The first question, for both men and women -
Do you want to dress formal or casual?
Let's begin! The Dilemma...
Should you dress up your current wardrobe, dress as you do everyday, add jewelry, or use colors? We will help both men and women address the basic questions and then add a little flash so your business picture represents you, how you intend!
Men
Begin with a long sleeve dress shirt, without patterns, and add matching pants. Dark grey pants with a light colored shirt (even white!) tend to work best. If you are working towards a business professional look, add a matching jacket and tie. Don't forget - matching your belt with your shoes is very important! How to add some flash, dazzle, personality..... Business Casual - choose a colored shirt, pastels work quite well and you can have fun with your socks as well. If you are choosing to show color, stick with black pants and black shoes and add some flash with a pair of colored, patterned, or flashy socks. Business Professional - Match your tie with a pocket square, the brighter and bolder, the more potential to show your daring personality! If you are adding color above your belt, don't do too much with your socks. Careful to not overdo it. Subtle, but bold is the key to a polished, professional look.
Women...
Regardless of the current trends, there are a few timeless "no no's" that you should always avoid when taking pictures (professional or otherwise). Avoid shoulder holes, sheer fabric, short skirts, strong patterns, pleated pants, and shoulder pads if you're wearing a jacket. Avoid wearing too much makeup, colors where "trendy" such as eyelids and eye lashes, and choose a natural palette that is complementary. Jewelry should be a subtle addition to your wardrobe, it should not compete for attention! Avoid dangling earrings, studs are recommended. Don't worry, we can still have some fun and show off your personality while avoiding the dreaded "dated" look! Business Casual - Start with dress slacks or a skirt that is no more than 1" above your knees and pair with a mild blouse. Avoid large patterns. Avoid silk and linen - they easily wrinkle and will not be flattering in a picture! Business Professional... Layer your blouse with a complementary jacket. You can also choose to wear a suit with a feminine blouse. How to add some flash, dazzle, & personality..... Use a colorful and complementary scarf. It's easy to remove to provide options and can add some uniqueness to your photos! Add light patterns for business casual and even a cardigan. For either option, you can have fun with your shoes, but make sure you do not overpower everything else! Coordinated Office Pictures... Plan the general color palette ahead of time to ensure no one stands out or clashes and agree on whether you will all be in business casual or business professional. All of the other guidelines will cover the rest! Finally.... Make sure everything you have coordinated, and are planning to use for your picture, is ironed, polished, steamed, and/or lint free! Nothing will destroy a well-planned picture like an unintended patch of lint resting on a wrinkled shirt! And, if you are unsure if something will work, just bring it and we will figure it out together.
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