What to wear to your corporate photo shoot

Choose one outfit and wear it to work. There’s limited time per person, so there’s no room for changing or choosing on the spot. Decide tonight what you’ll wear — then tomorrow morning is easy.

Dress as you would for an important meeting in your field. Neat, well-groomed and appropriate for your work. A lawyer, a nurse and a software developer don’t need to look the same.

Go for professional and polished. What that means depends on your organisation and field. A sleeveless top, a very low neckline or very casual clothing usually doesn’t work well for a business portrait.

Avoid white. A white shirt or blouse makes most people look washed out in photos. It’s a shame, because it’s often the first thing people reach for because it looks smart. Calm, saturated colours work much better: navy, green, burgundy, warm grey, ochre.

Check the background colour. It’s in the email you received from your employer. Choose something that contrasts with it rather than blending in.

Ironing really does make a difference. Under studio lighting, creases show up much more than they do when you look in the mirror at home.

Bring a jacket. A blazer, cardigan or tailored jacket immediately makes a portrait look more polished — and it’s quick to put on and take off. Two looks without any extra time.

Small details: bring a lint roller if you’re wearing dark clothing, and think about a nude-coloured bra under a light blouse.

The evening and morning before

Get to bed on time. It sounds obvious, but you can see it in a photo. When you’re well-rested, you simply look better.

Lay out your outfit the night before. Then you don’t have to think about it in the morning.

Don’t arrive in the clothes you cycled in. And if you do cycle: take a moment to sort out your hair before you come in.

Just before you walk in

Arrive with plenty of time to spare. Better to wait for a moment than to rush in out of breath. Being late makes you tense — and I can see that in your face.

Pop to the bathroom and check the mirror. Hair okay? Teeth? This is the tip you’ll thank me for most — food between your teeth only shows up on the screen.

Come in on your own. I know it feels friendlier to come with a colleague, but in practice it doesn’t help. You’ll start looking at each other, and that actually creates more tension — even if it feels the opposite. I’m strict about this, and that’s because I want the best result for you. Trust me: coming alone works better.

What happens when you walk in

How much time we have per person varies per assignment — it’ll be in the email from your employer. Sometimes there’s time for a make-up touch-up; sometimes things move a little faster.

What’s always the same: we make a connection first, I powder your skin to reduce shine, and then I take the photos. I’ll tell you exactly what I need from you — so there’s nothing to practise or prepare.

And it’s more enjoyable than you’d expect. The most common thing I hear afterwards is that people loved the energy — relaxed, fun, just a nice moment in a working day. That’s not by accident: when it feels good during the shoot, you can see it in the photo. So if you walk away thinking “actually, that was quite nice” — I’ve done my job.

On the powdering: I do this for everyone, men and women alike. Studio lighting picks up every bit of shine, and powder takes that away. If you have a skin allergy or sensitive skin, bring your own powder and brush. Make sure it’s a matte powder — anything with shimmer or glitter works exactly the wrong way under studio lights.