What to Wear to Your Branding Photoshoot: A Stylish Guide

You’ve booked your branding session (yay!), and now you’re standing in front of your closet wondering, “What am I going to wear!?” Don’t worry—I’ve got you.

As a branding photographer based in Vermont, I’ve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners feel confident and radiant in front of the camera. And trust me when I say: what you wear matters—but it doesn’t need to be stressful, and it can be a lot of fun!

Here’s your ultimate guide to choosing outfits that help you shine during your branding shoot. Whether your vibe is casual chic or power blazer energy, let’s make sure your wardrobe works for you and your brand. Let's dive in!

Step One: Start With Your Brand

Before you pick a single outfit, let’s go back to the foundation—your brand identity and story. Ask yourself these questions:

What is my color palette for my brand?
What emotions or feels do I want to evoke to my audience?
Who are the kinds of clients do I want to attract? What are they drawn to?
Where will I be using these photos? Website? Social Media? LinkedIn? Emails and blogging?

If your brand is warm, earthy, and down-to-earth, your wardrobe and style should echo that. Think cozy knits, relaxed silhouettes, or natural tones. If your brand is bold, energetic, and vibrant, don’t shy away from pops of color or statement pieces- I'd even say let's ramp these up!

Pro tip: Look at your Pinterest mood board (or even your Instagram grid) for clues. Your clothes should feel like you, just dialed up a notch.

Step Two: Choose Your Color Palette

Color is a such a cool visual tool. It can set the mood, it helps to support your brand identity, and helps your photos tell a cohesive story by setting the tone.

Here’s how to build a great palette:

Stick to 2-3 main colors that align with your brand.
Neutrals (like white, cream, black, tan, gray) are always safe staples. These are also great accent colors to use or use with one another.
Accent colors from your logo or website can pop in small doses—think earrings, shoes, scarves, or even nail polish colors.
Avoid neon or busy patterns unless they’re part of your brand story. These can be distracting and harder to photograph well. We really want to focus to be on YOU and not what you're wearing (unless of course you make clothing!)'

Bonus: If you’ve done a color analysis (hello, House of Colour fans!), use your season’s palette to choose shades that light up your face and make you feel incredible.

Step Three: Plan 2-4 Outfit Changes

All my branding sessions include time for outfit changes—this keeps your gallery feeling dynamic and gives you lots of content to work with. I recommend:

One professional look – great for website bios, press features, or LinkedIn. Especially important if you're a realtor or work in finance.
One casual brand vibe look – think jeans and your favorite tee or sweater, especially if you’re a lifestyle or creative brand.
One personality piece – maybe it’s your favorite jumpsuit, a bold dress, or a quirky accessory that shows your fun side. These are always a blast
Optional: Seasonal swap – want evergreen content? Bring a jacket, scarf, or layers so the photos don’t all scream “summer in Vermont.”

Make sure every piece fits well, feels comfortable, and reflects who you are. You want to feel comfortable and like YOU in your clothing! The photos will come across better, too. Promise.

Step Four: Prioritize Fit and Comfort

Here’s the deal: if you’re fidgeting or adjusting your outfit every five minutes, it’s going to show in your photos. Confidence photographs beautifully, and the quickest path to that is feeling good in your clothes.

A few golden rules:

Avoid anything too tight, itchy, or stiff. Maybe try to out for an afternoon to see you you like to wear it.
Test sit-down poses in your outfit at home—can you move easily? Do you feel natural? Or does it feel awkward to sit/walk in?
Opt for structured pieces (like a tailored blazer) if you want a polished look, or flowy fabrics (like silk or linen) for a more relaxed feel.
Steam or iron your clothes beforehand please! Wrinkles = editing headaches. We also keep a lint brush on hand to do any touch ups

Step Five: Don’t Forget the Details

Accessories are like the cherry on top—they add visual interest and help tell your story.

Jewelry: Keep it simple and intentional. A signature necklace, minimalist hoops, or a watch can add a nice accent and detail.
Glasses: If you wear them in real life, wear them in your shoot! If it's possible, we may do a few glasses off, too.
Shoes: Yes, they matter—even if you're barefoot in half the shots. Bring a few pairs to play around with!
Hands & nails: We often forget these! Keep nails neat (polished or natural), and consider hand lotion for close-ups.

Bring a bag of backups and other options. You never know when an earring might break or when you’ll spill coffee (hey, it happens). Toss in lint rollers, extra jewelry, a comb, and a water bottle, just in case. If you're planning on doing more than one hairstyle, try to plan to start with hair down!

Step Six: Coordinate With Your Backdrop

Are we shooting in your home office? A studio with a bold wall? A Vermont maple grove? On the ski mountain?

Your outfit should complement—not compete with—the location. For example:

Studio shoots with clean and solid backdrops? Let's go bold with your outfit.
Outdoor shoots in Vermont’s fall foliage? Try earth tones that won’t clash with bright leaves.
Your workspace? Wear what you actually work in (elevated a touch- yes, even if it's super casual), especially if authenticity is important to your brand. And spoiler alert- people want to see and connect with you.

If you’re unsure, ask your photographer (hey, that’s me!) for any guidance on what to wear. I often help clients build a lookbook before the shoot so we can plan the perfect combination of looks. I'm also all about you texting me your outfits ahead of time (I actually LOVE this!)

Final Thoughts: It’s About YOU

The best outfit is one that makes you feel like the most confident, aligned version of yourself. You’re not dressing for someone else’s expectations—you’re dressing to show the world who you are and what you’re here to do.

And remember: no one looks awkward when they feel amazing. Let’s create a branding shoot where you look and feel completely you—stylish, empowered, and ready to shine.