Tie or no tie, an age-old question, but what I’m referring to here is should you wear a tie or not for your headshot? The simple answer is both, and here is why I think it’s great to have both.

If we relate this question directly to how men should dress for business, it merely becomes Formal or Business Casual, and as we know, there are situations when one makes more sense than the other. Of course, here we are talking about whether you should wear a tie for your business headshot. As mentioned, I think it is good to have one headshot with a tie and one headshot with no tie. Why? Because you will use them in different scenarios. For example, maybe the headshot with the tie is used on your professional website and the one with no tie you use on your social media bio. This is just one example; however, there are many situations where one works better than the other. It comes down to the message you want to send. Wearing a tie looks more formal and professional, and not wearing a tie maybe looks a bit friendlier.

Whatever direction you decide to go, you must consider some essential things when preparing for your headshot session. I have put together a list of the most common guidelines to follow.

• make sure your clothes are clean and not old or distressed
• make sure your clothes fit properly
• make sure your shirts are ironed or pressed
• consider bringing your clothes in a garment bag rather than stuffing them in a backpack
• if you are not wearing a tie, consider using collar stays
• if it is just a headshot, don’t worry about matching shoes and pants
• if it is a half or full-length portrait, then do consider coordinating pants and shoes
• if you are not wearing a tie, think about adding a pocket square

Regardless of what look you decide to go with for your headshot, I recommend bringing several options when it comes to your wardrobe. Here is a list of some items to consider.

• bring more than one suit jacket or sport jacket
• bring more than one shirt. Maybe a light shirt and a dark shirt. Or perhaps even a casual shirt.
• if you are wearing a tie, definitely bring a few different ties that you think will work with the jacket and shirt combinations
• if we are doing half or full-length portraits, bring at least a couple options of pants and shoes
• consider some accessories, such as watches, pocket squares, and belts

I hope this information helps you prepare for your headshot session. Remember, preparation is an essential part of a successful headshot session.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding any of the information provided in this article, and as always, I look forward to working with you.

Here is the no tie!