This pale pink shirt has a first-glance read of being sort-of dirty white. In fact, I’ve found that ALL pale or too-pastel colors read as very light and sometimes dirty white.

If you want a light pink look for your headshots (which is great for commercial looks and youth headshots), go with a medium pink.

The lighting in the studio will help lighten the color to a perfect pink (or blue, or green.. you get the idea).

Silk, patent leather (synthetic), organza, glittery fabrics, velvet, and satin are all beautiful in person, but do not photograph well.

The reflective nature will catch the lighting in a pretty loud way, that is normally distracting for the viewer.

This photo is totally un-edited. Even the darker areas seem more dark than they would to the natural eye, making the contrast just too stark.

Stick with a more matte fabric type when possible so we can keep the focus on your smile, eyes, and connection.

One of the main purposes of acting headshots is to show casting directors what you look like - including body shape and size. Wearing a shirt that is too oversized can be a big issue if it hides your body type.

Try to pick clothing that fits you well (ideally not TOO tight - we don’t want bra lines to show, or buttons to tug open when you move around for instance).

Oh, I LOVE the look of linen in person, but for photos? nope nope nope.

Fabrics that wrinkle easily are usually not a good choice - even when you bring them on hangers and they look great in the car, somehow fabrics like linen find a way to wrinkle themselves.

Will I iron your clothing for you if we have no other choice? Yes. But that’s time away from the camera, and… well.. please don’t make me iron your clothes.

As a side note: do NOT bring your clothing in a duffle bag / suitcase / backpack. That’s a guaranteed way to ask me to iron your clothing.

Don’t wear a top that shows too much cleavage, bra lines, and avoid tube-top type shirts with nothing on the shoulders.

Even tank tops should be worn only with guidance and by request of your agency (they can be good for athletic types, but not much else).

The eye goes where skin is, so… let’s keep the eyes up where they belong.

If you’re trying for a particular type that is considered sexy, you can get the job done without showing too much cleavage.

As always, have your shirts approved by your agency (try them on for the examples shots that you will send! Don’t just send a photo of the shirt on a hanger or on your bed!).

This is not a hard-and-fast rule, however, generally you will want to stay away from patterns that take the attention away from your face.

There are definitely exceptions to this rule, however. If you are going for a specific type, such as comedic or professor, sometimes a pattern is ok!

Plaid is always accepted for BBQ types and commercial headshots. Stripes can also be acceptable.

Small, delicate patterns can also be ok normally.

Generally, I recommend going for TEXTURE over pattern if you would like your photo to be more intersting.

In any case, check with your agency before bringing a loud pattern.

Above all, make sure that you have tried on each outfit before your arrive. Here are some common problems I have seen because someone didn’t try on their outfit:

- The buttons tugged and pulled open a bit because the shirt was too tight

- A sweater had small holes (as sweaters do) that allowed the undershirt color to show through too much

- Collars didn’t line up well from a button-up and a blazer

- Undergarments could be seen (whether the bra line or color)

- A top bunched up oddly at the waist

AND » Once you’ve tried on your outfit and think it’s the winner, take a mirror selfie and send to your coach or agency for final approval. It’s not enough to send them a photo of your outfit laid out on the bed - they need to see how it looks on you.

- Try to avoid tiny stripes and ribbed textures - these create a wavy effect on monitors called the Moire Effect, and it’s impossible to fix in post-production

- DO NOT throw your clothes in a bag. They WILL wrinkle.

- DO NOT bring clothes you just bought and haven’t had a chance to try on and iron folds out of.

- Look at what your types are wearing on TV and movies or commercials if you need inspiration!

- Don’t keep this until the last minute. Start thinking about your clothing NOW. Your outfits are hugely important to the success of an acting headshot - the wrong clothing will require you to book another session costing twice as much as needed to get headshots that your agency can use.