avoid identical outfits (e.g., everyone in black or white). Instead, opt for a cohesive color palette—think blues and grays, earth tones, or brand-appropriate hues. This provides visual harmony while allowing individual personality to shine.
2. Dress for the Brand
Your company type and culture should inform wardrobe choices. For financial institutions or law firms, business formal attire may be appropriate. For creative agencies or tech startups, business casual or smart casual may better reflect your identity.
3. Avoid Loud Patterns and Logos
Busy prints, logos, or stripes can cause visual noise and date the photo. Stick to solid colors or subtle patterns to keep attention on the faces, not the clothing.
4. Consider Necklines and Layers
For men, a button-up shirt with or without a blazer usually works best. For women, tailored tops with structured necklines or layers like blazers or cardigans add shape and polish. Avoid deep V-necks or spaghetti straps unless they are covered by a jacket.
5. Stay Seasonal Yet Timeless
If your shoot is outdoors or in a setting that reveals the time of year, choose attire that is seasonally appropriate but won’t look outdated in six months. Think layers that can be removed if needed.
6. Discuss Footwear (If Visible)
If the full body is in frame or the shoot includes environmental portraits, ensure that footwear matches the rest of the outfit in professionalism and cleanliness.
7. Don’t Forget Grooming and Accessories
Neat hair, light makeup, and minimal accessories help the image look clean and professional. Jewelry should be simple and non-reflective.
Pro Tip: Create a Brief and Share It Ahead of Time
To ensure everyone is prepared, create a simple wardrobe guideline document and share it well before shoot day. You can even include visual examples. This makes coordination easy and removes day-of guesswork.
Why Partner With St Louis Photographers
At St Louis Photographers, we’ve been crafting compelling visual narratives for businesses and organizations across the St. Louis region since 1982. Our team of experienced professionals understands how to align group portraits with your brand vision—while making your team feel confident and at ease on camera.
We’re a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company, equipped with the right technology and creative crew to ensure successful image acquisition. Whether you need studio or location video and photography, we handle everything—from editing and post-production to FAA-certified drone footage (including indoor drone photography).
We specialize in repurposing photography and video branding to extend the value of your media. Our private studio is designed for custom setups and includes lighting and visual equipment to accommodate both small productions and interview scenes. From providing sound and camera operators to setting up private interview spaces, we ensure seamless, professional productions tailored to your media needs.
Ready to book a polished group headshot session that reflects your brand at its best? Contact St Louis Photographers—where expertise, creativity, and collaboration meet.
St. Louis Photographers
Mike Haller, Senior Shooter
4501 Mattis Road St. Louis, MO 63128
St Louis Corporate Photographers 