Think About the Image You Want to Project

If you want to project yourself as being conservative, friendly, artsy or approachable, they key is to dress accordingly. When in doubt, it's hard to go wrong with professional business attire.

1. For a traditional, conservative business portrait
   We suggest avoiding extremes - no all-black or all-white ensembles. Deep colors, such as navy blue, gray and brown, are great jacket choices. Best of all, deep colors are slimming too.
2. Busy is bad—be it a jacket, shirt or tie
   Avoid patterns and overly-bright colors. Anything that distracts the viewer is a bad idea, so that means avoiding flashy jewelry too.
3. Men, if you'll be wearing a tie
   It's hard to go wrong with a solid color or simple striped tie in red or blue. A minimal pattern will always look better than a busy tie.
4. For dress shirts, avoid bright white if possible
   Especially if you won’t be wearing a jacket. A little color, or at least an off white shirt, is helpful.
5. To dress for a slimming effect, remember:
   • Darker colors are slimming; light colors are not.
   • Solid colors are slimming; bold patterns are not.
   • A single color from head to toe (i.e. a suit) is slimming.
   • Vertical lines are slimming; horizontal lines are not. This can apply to pleats as well as prints.
   • The v-neck shape is slimming. This is achieved by the cut of a sportcoat, or the v-neck opening in a shirt or sweater.
   • Single-breasted jackets are more slimming than double-breasted.
   • If you'll be standing for a full-length portrait, high heels are slimming—as are clothes that are well tailored rather than too loose or too tight.