As we all know, when the world started working from home a lot of people never went back to the office. What used to be uncommon for someone to work from home is not extremely common and acceptable. What does this mean for headshots and branding images? The suit and tie used to be standard for anyone wanting to look professional. But come on, how many of us are still putting on a suit every day? Some but not nearly as many people that used to. So what is the point in creating portraits that look very corporate if that is not who you are anymore? I think the answer to that is stopping to ask, “Who am I now?”, “What do I want my potential clients to think of me?”, “What is my image saying about me?”.

I am going to show you some headshots and branding images and stop and think about what you think of each portrait. What would you guess they do for a living? Would you buy something from them? What is the main feeling you get from looking at each image?

So what is the right answer to “should I wear a jacket and a tie”? The right answer is neither way is wrong. You have to do what makes sense for you and your brand. If you want to look approachable and relatable maybe don’t wear a jacket and a tie. Alternatively, if your main goal is to look professional and polished then a jacket and tie would be a good bet. If you want to look both professional and not so uptight a jacket without a tie might be a great option.

Here is the good news. When I work with clients I ask them to bring at least three looks. So we have plenty of wiggle room to play with ideas and see which one you like best. Maybe one look is a full suit. Maybe the second look is dark jeans with a t-shirt and a jacket. Maybe your third look is form-fitting cardigan. Try to get a general idea of what you want your image to say about you. Bring more than you think you need and we can pair down when you arrive. Then relax and have fun!