I had a headshot session in my Silver Spring studio recently with Josie, and something really simple stood out.
She brought two outfits. A green jacket and a blue dress.
Same setup, same light, same background.
But her eyes looked completely different depending on what she was wearing.
With the green jacket, her eyes felt warmer, almost hazel.
With the blue dress, they looked brighter and way more blue.
Nothing else changed. Just the color near her face.
And it was one of those moments where you’re like… okay wait, this actually matters.
It’s Not Just About Picking Something “Nice”
When people are getting ready for headshots, especially here in the Silver Spring / DMV area where everyone is busy and just trying to get this checked off their list, the focus is usually:
“What looks good on me?”
“What feels like me?”
“What’s not too over the top?”
All good questions.
But what I see all the time is that people don’t think about how color actually affects how their face shows up in photos.
And it does. A lot more than you’d expect.
The color you wear closest to your face can:
Bring out your eye color (or kind of mute it)
Make your skin look warmer or cooler
Change how bright and clear your overall image feels
Josie’s session was such a clear example of this without us even trying to make it happen.
If You’re Not Sure What to Wear, Start Here
Instead of overthinking your whole outfit, start simple.
Look at your eyes.
Then hold a couple different colors up near your face in natural light and just see what happens. You’ll notice it pretty quickly.
You don’t need to follow strict rules, but here’s a general way to think about it:
Colors similar to your eyes will create a softer, more blended look
Colors opposite your eyes will make them stand out more
Neither is “right,” it just depends on what you like.
Makeup also plays a HUGE role in knowing how to highlight the eyes. That’s why I offer sessions that include makeup so you have an expert figuring that part out!
Why This Matters for Headshots
Headshots are close up. There’s not a lot else going on in the frame.
So small things like color actually make a bigger impact.
The right color can make your eyes look brighter, your skin look more even, and the whole photo feel a little more polished without you doing anything extra.
It’s one of those easy wins.
What I Tell My Clients Before a Session
You don’t need to go shopping.
You don’t need to stress about it.
Just bring a couple options if you can. We can look at them together in the studio and figure out what works best. Sometimes it’s not what you’d expect (Josie definitely proved that).
Planning Headshots in Silver Spring or the DMV?
If you’re booking headshots in Silver Spring, MD or anywhere in the DMV, this is one of the easiest things you can do ahead of time that actually makes a difference.
Start with your eyes.
Try a couple colors.
Keep it simple.
And don’t overthink it too much. It’s usually the small adjustments that end up making the biggest difference.